The Upper Passaic River offers wonderful opportunities for recreation within easy access of millions of New Jersey residents. Below I’ve gathered data that highlights potential access points for those interested in exploring. Of course one must paddle at their own risk and do their own research but hopefully with your input I can continue to add information to this map that fosters confidence in the use of the river for paddlers.

Please comment with helpful edits/updates and send photographs of launch sites to davidethanalexander @gmail.com

Passaic River Facts

• Passaic or “pahsayèk” is a Native Lenape American word meaning “valley”.
• Native Lenape indians lived along the river before European settlement.
• The first colonial settlement along the Passaic was in 1666 at present day Newark.
• The Passaic River is about 80 miles long and flows through forty-five municipalities and seven New Jersey counties .
• Everyone lives in a watershed or land that drains into a body of water. The Passaic River is one of 20 state-wide watershed management areas within New Jersey.
• By using and sharing your appreciation of the river we can work together to protect the health, safety and ecological integrity of the resource.

If you would like to join or schedule an Upper Passaic River Paddle trip check out the following resources:

• Essex County Environmental Center
• Somerset County Parks 
• Hackensack River Canoe & Kayak Club
• Kayak East Tours

Fish Species found in the Upper Passaic

Largemouth Bass           Micropterus salmoides

Smallmouth Bass          Micropterus dolomieu

Yellow Perch                 Perca flavescens

White Perch                  Morone americanus

Bluegill                          Lepomis macrochirus

Pumpkinseed                Lepomis gibbosus

Rock Bass                    Ambloplites rupestris

Yellow Bullhead             Ameiurus natalis

Chain Pickerel               Esox niger

Northern Pike                Esox lucius

White Sucker                Catostomus commersoni

Spotfin Shiner                Cyprinella spiloptera

Spottail Shiner               Notropis hudsonius

Redbreast Sunfish          Lepomis auritus

Golden Shiner                Notemigonus crysoleucas

Fish Advisories per New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection

Steve Jandoli’s List of Fish at Foulerton’s Brook (the brook drains into the Passaic River at Rt.280): Creek Chub, Blacknose Dace, Fallfish, White Sucker, Eastern Mudminnow, Carp, Goldfish, Brown Bullhead, Banded Killifish, Mosquito Fish, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Redfin Pickerel, Largemouth Bass, Spottail Shiner

For information on the Lower Passaic River Access Points click Here (big pdf).

and to plan for bigger paddles it may help to monitor water levels

David Alexander is author of the Buzz Into Action & Hop Into Action Science Curricula.  He specializes in making nature accessible to people and wildlife.  You can follow him at www.natureintoaction.com