NARROWSBURG – The Upper Delaware Scenic Byway will host its first ever Scavenger Hunt contest from June 1 through August 31 with 30+ family-friendly adventures to be found on and off NYS Route 97.

Participation is open to regional residents and visitors. It simply requires the use of a cell phone to download a free app. For the details, visit www.udsb.net/scavengerhunt. 

Once the contest opens, participants can start the journey at their own pace, and the app will tally the points to qualify contestants for different tiers of completion prizes, including three Grand Prize packages.

The challenges explore the historical landmarks, beautiful valley views, and small town charm that make the Upper Delaware Scenic Byway special. They range from hikes into the woods and engaging with historic markers to answering fun riddles and taking photos at memorable sites. Every stop has its own unique story. 

Participants do not need to complete the scavenger hunt continuously and are encouraged to take their time. This is not a race; it’s an engaging way to discover some of the fantastic attractions and businesses that are scattered along and near the byway corridor.

The byway’s member municipalities are the Village of Hancock, Towns of Delaware, Cochecton, Tusten, Highland, Lumberland and Deerpark and the City of Port Jervis.

In the 1920s, a road construction project along the New York side of the Delaware River was initiated to link the many settlements along the river in Delaware, Sullivan, and Orange Counties. It was dedicated as the ‘Most Scenic Highway in the East’ on August 30, 1939. This same 71-mile linear corridor, Route 97, now defines the Upper Delaware Scenic Byway which was legislatively added to the NYS Scenic Byways System on August 6, 2002.

The byway largely parallels the Upper Delaware River, which the U.S. Congress added to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System in 1978 in recognition of its remarkable natural and cultural resources. 

Since 2002, a committee of municipally appointed volunteers has overseen the Upper Delaware Scenic Byway Enhancement Concept Plan dedicated to protecting this region’s outstanding character, heritage, and beauty, while encouraging economic development through tourism and recreation. 

For more information on the UDSB, Inc. 501(c)3 organization’s activities, grant programs, and the Upper Delaware Scavenger Hunt, please visit www.UDSB.net, email info@UDSB.net, or record a message on the toll-free hotline of 866- 511-UDSB (8372).

The Upper Delaware Scavenger Hunt is supported in part by the Delaware County Tourism Development Grant Program funded by the Occupancy Tax.