Wallkill River, River system between New York and New Jersey, United States.
The Wallkill River is a waterway stretching from Lake Mohawk in New Jersey northward to the Rondout Creek in New York, passing through forests, wetlands, and open valleys. The water flows slowly through varied terrain, creating calm sections suitable for paddling and shallow areas for wading.
Dutch settlers in the 17th century renamed this waterway after the Waal river in the Netherlands, replacing its indigenous name. The shift in naming marked the arrival of European influence and settlement in the region.
The river held importance for local indigenous groups who gathered stone materials along its banks for tool-making. Walking along its banks today, visitors pass through landscapes shaped by these communities for generations.
Access to the river is available through public areas including the National Wildlife Refuge with marked trails for hiking. Visitors should prepare for wet conditions near wetlands and wear appropriate footwear for uneven ground along the water.
Unlike the Hudson and Delaware Rivers nearby, this waterway flows northward rather than toward the ocean. The unusual direction results from the landscape geography between mountain ranges on either side.
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