Delaware Water Gap

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area spans the New Jersey–Pennsylvania border along a 70-kilometer (43-mile) stretch of the Delaware River, where the river cuts through Kittatinny Ridge of the Appalachian Mountains. The recreation area covers more than 280 square kilometers of forested ridges, river beaches, waterfalls, and 19th-century villages; all NPS trailheads and access points are free. From Newark, the drive via I-80 West to Exit 1 in New Jersey covers roughly 80 kilometers (50 miles) in one to one and a half hours. No public transit serves the park interior, making a car the only practical option. The Dunnfield Creek Natural Area, accessible from the Kittatinny Point Visitor Center at I-80 Exit 1, is the park's most frequented trail corridor. The Dunnfield Creek Trail climbs through a hardwood ravine past a series of cascades to Sunfish Pond, a glacially formed lake at approximately 450 meters elevation on Kittatinny Ridge. The full round-trip distance is roughly 18 kilometers with about 300 meters of elevation gain and takes four to six hours at moderate pace. For shorter outings, the lower cascade section covers 3 kilometers round-trip to the first waterfall and is accessible to most walkers. On the Pennsylvania side of the recreation area, Raymondskill Falls near Milford is the tallest waterfall in Pennsylvania at approximately 37 meters; a 0.6-kilometer trail from the parking area descends steeply to the falls base. Bushkill Falls, a privately operated attraction adjacent to the park in Pennsylvania, presents eight waterfalls on a network of trails ranging from a 20-minute loop to a two-hour hike; adult admission is $21. River access for swimming, tubing, and fishing is available at Milford Beach, Smithfield Beach, and Dingmans Ferry Beach on the Pennsylvania side of the river. Kayak and canoe rentals are available from outfitters near Dingmans Ferry during summer months. The Kittatinny Point Visitor Center at I-80 Exit 1 provides trail maps, waterfall condition updates, and river beach opening schedules.