Hiking

The Red Dot Trail's stairs are the beginning of a physically challenging trail. Please come prepared with necessities like hiking boots, extra water, and sunscreen.

NPS/Michael Cuff

A Trail For Every Sole

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area offers over 150 miles of trails of various difficulty levels. From wheelchair accessible trails, like Dingmans Falls boardwalk trail, to strenuous hikes, like the Mount Tammany Red Dot Trail, there is a perfect trail for everyone.

When getting ready for a woodsy adventure, remember hiking safety protocols. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear with soles made for hiking, bring water for all hikers and pets, and leave no trace when recreating in the park.

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation encompasses more than 70,000 acres with varying weather patterns. When planning a hike, always check the local weather before and during your visit.

Winter Conditions

Trail Access: All trails that are currently open will remain open during the winter, but trailhead parking will be dependent on conditions and may be limited in some areas. Road closures may also affect access to some trails. Trailhead parking areas that will remain open during the winter months will not be cleared of ice and snow until after all priority routes are clear and safe for travel.

• Access to the McDade Recreational Trail will be available at Smithfield Beach, Park Headquarters, Bushkill Access, Bushkill Meeting Center (northern parking lot), and Milford Beach.
• The parking lot and access road to Dingmans Falls will remain closed to vehicles from January 2, or the first significant snowfall, to April 15 but the trail will remain open, and visitors may walk, ski, or snowshoe to the falls. Restrooms are closed.
• The upper parking lot for Raymondskill Falls will be closed from the first snowfall until April 15 but the lower parking lot will remain open, as conditions permit.
• The Cliff Park trailhead parking area will receive no winter maintenance and will be open as conditions allow. Trailhead restrooms will be closed until May.

Important Parking Information

Parking lots for our most popular trails like Mt. Tammany, Mt. Minsi, Raymondskill Falls, Dingmans Falls, Hackers Falls in Pennsylvania, and Buttermilk Falls in New Jersey, are usually full by 9:00 am on Saturdays and Sundays, during the spring to fall seasons.

Avoid crowded trailheads by hiking early on weekends, enjoying the quieter weekdays, or choosing a less traveled trail, such as Conashaugh Trail System in Pennsylvania, or Coventry Pond Trail in New Jersey.

If you have any questions or want more infomation, call our park headquarters at [phone]. You can also check our Facebook page on summer weekends for real time updates.

 

Map of hiking trails within the National Recreation Area. Click on image to open full size image.

NPS Map

Hikers enjoy the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area during all months of the year. During winter, the snow-covered trails and bare deciduous trees create a calm and peaceful environment. Spring provides a chorus of buzzing pollinators flying between wildflowers and flowering trees. In summer, families can cool off and picnic at one of our three beaches, and hikers can wander through shaded forests. Autumn hikers experience cooler air and fiery mountain sides as the leaves turn to bright harvest colors. Every season offers a change of scenery and a new experience.

Trail maps can be found at our visitor centers and in the Guide to the Gap.

 

Trails: Northern Part of the Park

Trail Name	Miles	Rating*	Highlights	Status
Buchanan	1.1	E-M	forest	OPEN
Childs Park	1.4	E-M	forest, waterfalls, history	CLOSED
Cliff	2.8	M	forest, scenic vista	OPEN
Conashaugh View	8.7	M-D	forest	OPEN
Dingmans Creek	0.4	E	forest, waterfalls	OPEN
Hackers	1.4	M	forest, waterfall	OPEN
Lower Hornbecks Creek	1.9	E-D	forest, waterfall	OPEN
Upper Hornbecks Creek	0.8	M-D	forest, waterfall	OPEN
McDade Recreation	31.0	E-D	forest, fields, river	OPEN **
Milford Knob	1.3	M-D	forest, scenic vista	OPEN
Pond Loop	0.7	E	forest, pond	OPEN
Quarry Path	0.5	M-D	forest	OPEN
Raymondskill Creek	0.3	M-D	forest, waterfall	OPEN
Upper Ridge Road	2.5	E-M	forest	OPEN

E = Easy
M = Moderate
D = Difficult

** Note: The section of the McDade Trail between the Pittman Orchard and Conashaugh trailheads is closed annually between February and July for important resource protection (Nesting Eagles and Raptors).

 

Trails: Middle Part of the Park

Trail Name	Miles	Rating*	Highlights	Status
Appalachian	28.0	E-M-D	forest, scenic vista	OPEN
Blue Mountain Lake	5.9	E-M	forest, lake	OPEN
Buttermilk Falls	1.4	D	forest, waterfall	OPEN
Coppermine	2.0	M-D	forest, history	OPEN
Coventry Pond	0.9	E-M	forest, pond	OPEN
Crater Lake	1.6	E-M	forest, lake	OPEN
Donkeys Corner	1.8	M-D	forest, stream	OPEN
Fossil	1.3	M	forest, fossil	OPEN
Hamilton Ridge	2.8	E-M	forest	OPEN
Hemlock Pond	1.0	E	forest, pond	OPEN
Hidden Lake	1.9	E	forest, lake	OPEN
Kaiser	2.0	M-D	forest	OPEN
McDade Recreation	31.0	E-M-D	forest, fields, river	OPEN
Military Road	1.1	M	forest, history	OPEN
Orchard	0.5	M-D	forest	OPEN
Pioneer	2.5	E-M	forest	OPEN
Railway Avenue	0.4	E	forest, history	OPEN
Rattlesnake Swamp	2.6	E-M	forest, wetland	OPEN
Ridgeline	3.2	M	forest	OPEN
Scenic Gorge	2.0	M	forest	OPEN
Toms Creek	0.8	E	forest, stream	OPEN
Tumbling Waters	2.8	M-D	forest, waterfall	OPEN
Two Ponds	1.5	E	forest, pond	OPEN
Van Campens Glen	1.5	M	forest, waterfall	OPEN
Walpack Ridge	3.0	M	forest, pond	OPEN

E = Easy
M = Moderate
D = Difficult

 

Trails: Southern Part of the Park

Trail Name	Miles	Rating*	Highlights	Status
Appalachian	28.0	E-M-D	forest, scenic vista	OPEN
Arrow Island	0.9	M	forest	OPEN
Beulahland°	1.3	M	forest	OPEN
Douglas°	1.6	D	forest	OPEN
Dunnfield Creek°	3.5	M	forest, stream	OPEN
Garvey Springs°	1.2	D	forest	OPEN
Holly Springs°	0.4	M	forest	OPEN
McDade Recreation	31.0	E-M-D	forest, field, river	OPEN
Mt. Tammany (Red Dot)°	1.2	D	forest, scenic vista	OPEN
Pahaquarry (Blue Blaze)°	1.7	D	forest, scenic vista	OPEN
Rockcores°	2.7	M	forest	OPEN
Slateford Loop	2.5	E-M	forest, history	OPEN
Turquoise°	1.1	E-M	forest, scenic vista	OPEN

E = Easy
M = Moderate
D = Difficult

° = This trail is located in Worthington State Forest

 

 

The MCTA Pocono Pony Hiker Shuttle is a great alternative to trying to find parking at our most popular trails. Don't miss the bus! Click on the photo for more details

NPS/Michael Cuff

Hiker Shuttle Information

Many of our most popular trails become overwhelmed with visitors on weekends and holidays. These high visitation days lead to extremely limited parking. To ensure all of our visitors have a chance to experience these popular sites, we have two hiker shuttles running from auxillary parking areas to the trailheads.

For visitors attempting to hike either mountain in the Delaware Water Gap, we have the hiker shuttle that leaves from the Delaware Water Gap Park and Ride. Guests can park in the Park and Ride or Pennsylvania Welcome Center lots, and ride the shuttle to the Mount Minsi and Mount Tammany trailheads.

New in 2022!

New year, new shuttle! The hiker shuttle to Raymondskill Falls runs weekends and holiday Mondays from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Visitors can park at the North Contact Station/ Milford Knob Trailhead parking area and be shuttled to Raymondskill Falls.

The Hiker Shuttle is provided through a partnership between the National Park Service and the Monroe County Transportation Authority. To learn more about the program or view shuttle routes and schedule information, please visit the MCTA Hiker Shuttle website.