Paddling on the Delaware River
Enjoy an 11-mile section of the Delaware River from Kittatinny’s River Beach Base in Milford,
PA, to Dingman’s Access. The river is a calm water destination with few notable rapids. It is ideal for
beginners to develop paddling and river reading skills and perfect for the experienced paddler who enjoys the
untamed peaceful beauty of the Middle Delaware. You will arrive at the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation
Area four miles into this trip. Paddle through forested mountains in long deep pools and brief stretches of
shallow riffles with barely a house in sight. Paddlers of all skill levels appreciate Middle Delaware's
peaceful beauty, wildlife sightings, and high water quality. You will see stunning scenery with lush vegetation
and abundant wildlife—a good possibility to see bald eagles, osprey, and occasionally whitetail deer. You will
notice primitive campsites on both sides of the river and some of its islands, offering overnight stays. Canoe,
Kayak, Double Kayak, and Solo Canoe Available. This is a long novice-level trip.
- Bring Water, Food, Sunscreen, Lotion, and Paddlers Wallet
- Wear: Swimsuit, Hat, Long Sleeve Sun Shirt, Paddlers Wallet, and Croakies / Chums for any eyewear
- Closed-toe water shoes are mandatory
- Cost $TBD per person
- Time: 8:30 am ~ 4:30 pm
- Limit 30 people
- Distance from camp: Put-In 9 Miles/25 Min | Takeout 15 Miles/30 Min
- Vehicle: Vendor Supplied Bus
- Click HERE for more info
Port Jervis Watershed Park Mountain Bike Ride
Cut through "virgin forest," the Port Jervis Watershed Park’s hiking and biking trails offer a great
combination of single-track, cross-country, and excellent downhill riding. These very scenic trails offer
tranquil moments along the three reservoirs and spectacular views over the Delaware River, Port Jervis proper,
and the borders of three states. It’s a vast tract of land boasting varying terrain and old-growth tree areas.
There are over 30 miles of trail built into the encompassing 1,868 acres in Port Jervis and an adjoining 370
acres in neighboring Deer Park for hikers, bikers, and walkers, but not for motorists of any kind. “It’s
strictly a motor-free environment,”
This is a full-on mountain bike ride, with intermediate MTB biking skills required. You can choose an 8-mile or
11-mile route around the park for three to four hours. Part of the park is on a Mountain, and parts are in the
valleys around three lakes, with ups and downs in between. A suggested route will be provided, but the group is
welcome to adjust as needed. Rentals are available from Action Bikes and Outdoor Shop. You are welcome to bring
your own mountain bike in your own vehicle.
Bushkill Falls Hike
The “Niagara of Pennsylvania,” Bushkill Falls is among Keystone State’s most
famous scenic attractions. This unique series of eight waterfalls, nestled deep in the wooded Pocono Mountains,
is accessible through an excellent network of hiking trails, walkways, steps, and bridges, which afford fabulous
views of the falls and the surrounding forest. The drop of the Main Falls is approximately one hundred feet. The
drop is about three hundred feet from the top of the first falls to the bottom of the lower gorge. In addition
to the beautiful views of the falls, there are plenty of places to marvel at the rock formations and plant life.
Rhododendrons, hemlocks, wild asters, maidenhair ferns, lichen & moss are just a few of nature's
wonders to enjoy. It is not your typical nature walk-- it is a sightseeing adventure!
The group will take the two-mile Red Trail, which has a lot of flights of stairs up and down along the
water's edge. Most of the trail (but not all) is decked, and many of the steps are also decked.
Wear sturdy walking or hiking shoes that have good traction on slippery, mossy, rocky areas. Hiking poles
are not recommended. Bring a hat, sunscreen, water, and snacks. Pack lunch at breakfast and $$$ for the gift
shop. Carry all your belongings with you on the trail.
- Please wear sturdy walking/hiking shoes that have good traction for slippery/ mossy rocky areas.
- Bring $$$ for purchases at the gift shop, trading store, and concession stands.
- Cost: $18 Transportation Fee + $22 Entrance Fee = $40
- Time: 8:00 am~ 1:30 pm
- Limit 40 People
- Distance from camp: 21 Miles / 45 Min
- Vehicle: Passenger Van or Personal Cars (TBD)
- YouTube: Video 1 / Video
2 | Video 3
- Facebook / Vendor Website
- Vendor Trails / AllTrails of the area
- Click HERE for more details
Hike to Stairway to Heaven on the Appalachian Trail
Pochuck Valley to Pinwheel Vista is a gorgeous and diverse section of the Appalachian
Trail through northern NJ.
Discover the Appalachian Trail's stunning and diverse part in northern New Jersey. Hike along boardwalks,
across a suspension bridge, through hardwood forests, past fields of wildflowers, alongside train tracks, near a
cow pasture, and over a boulder field before steeply ascending more than 1,100 feet up the “Stairway to Heaven”
to reach one of the best viewpoints in NJ: Pinwheel Vista. At the top, you can see the Kittatinny Mountains in
the distance, farms in the valley below, and the High Point Monument on clear days. Then, turn around and
retrace your steps.
This is a moderate hike, with the trail surface varying from easy boardwalks to flat, hard-packed areas, dirt,
and some challenging rocky sections. The “Stairway to Heaven” includes rock slab steps with switchbacks leading
up Wawayanda Mountain.
This is an out-and-back hike covering 7.4 miles. We will proceed at a moderate pace of about 2 miles per hour,
slowing down on the uphill sections with occasional breaks. Hiking shoes or trail runners are required. We may
stop at Heaven Hill Farm for ice cream, depending on the group's time and interest.
- Bring standard hiking gear: hat, food, water, hiking stick, and sturdy hiking shoes
- Cost: $18 Transportation Fee (bring cash with you for ice cream)
- Time: 8:30 am ~ 4:30 pm
- Limit: 12 People
- 8:30 am ~ 4:30 pm
- Vehicle: Passenger Van or Personal Cars (TBD)
- Distance from camp: 45 Min / 32 Miles
- Click HERE for more details
Moderate Hiking at PEEC: 3.8-Mile Tumbling Waters Trail and 1.5-Mile Scenic Gorge Trail
Discover the breathtaking beauty of Tumbling Waters
Trail, a captivating 3.8-mile hike that winds alongside serene creeks and through lush hemlock ravines. This
moderately challenging trail, marked with vibrant orange blazes, begins at Fossil Trail, conveniently located
just thirty yards from the Pocono Environmental Education Center’s dining hall, directly across from the group
lodges.
Start your adventure and, after a mile, be rewarded with stunning vistas from Hermits Hill, where mesmerizing
views of the Delaware Valley and Kittatinny Mountains await. Experience the rich diversity of nature along the
path, which meanders through majestic oak and hickory forests, as well as hemlock ravines showcasing remnants of
historic farms.
Venture down a series of switchbacks at 1.5 miles, where wooden stairs lead you 240 feet down to a picturesque
waterfall—a perfect spot to pause for lunch and enjoy the tranquil sounds of nature. After rejuvenating, tackle
the ascent back to the main trail, summiting Killer Hill with an elevation gain of 340 feet from the falls to
the peak. Encounter a variety of landscapes, including a beautiful hemlock forest, a mixed oak forest, and a
peaceful pine plantation, which leads you to Pickerel Pond, just minutes from the trail’s end.
After a well-deserved break at the main lodge for restrooms, continue your journey with an additional hour of
hiking on the easy-to-moderate 1.5-mile Scenic Gorge, starting with the welcoming Ridgeline Trail. Immerse
yourself in the stunning open hardwood forest ecosystem, contrasting with the cool, dark canopy of hemlocks
beside Spackman's Creek.
You can extend your outdoor adventure by exploring the engaging displays at the PEEC grounds, located right in
the main lodge, making for an unforgettable visit.
- This hike repeats on Sunday.
- Bring standard hiking gear: Hat, Walking Stick, Water, Food, Hiking Shoes
- Cost: $18 Transportation Fee (bring cash with you to the gift shop)
- Time: 8:30 am ~ 2:30 pm
- Limit: 20 People
- Distance from camp: 15 Miles /25 Min one-way
- Vehicle: Bus
- Cost" $18 Transportation Fee
- Video of Tumbling Waterfall / Video of Hike 1 / Video of Hike 2
- Pictures of the trail
- Click HERE for more details
Moderate 4.5 Mile Ridgeline Trail and Upper Indian Ladder Falls Hike at Pocono Environmental Education Center
This moderate 4.5-mile trail with over 570 ft elevation gain of several ups and downs, marked with yellow
blazes, features oak-hickory forests, ravines, and wetlands that lead into a mature hemlock forest along
Spackman’s Creek. The Ridgeline Trail coincides with the Scenic Gorge Trail for the first and last half miles.
Remnants of rock walls indicate that this area was once farmland. You will climb ridges and descend steeply
using a rope to reach the gorge while exploring the remains of a cabin and an abandoned dam. The path meanders
through wetlands and leads to a 15-foot waterfall on Alicia Creek before returning alongside the stream to the
start. Additionally, we will visit Upper Indian Ladders Falls, a 30-foot multi-tiered waterfall along Upper
Hornbeck’s Creek.
- Bring standard hiking gear: Hat, Walking Stick, Water, Food, Hiking Shoes
- Pack your lunch during breakfast.
- Distance from camp: 15 Miles /25 Min one-way
- Length: 4.5 miles, loop
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Blaze: Yellow
- Elevation Change: 220 feet with 570 feet gain overall with all the ups and downs.
- YouTube1 YouTube2
- Click HERE for more details
Cornelia & Florence Bridge Nature Preserve
Enjoy a peaceful, leisurely
stroll through the forest near the camp. A significant portion of the three miles of trails in the Preserve are
handicap accessible, featuring gentle hills with a total elevation gain and loss of under 200 ft and primarily
wide, flat paths. However, be cautious in certain areas where rocks and tree roots may pose tripping hazards.
Before his recent passing, Township native Charles Bridge donated his family's 300-acre property to Dingman
Township.
Charlie had two specific visions for the property: to honor his late wife's and mother's dream of
preserving the land and to ensure it remains accessible for public enjoyment. Additionally, he requested that
the park be named the Cornelia and Florence Bridge Preserve in their honor.
- Bring a hat, water, Sneakers, and decent walking shoes. Some spots might get muddy if it rained recently.
- Time:10:00 am~ 2:00 pm
- Limit: 15 people
- Distance from camp: The hike starts in camp
- Facebook / Website/ Historical Background / Park
Map
- Click HERE for more details
Grey Towers and Milford Town Tour
Grey Towers, the ancestral home of Gifford Pinchot—the first chief of the U.S. Forest
Service and a two-time Governor of Pennsylvania—is celebrated as the birthplace of conservation in America. It
now serves as a conservation education center, offering programs highlighting the Pinchot family's legacy.
We'll enjoy a one-hour private tour of the mansion and its grounds, plus some time to explore further and
possibly hike in the woods.
Afterward, we'll head to Milford, PA, where you can shop at local stores or take a self-guided tour of the
historic district dating back to 1733. Milford is the northern gateway to the Delaware Water Gap National
Recreation Area. This significant village is known for its conservation history, with 75% designated National Historic District featuring boutiques, shops, art
galleries, and antiques.
Incorporated on December 25, 1874, Milford's history dates back to 1733 when Tom Quick settled here. The
village layout, designed by John Biddis in 1796, includes streets named after his children. Notable historic
buildings include Forest Hall, Hotel Fauchere,
the Courthouse, Grey Towers, The Columns (which display The Lincoln Flag), the Upper
Mill, Community House, Callahan House, Dimmick Inn, and Tom Quick Inn. Strolling along these tree-lined streets
evokes feelings of peace and nostalgia. A section of Broad and Harford Streets was designated as a National
Historic District in 1999.
Milford is perched on an escarpment above the Delaware River, where waterways create a fluviarchy—an interconnected
series of waterfalls that powered the mills crucial to Milford's 19th-century economy.