Columbia Wildlife Management Area, NJ - Liberty - Water Gap Trail

ABOUT THE PARK: 

Liberty Gap Trail - This is confusing because libertygap.org is now a roofing company but libertygap.org/blog still goes to information about the Liberty-Water Gap Trail.  It appears that this trail was started, maybe even finished, but doesn't look as though it has been maintained.

DIRECTIONS: 

GPS Coordinates 40.923184, -75.096768

The NYNJ Trail Conference map does not show any parking along the section that I was hiking but I found spots in Portland, PA right at the start of the Liberty- Water Gap Trail pedestrian bridge over the Delaware River.

TRAIL MAP:
NY/NJ Trail Conference - Kittatinny Trails Map #120

HIKE DISTANCE: 

4.4 miles (2.2 miles each way)

THE HIKE: 

Having just hiked the Mount Minsi/Mountain Road Loop, it was only noon and I had taken a day off work to hike so I tacked on this hike that I always wanted to do but was too short of a section to warrant a trip.

Heading to the pedestrian bridge.

The western end of the Liberty-Water Gap Trail on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware River.

On the left, Mount Minsi where we had just hiked, and Mount Tammany on the right.

There aren't many of these trail markers.

The trail follows a quiet residential street along the Delaware River with a wide shoulder for walking.

Route 611

I thought we already were in New Jersey?  That residential street merges on to Route 46 which is fairly busy and where things get really confusing.  You need to cross over, presumably before the bridge over the Paulinskill River because just the other side of that bridge under the I-80 sign ...

... are Liberty-Water Gap signs that you would not see from the other side.  I had a lot of trouble finding the trail and almost turned back then finally found it.   So cross over, then turn right and go past the gravel driveway at the end of the guardrail.  That driveway leads to a house.  The trail will actually enter the woods a short distance beyond the driveway then loop around skirting the back of that yard.

So after that driveway, watch closely for a woods road to the left with a trail marker.

This will be the last marker for this section of the trail.

This woods road loops around right into the yard of that house, which was really weird.  Fortunately a woman was getting into her car and I asked her if that was the trail.  She was very nice and said yes, the trail follows their property line around the back of their yard so it really feels like you are in someone's yard but she said it was fine.

So you just follow the perimeter of the yard and the woods road continues.

Following along the Paulinskill River.

Coming up on I-80.

And into a tunnel under I-80.

It is quite creepy in here and it is pitch black.  My cell phone flashlight did not help much.

Coming out at the other end at a gate.

Now it's gravel road the rest of the way.

Song Sparrow

The gate looks daunting but you can get around it to the right.  I would think it is just to keep cars out.

Lots of tiger lilies along the way.

Coming up on Warrington Road.  The trail continues right briefly to the Paulinskill Valley Rail Trail where I had hiked the next section previously but we turned left for a look at the bridge.

Paulinskill River

Heading back.

This time when I stopped for a break I got out the nifty little flashlight my daughter-in-law's sister had given me for Christmas a few years ago.

This did a great job lighting the way.

Coming back into that back yard a man was now there and I stopped and spoke with him.  He was also very nice and did say that they do get people using that trail and everyone gets concerned about going around their yard.  He keeps that edge mowed so people can see where the trail goes back into the woods.  

Right on Route 46.

Crossing Route 46 ...

... over the bridge ...

... then keeping left on that quiet residential street.

Coming up on the pedestrian bridge.

Delaware Water Gap, PA - Mount Minsi to Mountain Road Loop

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 40.979776, -75.141934

Lenape Lake Parking - Note that parking has changed from years past.  There is now a one-way entrance and one-way exit and there is no longer ANY parking allowed along the road (thank goodness - that was a hot mess the last time I was here).  So if you don't get here early enough to get a place to park in this lot or the smaller second lot, you don't hike.

TRAIL MAP:

NY/NJ Trail Conference - Kittatinny Trails Map #120

HIKE DISTANCE:  8.1 miles

THE HIKE: 

I had hiked the traditional Mt. Minsi loop going up the Appalachian Trail and down the fire road and I had hiked Mountain Road separately so I knew the two could be linked to form a loop so this hike combines those into a quieter loop that avoids the crowds that Mt. Minsi draws.  But you still have to get there early enough to nab a parking space.

Starting on the Appalachian Trail from the parking lot.

Lake Lenape - The drive in was clear blue skies but the Delaware Water Gap was under a cloud so it was very foggy early on.

The AT goes left, right is the fire road where people usually return but we won't be doing that.

Rhododendron just starting to bloom.

This is an overlook.  You'll just have to trust me on that.

This little guy was in the middle of the trail ...

... so I moved him off to the side.

The sun!  Looks like we are coming up out of that cloud.

Brodie, the bigger person, packing out litter.

And yes, up out of that cloud just in time to see ...

... the view of Mt. Tammany.

Delaware River from the next overlook.

Continuing on the Appalachian Trail as a smooth woods road.

A short trail to the left leads to more views.

I didn't know it at the time since it was a last minute decision at the end of this hike, but we would be walking across that first pedestrian bridge later on.  The second bridge is Route 611.

The AT leaves the woods road as a foot path to the left.

Gas pipeline views.

Back into the woods on the AT ...

... the right on a gravel road when the AT crosses over.

This gravel road leads all the way down ...

... past the small Tott's Gap Road parking lot.

We continued on Tott's Gap Road past two gated woods roads on the right.  A little while after this boundary marker ...

... right on Mountain Road.

There are lots of puddles full of tadpoles to navigate around.

Honeysuckle

This pond was our break spot.

I sat taking pictures of this Eastern Phoebe ...

... then this dragonfly skimming the surface of the pond for lunch when all of a sudden that Eastern Phoebe swooped down and that dragonfly became lunch :(

Wood Thrush

After the gate we turned right at a yellow gate ...

... then left and crossed over on the dam.

Working our way back to the parking lot.

This is the second, smaller lot.

The larger lot where we parked was packed and many cars were circling looking for a spot.  This was at noon on a weekday.