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Delaware | Kent County / Dover tidal river and DNERR estuary

St. Jones RiverLebanon Landing to Scotton Landing

A bounded tidal St. Jones River day route between the public Lebanon Landing and Scotton Landing boat ramps and canoe/kayak access areas.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceApproximately 4 tidal river miles; planning estimate between the documented Lebanon and Scotton access areas
DifficultyModerate
Typical time2–4 hours depending on tide
ShuttleCar shuttle
The Saint Jones River in Silver Lake Park in Dover, Delaware.
Route photoSaint Jones River in Silver Lake Park; same-river Delaware contextPhoto by Famartin via Wikimedia Commons

Need to know

Why this call
This route is documented for planning, but does not receive a Paddle Today score.
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Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
On-water distanceApproximately 4 tidal river miles; planning estimate between the documented Lebanon and Scotton access areasLebanon Landing to Scotton Landing
DifficultymoderateThe reach is not promoted as whitewater, but it is a tidal moving-water route with changing current, wind exposure, shallow/muddy sections, bridge and ramp traffic, limited informal bailout, and a committed take-out.
ShuttleCar shuttleUse a two-vehicle shuttle or arrange a lawful pickup at Scotton Landing. Confirm parking, ramp sharing, daylight, any fees/certificates, keys, and the actual launch/take-out carry; never stage on a bridge shoulder or private bank.
PermitsCheck posted rulesFollow the current Delaware tidal-access inventory, DNREC boating safety rules, Fish & Wildlife ramp and Conservation Access Pass rules/exceptions, weather and water-quality advisories, and posted hours/closures. No route-specific paddle permit is claimed.
CampingDay tripNo on-route camping is claimed. Use separately reserved lodging or a designated campground; public ramps, piers, and DNERR access do not create an overnight camping entitlement.
SeasonApr-OctLate spring through fall is the practical planning season. Avoid thunderstorms, strong wind, poor visibility, cold-water exposure, and poor water-quality conditions; verify current tide, water level, wind, daylight, and access immediately before launch.

Plan ahead

Tomorrow and the weekend

Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.

TomorrowChecking

Waiting on forecast.

WeekendChecking

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Plan

Plan your trip

Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

A tide-dependent day route linking two documented public access facilities, with a compact upstream ramp, a reconstructed downstream ramp/courtesy dock, and no informal shoreline camping posture.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

Lebanon Landing boat ramp
Open mapDirections to put-in

The state inventory confirms access-area facilities but cautions that individual access should be visited to gauge conditions. It does not guarantee a launch-ready wetted edge, parking availability, or a paddlecraft landing on the day of travel.

Finish

Take-out

Scotton Landing boat ramp
Open mapDirections to take-out

DNERR access is limited to designated locations and permitted public-visitation times. Do not use bridges, marsh banks, private parcels, or Silver Lake shoreline as substitute access.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • The state inventory confirms access-area facilities but cautions that individual access should be visited to gauge conditions. It does not guarantee a launch-ready wetted edge, parking availability, or a paddlecraft landing on the day of travel.
  • DNERR access is limited to designated locations and permitted public-visitation times. Do not use bridges, marsh banks, private parcels, or Silver Lake shoreline as substitute access.
  • Scotton is also known as Barkers Landing and is a working Fish & Wildlife ramp. Keep the route hard-bounded at the named facility and recheck construction, gate, traffic, parking, tide, and waterline conditions.

Watch for

  • USGS 01483700 St. Jones River at Dover proxy trend; the USGS warns flow is frequently affected by tide and wind, so do not use discharge as a standalone cutoff
  • DNERR Lebanon/Scotton water level, salinity, turbidity, temperature, wind, and current direction; current tide predictions and weather
  • shallow mud, shoals, submerged vegetation, strainers, bridges, wakes, ramp traffic, urban water-quality advisories, private banks, daylight, and shuttle failure

Plan this paddle

Choose your trip times

No account needed. Check the selected access points above, then choose both dates and times. For an overnight paddle, set take-out to the following date.

Trip schedule

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Conditions

Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

Check the forecast and local water levels before launching.

Gauge detail

Water-level history and forecastDetailed view

Gauge

Recent trend

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Weather

Hourly forecast

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Next 8 hours

Short-route forecast

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Route gallery

Photos

Check each caption: some photos show the surrounding area rather than this exact trip.

The Saint Jones River in Silver Lake Park in Dover, Delaware.
Saint Jones River in Silver Lake Park; same-river Delaware contextPhoto by Famartin via Wikimedia Commons
Wikimedia Commons: CC BY-SA 4.0

Sources

Data and sources

Read the access and hazard notes and check the linked guides. We do not issue a daily score for this trip.

NotesWhat to know before you go

These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.

  • Named moving-water corridorLebanon Landing to Scotton Landing

    The current Delaware tidal-access inventory lists both facilities on the St. Jones River, while DNERR describes the St. Jones as an estuary and identifies both locations for canoe/kayak access.

    Source

  • Public endpoint evidenceLebanon Landing and reconstructed Scotton Landing Fish & Wildlife ramps

    The 2026 state inventory lists one ramp lane and a fishing pier at each endpoint. DNREC’s 2024 reopening notice documents Scotton’s new ramp, courtesy dock, and repaved parking; DNERR’s access plan identifies Lebanon and Scotton as canoe/kayak access.

    Source

  • Proxy flow evidenceUSGS 01483700 St. Jones River at Dover, DE

    Active same-river telemetry with discharge, gage height, water level, temperature, and conductance. USGS states that flow is frequently affected by tide and wind and the gage is upstream of the route, so it is retained only as clearly labeled proxy context.

    Source

  • Route-specific tide and flow guidanceDNREC tide-dependent boat-trip guidance, DNERR endpoint water-level/wind monitoring, and local visual checks

    DNREC states that guided St. Jones boat trips are tide-dependent and canceled for inclement weather. Use current tide predictions, endpoint water level, wind direction, current direction, and actual waterline; no universal cfs or tide cutoff is transferred.

    Source

  • Safety and water-quality evidenceDNREC monitoring, research, access, and consumption-advisory material

    DNREC documents 15-minute water-quality/water-level monitoring at Scotton and Lebanon, wind monitoring at the reserve, legacy urban contamination in the watershed, and a St. Jones/Silver Lake fish-consumption advisory. Preserve water-contact and weather controls.

    Source

  • Camping postureNearby basecamp only

    No on-route camping or overnight use of public ramps, piers, or private marsh banks is claimed.

    Source

  • Approved route imageryCC BY-SA 4.0 Saint Jones River photograph

    Wikimedia Commons photograph of the Saint Jones River in Silver Lake Park, Delaware; same-river context only and not certification of current access, tide, hazards, or endpoint conditions.

    Source

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.

Reports

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Keep exploring

More routes to check next

Compare another stretch on this river, or explore different rivers within 75 straight-line miles.

More in Delaware

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Delaware route guideBrowse every tracked Delaware route.Kent County / Dover tidal river and DNERR estuaryJump to routes in this region.

Nearby routes within 75 miles

Little RiverLittle Creek Wildlife Area to Little Creek Boating & Fishing Access · about 5 straight-line mi awayModerate · Approximately 1.5 tidal-marsh miles from the Little Creek Wildlife Area ramp to the town boating-access ramp; actual line varies with channel, tide, and water levelMurderkill RiverBowers Beach public ramp same-launch tidal exploration · about 7 straight-line mi awayHard · Approximately 2–4 tidal miles round trip as a conservative same-launch planning envelope; actual turnaround depends on tide, wind, traffic, shoaling, and daylightMispillion RiverFront Street Milford to Cedar Creek Boating Access Area · about 14 straight-line mi awayModerate · Approximately 10 tidal river miles from Front Street Milford to the Cedar Creek public ramp; route length varies with the selected waterline and tide windowDuck CreekWoodland Beach public ramp same-launch tidal exploration · about 15 straight-line mi awayModerate · Approximately 2–4 tidal creek miles round trip as a conservative same-launch planning envelope; actual turnaround depends on tide, wind, channel depth, strainers, and daylight

Quick answers

St. Jones River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Lebanon Landing to Scotton Landing route on the St. Jones River?

This planning route has no live Paddle Today score. Review the linked water-level sources, current access notices and route-specific hazards before travel.

Where does the Lebanon Landing to Scotton Landing route on the St. Jones River start and end?

This route starts at Lebanon Landing boat ramp and ends at Scotton Landing boat ramp, Approximately 4 tidal river miles; planning estimate between the documented Lebanon and Scotton access areas on the water.

Is the Lebanon Landing to Scotton Landing route on the St. Jones River suitable for beginners?

This is listed as a moderate route. Review the difficulty notes, hazards and current access conditions against your group's skills. No live score assesses this trip.

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