When the first Swedish settlers arrived near the mouth of the Salem River in 1638 the Lenape referred to the waterway as the Asamhocking. The Swedes called it Varkins Kil. When John Fenwick arrived in 1675 he laid out Salem Town on the River and the stream eventually took the name of the town. The river (or creek as it was sometimes called) was an important means of transportation for the area. In their 1844 History of Salem County, Barber and Howe indicate that it was navigable by shallops for 30 miles and ships of 100 tons came up as far as Salem Town.
The Salem River drains much of Salem County. It arises in Upper Pittsgrove Township and flows west. Near Deepwater it turns south and becomes an estuary, Kates Creek Meadow, before narrowing again to empty into the Delaware River southwest of Salem. There have been multiple modifications to the river since colonial times. Denn's Canal, a 0.5 mile cut, eliminated the last bend in the river below Salem and saved about 2 mies of travel. It was started around 1820 and completed around 1840. Another canal was dug to connect the river to the Delaware just north of Pennsville. This canal, known as the Salem Canal or the Penn's Neck Canal, was begun in 1868 at the same time that the most downstream dam on the river was built. This dam is about 0.5 miles downstream of Hawk's Bridge Rd. This dam is important to geocachers because it isolates the upstream portion of the river from the significant tidal variation that is seen downstream.
The cache requires an adequate watercraft for access. You will have to disembark to find both stages. There are no docking facilities but shallow draft vessels like kayaks and canoes will find adequate areas to beach at both stages. Please know your limits and follow all boating safety rules. Do not travel alone. Wear your PFD at all times! You WILL encounter motor boats and this river HAS NO SPEED LIMITS!! Do not attempt this cache in cold weather without adequate personal protective clothing.
Stage 1 contains the coordinates for the final. I am sorry about the greenbrier at GZ, I removed as much as I could (and I have the stripes to prove it.) Choose your approach wisely. FTF gets a rare SJG tag. If you already have one take something else. Cache is big enough for small trade items, please trade up or trade even. PLEASE replace as found!!