Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Pennsylvania - October 13th to 14th, 2021

Every area that we visit is unique. There are always similarities with other areas we’ve been to and always something unexpected to experience. It doesn’t have to be the most spectacular or the most unusual to be enjoyable. Our time in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area was a lot of fun.

On Wednesday, the drive from Minute Man Campground near Boston to the Delaware Water Gap KOA in Pennsylvania was long by our standards, so we stuck to the interstate. The KOA is at the south end of Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. We exited I-84 just north of Milford, Pennsylvania and drove south through the park. It was time for ice cream by that time, so we stopped at Green Valley Farms Market and Creamery in Milford. In addition to the ice cream, they had fresh farm produce, meats, cheeses, milk, and baked goods. Right Buddy (RB) was a little sad that she didn’t have space in the van to purchase more of the products they had to offer. She did buy a half gallon of apple cider and managed to find space for it in our fridge. Oh, and the ice cream was tasty.

We stopped again at the Dingmans Falls Visitor Center. We were hoping to buy a sticker to add to our collection of NPS stickers on our sink cabinet and fridge. Unfortunately, the visitor center was closed. However, just behind the visitor center is Silver Thread Falls. A short walk leads to Dingmans Falls (Dingmans Creek Trail), so we took the trail to check them out. Both falls are pretty impressive.

It was dinner time by the time we arrived at the KOA. Our site was on the edge of the property and backed up to a horse pasture. A handful of horses grazed while we prepared dinner. The campground was not very busy, but it was a weekday late in the season. Business will probably pick up on the weekend. The campground was having a Halloween decorating contest the coming weekend, but we will be gone by then.

Thursday we hiked Mount Tammany. The trail is on the New Jersey side of Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. The trailhead is on a westbound exit of I-80. To get there, Google had us get on I-80 heading east, then make a U-turn at the weigh station just past the trailhead. We were a little hesitant exiting at a weigh station, but once you exit, there are signs directing you to make the U-turn to get back on I-80 in the opposite direction. We’re sure people do this all the time.

There are two parking areas next to each other. The first one does not have toilets and is at the start of the Red Dot Trail. The second one has a couple of port-a-potties and is for the Blue Dot and Appalachian trails. A short section of the Red Dot Trail connects the two parking lots.

Our plan was to hike up the Red Dot Trail to the Mount Tammany overlook and come back down the Blue Dot Trail (Mount Tammany: Red Dot and Blue Dot Loop Trail). The last part of a mile on the Blue Dot Trail joins the Appalachian Trial. We parked in the first parking lot even though there were no restrooms. We had gone before we left the campground, but usually Left Buddy (LB) is ready to go again at the trailhead as his morning coffee filters through his body by then. We were not sure there were bathrooms at the other trailhead, so LB just managed to hold it.

The Red Dot Trail is steep and rocky. There are nice views of the gap and neighboring Mount Minsi along the way. We could hear nuts falling from the trees all around us, but thankfully none of them landed on our heads. Just before the overlook at the top, there was an area that looked like it opened up a bit and might have a nice view. We checked the map on AllTrails and saw we were almost to the overlook, but the recording on AllTrails showed a spur at this point. However, the terrain was not good footing so we decided to move on to the overlook.

As we were sitting at the overlook enjoying our snacks and the view, another couple came along. They asked if we walked out to the view just a little ways back. The couple claimed the view was much better from there. So RB grabbed her camera and went back. The spur trail is not obvious. If she didn’t have the AllTrails app, she probably would not have found it. The spur trail is not marked. You have to duck under a tree branch to reach the start of it. And yes, the view from the end of the spur trail was worth it. You can see up and down the Delaware River from there. So if you go on this trail, be sure not to miss the little spur!

The Blue Dot Trail on the way down from the main overlook is not as steep as the Red Dot Trail, but it is still rocky. There are no views of the valley or river from this trail. However, it heads down to Dunnfield Creek, so along the last section of the trail you can hear the water flowing in the creek and see the cascading waterfalls. Part way along the creek is where the Appalachian National Scenic Trail joins with the Blue Dot Trail, just before reaching the second parking lot.

Our hike for the day was a total of 4.5 miles (including RB’s double back to the spur trail) with an elevation gain of 1302 feet which we completed in three hours and 35 minutes. It was hike number 48 of our 52 Hike Challenge.

On the way back to the campground, we stopped at Llama Ice Cream in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. The ice cream shop had a wonderful selection of unusual flavors. However, we were too quick to order our favorites and should have taken more time to investigate the other flavors they had. RB had her usual mint chocolate chip and chocolate waffle cone while LB had his typical vanilla shake. If we ever go back, we will definitely try some of their other flavors.

The rest of the day was spent at the Delaware Water Gap KOA. As we drove back into the campground, there was a group of guinea fowl grazing. Guinea fowl are not found in the wild in the United States. Given the permanent Guinea crossing signs in the campground, we’re assuming the campground is raising them, even though they are not penned in.

While we were cooking dinner, the horses came back briefly to visit us behind our camp site. Feeling relaxed and clean from our showers, we turned in early. The next day was a long driving day and we wanted to get an early start.

We had a wonderful time exploring the natural surroundings in Delaware Water Gap. We will definitely be back in the future to explore more of its many trails.

Check out our related video: Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Pennsylvania

(RB)