Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

 

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is spread across 70,000 acres (over 100 sq mi or almost 300 sq km) of recreation area along the middle section of the Delaware River.

It starts from the Delaware Water Gap, located on the New Jersey and Pennsylvania border, especially where the Delaware River intersects the Appalachian Mountains’ prominent ridge. The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area preserves many significant Native American archaeological sites. You’llYou’ll also find remains from early Dutch settlements and the colonial contact period. The vacation appeal of this place draws more than four million visitors every year.

Where is Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is spread across New Jersey and Pennsylvania. This national recreation area starts from the Delaware Water Gap (situated in the northern section of New Jersey), stretches to the state line near New York’s Port Jervis, and ends in the outskirts of Milford, Pennsylvania.

Places to Visit Nearby

There are many attractions near Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, including:

• Edge of the Woods Outfitters
• Antoine Dutot Museum and Gallery
• Chamberlain Canoes
• The Historic Castle Inn
• Lakota Wolf Preserve
• Pocono TreeVentures
• Pocono Snake and Animal Farm
• Mount Tammany
• Klues Escape Room
• Country Kettle
• Sunset Hill Shooting Range
• Sky’sSky’s The Limit Skydiving Centre
• Brook hollow winery and many more

The cities and towns near Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area are:

• Stroudsburg (Pennsylvania)
• Port Jervis (New York)
• Hackettstown (New Jersey)
• Phillipsburg (New Jersey)
• Easton (Pennsylvania)
• Hopatcong (New Jersey)
• Bethlehem (Pennsylvania)
• Northampton (Pennsylvania)
• Fullerton (Pennsylvania)
• Dover (New Jersey)
• Randolph (New Jersey)
• Allentown (Pennsylvania)
• Emmaus (Pennsylvania)
• Morristown (New Jersey)
• Somerville (New Jersey)

Things to Do

• Bicycling
• Boating
• Kayaking
• Canoeing
• Camping
• Fishing
• Grilling and Picnicking
• Hiking Trails
• Hunting
• Learn about Lenape
• Junior Ranger Programs
• Visit Visitor Centres
• Explore and enjoy the numerous waterfalls
• Discover History
• Swimming
• Scenic Driving
• Horseback Riding
• Cross-country Skiing & Snowshoeing
• Rock and Ice Climbing

Hiking

You’ll find more than 100 miles (161 km) of hiking trail in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.

Best Hikes

1. Mount Minsi through Appalachian Trail

   It is a popular hiking trail for birders, hikers, and trail runners. This 5 miles (8 km) long loop trail near Pennsylvania’sPennsylvania’s Delaware Water Gap will take you more than two hours to complete. Enjoy mesmerising views of the Delaware River, Appalachian Mountains, and Mount Tammany from Mount Minsi.

2. Buttermilk Falls and Crater Lake Loop Trail

   Buttermilk Falls and Crater Lake Loop Trail is a 6.8 miles (10.9 km) long hiking loop trail near New Jersey’sJersey’s Newton. This popular trail among campers and hikers is a challenging route, which will take over three hours to complete. It offers you a little of everything, from waterfalls, amazing views, valley and ridge walking, ravines, and many more activities.

3. Hackers Falls and Cliff Trail Loop

   This 3.7 miles (6 km) long loop trail near Pennsylvania’s Milford is moderately challenging. It takes less than 2 hours to complete. Hackers Falls and Cliff Trail Loop is a popular hiking trail. April to October is the best time to visit this trail.

4. Hornbeck Creek (Indian Ladders) Trail

   Hornbeck Creek (Indian Ladders) Trail is a moderately challenging out-and-back trail near Pennsylvania’sPennsylvania’s Dingmans Ferry. A popular trail among hikers, fishing enthusiasts, and bird watchers will take around one and half hours to complete the trail. March to November is the best time to visit this trail.

5. Dingmans Falls through Dingmans Creek Trail

   It is a 1.4 miles (2.3 km) long out-and-back trail near Pennsylvania’sPennsylvania’s Dingmans Ferry. A popular trail among hikers, walkers, and birders, Dingmans Falls through Dingmans Creek Trail will take an hour to complete. March to November is the best time to visit this trail.

All Hiking Trails

• Trails in the Northern Part of the Recreation Area

• • Buchanan
  • Childs Park
  • Cliff
  • Conasauga View
  • Dingmans Creek
  • Hackers
  • Lower Hornbecks Creek
  • Upper Hornbecks Creek
  • McDade Recreation
  • Milford Knob
  • Pond Loop
  • Quarry Path
  • Raymondskill Creek
  • Upper Ridge Road

• Trails in the Middle Part of the Recreation Area

  • Appalachian
  • Blue Mountain Lake
  • Buttermilk Falls
  • Coppermine
  • Coventry Pond
  • Crater Lake
  • Donkeys Corner
  • Fossil
  • Hamilton Ridge
  • Hemlock Pond
  • Hidden Lake
  • Kaiser
  • McDade Recreation
  • Military Road
  • Orchard
  • Pioneer
  • Railway Avenue
  • Rattlesnake Swamp
  • Ridgeline
  • Scenic Gorge
  • Toms Creek
  • Tumbling Waters
  • Two Ponds
  • Van Campens Glen
  • Walpack Ridge

• Trails in the Southern Part of the Recreation Area

  • Appalachian
  • Arrow Island
  • Beulahland
  • Douglas
  • Dunnfield Creek
  • Garvey Springs
  • Holly Springs
  • McDade Recreation
  • Mt. Tammany (Red Dot)
  • Pahaquarry (Blue Blaze)
  • Rock cores
  • Slateford Loop
  • Turquoise

Facts

• The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is spread across 66,741 acres (104.28 sq mi or 270.09 sq km).

• It was established as a national park on September 1, 1965.

• Around 4,068,529 people visited Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in 2020.

Best Time To Visit

The middle year months (especially from June to August) are the best time to visit Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. This time is also the busiest season for tourism.

Visiting Hours

It remains open to visitors throughout the year-round the clock.

Visiting Hours of:

• Park Headquarters: Temporarily Closed
• Kittatinny Point Visitor Centre: Temporarily Closed
• Dingmans Falls Visitor Centre: Temporarily Closed
• Millbrook Village: Sunrise – Sunset

Tickets Price

• No Entrance Fee is there in the park.
• Private Vehicle Fee (for up to 7 persons): US$10.00 per vehicle
• Personal Vehicles having eight or more adults (of 16 years or older): US$2.00 per person
• Pedestrian (of 16 years or older): US$2.00 per person
• Season Pass: US$45
• 2ndSeason Pass (which is registered to the same person’s name and address): US$25
• 3rd Season Pass (which is reported to the same person’s name and address): US$12.50
• America the Beautiful Pass Program:
  • Annual Pass: US$80
  • Senior Pass
    • Lifetime: US$80.00
  • Access Pass: Free
  • 4th Grade Pass: Free
  • Military Pass: Free
  • Volunteer Pass: Free

US National Parks Map