# Neversink River

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River in New York, United States

Neversink River The Neversink at Oakland Valley The Neversink and its two branches Location Country United States State New York Counties Orange, Sullivan City Port Jervis Physical characteristics Source East Branch Neversink River • location S of col between Slide and Cornell mountains, Town of Shandaken, Ulster County • coordinates 41°59′40″N 74°22′21″W / 41.99444°N 74.37250°W / 41.99444; -74.37250 • elevation 2,960 ft (900 m) 2nd source West Branch Neversink River • location NW slope of Slide Mountain, Town of Shandaken • coordinates 42°00′19″N 74°23′29″W / 42.00528°N 74.39139°W / 42.00528; -74.39139 • elevation 3,480 ft (1,060 m) Source confluence • location S of Claryville, Sullivan County • coordinates 41°54′57″N 74°34′29″W / 41.91583°N 74.57472°W / 41.91583; -74.57472 • elevation 1,600 ft (490 m) Mouth Delaware River • location Port Jervis, Orange County • coordinates 41°21′24″N 74°41′43″W / 41.35667°N 74.69528°W / 41.35667; -74.69528 • elevation 400 ft (120 m) Length 55 mi (89 km) Basin size 435 sq mi (1,130 km2) Discharge • location Godeffroy, NY • average 463 cu ft/s (13.1 m3/s) • minimum 32 cu ft/s (0.91 m3/s) • maximum 33,000 cu ft/s (930 m3/s) Discharge • location Claryville • average 174 cu ft/s (4.9 m3/s)

The **Neversink River** (also called **Neversink Creek** in its upper course) is a 55-mile-long (89 km)[1] tributary of the [Delaware River](/source/Delaware_River) in southeastern [New York](/source/New_York_(state)) in the [United States](/source/United_States). The name of the river comes from the name of the indigenous [Lenape](/source/Lenape) [Navesink people](/source/Navesink_people).[2]

The Neversink River is considered by many to be the birthplace of American [dry fly fishing](/source/Dry_fly_fishing).[3]

## Course

Confluence of east and west branches near Claryville

The Neversink's main flow begins just south of the border between present-day [Ulster](/source/Ulster_County%2C_New_York) and [Sullivan](/source/Sullivan_County%2C_New_York) [counties](/source/County_(United_States)), where the east and west branches of the river join near the [hamlet](/source/Hamlet_(place)) of [Claryville](/source/Claryville%2C_New_York). Both branches begin on the slopes of [Slide Mountain](/source/Slide_Mountain_(Ulster_County%2C_New_York)), the highest peak in the [Catskills](/source/Catskill_Mountains). The west branch is joined by several major tributaries, such as Biscuit Brook and Pigeon Creek at [Frost Valley YMCA](/source/Frost_Valley_YMCA) in the town of Denning, Ulster County. In its upper course, it is a rocky and wild stream, ideal for trout fishing. But, most of the land around it is privately owned and not open to fishermen.

It flows generally southwest through the mountains. Not far downriver from the confluence in [Neversink](/source/Neversink%2C_New_York), it is impounded to form the [Neversink Reservoir](/source/Neversink_Reservoir) of the New York City Water Supply System. It is connected by a 5-mile (8 km) [water tunnel](/source/Water_tunnel_(physical_infrastructure)) to [Rondout Reservoir](/source/Rondout_Reservoir), and subsequently to the [Delaware Aqueduct](/source/Delaware_Aqueduct). Development of the Neversink Reservoir resulted in the displacement of many locals, as several towns along the river were flooded to make the reservoir. New York City paid for their relocation.

Mouth of the Neversink

It flows through the town of [Fallsburg](/source/Fallsburg%2C_New_York), the hamlets of [Woodbourne](/source/Woodbourne%2C_New_York), [Fallsburg](/source/Fallsburg_(CDP)%2C_New_York), [South Fallsburg](/source/South_Fallsburg%2C_New_York), and Old Falls. It enters the town of Thompson near [Bridgeville](/source/Bridgeville%2C_New_York); [New York State Route 17](/source/New_York_State_Route_17)/[Interstate 86](/source/Interstate_86_(east)) cross it at Exit 107. The Holiday Mountain Ski Area was developed near the river. Southern Sullivan County has less developed country, and the river passes over its largest waterfalls, Denton Falls and High Falls in the [Neversink Gorge](/source/Neversink_Gorge). It flows southeastward into western [Orange County](/source/Orange_County%2C_New_York). Near [Cuddebackville](/source/Cuddebackville%2C_New_York), it is joined from the northeast by Basher Kill, then flows southwest. [US 209](/source/U.S._Route_209) runs parallel to the river, which joins the [Delaware River](/source/Delaware_River) at [Port Jervis](/source/Port_Jervis%2C_New_York). At this confluence with the Delaware, the [Tri-States Monument](/source/Tri-States_Monument) marks the tripoint of the borders of New York, [New Jersey](/source/New_Jersey), and [Pennsylvania](/source/Pennsylvania); [Interstate 84](/source/Interstate_84_(east)) bridge passes over this point.[4]

## Recreation

Along much of its length, the Neversink is a popular [trout](/source/Trout) stream, mostly north of Woodbourne. In addition to [rainbow trout](/source/Rainbow_trout), it sustains [brown trout](/source/Brown_trout), [brook trout](/source/Brook_trout) and the rare [tiger trout](/source/Tiger_trout). In the 1890s [Theodore Gordon](/source/Theodore_Gordon) expertly matched dry fishing flies to actual insects. Edward Ringwood Hewitt conducted research on insect and flies from his property above the town of Neversink. Their work led to the river gaining a reputation as birthplace of American dry fly fishing.[3] The river is home to other fish species such as [smallmouth bass](/source/Smallmouth_bass), [carp](/source/Carp), [sucker](/source/Catostomidae), [bluegill](/source/Bluegill), [American eel](/source/American_eel), and lampreys; and a diverse range of flora and fauna.

Other forms of recreation are rarely pursued on the river. Several swimming holes are available; however, many are on private property or restricted public property. The relative narrow nature of the river is not hospitable to boating. The river is mostly navigable with small watercraft from near its dam in Hasbrouck to its mouth; however, it is seldom traveled.

## History

The [Tri-States Monument](/source/Tri-States_Monument) at the confluence of the Neversink with the Delaware

The [Delaware & Hudson Canal](/source/Delaware_%26_Hudson_Canal) crossed the river at [Cuddebackville](/source/Cuddebackville%2C_New_York) by an early [aqueduct bridge](/source/Aqueduct_(bridge)) designed by [John Roebling](/source/John_Roebling) and built in 1851.

In the late 19th century the river was said to have been navigable to Claryville, where a tannery operated. The river provided a transportation waterway for the tannery's products as well as smaller steam-propelled vessels.

In heavy rains the Neversink River sometimes floods near its mouth at the Delaware River. This occurred most recently in April 2005, causing some destruction and dislocation in the Port Jervis area. The Myers Grove community near [Huguenot](/source/Huguenot%2C_Orange_County%2C_New_York) was particularly affected. In addition, heavy rains, in combination with an extended period of unusually warm weather after a moderate to heavy winter with a considerable snowpack, can produce devastating floods at the headwaters of the river from January to April. The snowpack melt increases the volume in the river at the same time as rain.

A detailed history of the river can be found in James Eldrige Quinlan's *History of Sullivan County*, published in 1873.

## Tributaries

- [Basha Kill](/source/Basha_Kill)

- [Sheldrake Stream](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sheldrake_Stream&action=edit&redlink=1)

- [Eden Brook](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eden_Brook&action=edit&redlink=1)

- [Mullet Brook](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mullet_Brook&action=edit&redlink=1)

- [Monell Brook](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Monell_Brook&action=edit&redlink=1)

## See also

- [Cuddebackville Dam](/source/Cuddebackville_Dam)

- [List of crossings of the Neversink River](/source/List_of_crossings_of_the_Neversink_River)

- [List of New York rivers](/source/List_of_New_York_rivers)

- [Neversink Preserve](/source/Neversink_Preserve)

## References

**Notes**

1. **[^](#cite_ref-NHD_1-0)** U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. [The National Map](https://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/), accessed April 1, 2011

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Bright, William (2004). [*Native American Placenames of the United States*](https://books.google.com/books?id=5XfxzCm1qa4C&pg=PA318). University of Oklahoma Press. p. 318. Retrieved 19 October 2025.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-legendary_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-legendary_3-1) Askins, Justin. *The Legendary Neversink: A Treasury of the Best Writing About One of America's Great Trout Rivers*, Skyhorse Publishing, 2007, page xv

1. **[^](#cite_ref-njgs_4-0)** Graff, Bill (Summer 2006). ["Sentinels at the Northern Border"](http://www.njgeology.org/enviroed/newsletter/v2n2.pdf) (pdf). *Unearthing New Jersey Vol. 2, No. 2*. New Jersey Geological Survey.

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Neversink River](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Neversink_River).

- [1851 Neversink Aqueduct](http://www.bridgemeister.com/bridge.php?bid=36)

- [The Neverskink Valley Area Museum](http://www.neversinkmuseum.org/new/)[*[dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

- [D&H Canal Historical Society](https://web.archive.org/web/20081211152224/http://www.canalmuseum.org/museum.htm)

- ["USGS Report, Flood of April 2–3, 2005, Neversink River Basin"](https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2006/1319/pdf/OFR2006-1319_Neversink_report.pdf) (PDF). (17.3 MB)

v t e New York City's water supply system Croton reservoirs New Croton Boyds Corner Middle Branch East Branch / Bog Brook Titicus West Branch Amawalk Muscoot Cross River Croton Falls / Diverting Catskill & Delaware reservoirs Ashokan Kensico Schoharie Rondout Neversink Pepacton Cannonsville Controlled lakes Kirk Gilead Gleneida Waterways Croton River West Branch Middle Branch East Branch Titicus River Muscoot River Cross River Esopus Creek Neversink River Rondout Creek Delaware River East Branch West Branch Aqueducts New Croton Old Croton Catskill Shandaken Delaware Neversink East Delaware West Delaware Storage reservoirs Croton Distributing Highbridge Hillview Jerome Park Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Silver Lake Ridgewood Williamsbridge Distribution tunnels NYC No. 1 NYC No. 2 NYC No. 3 (under construction) Richmond Treatment plants Catskill-Delaware UV Croton Filtration Italics indicate a decommissioned site

Authority control databases International VIAF Other Yale LUX

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Neversink River](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neversink_River) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neversink_River?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.