Delaware Water Gap Recreation Area, PA - McDade Trail from Milford Beach to Hialeah with the Pocono Pony River (5/31/2026)

ABOUT THE PARK: 

McDade Recreational Trail - National Park Service

DIRECTIONS: 

GPS Coordinates 41.01877, -75.08031

Hialeah Trailhead Parking at the southern end of the McDade Recreational Trail.

TRAIL MAP: 

Pocono Pony 2026 Transit Schedule - Go MCTA

BIKE DISTANCES: 

Hialeah Trailhead to Smithfield Beach Bus Stop - 2.3 miles

Milford Beach to Hialeah Trailhead - 31.2 miles

THE BIKE: 

I parked at the southern point at Hialeah and biked to Smithfield Beach to catch the 8:30 AM shuttle bus to Milford Beach.  I left Hialeah at 7:30 AM and arrived at Smithfield at 8:00 AM.  It takes that long to bike 2.3 miles because there are hills so steep you can barely push your bike up. There is a lot of walking involved.  And remember, this is repeated at the very end.  Ugh!  If you want to avoid this section you can just pay 10 bucks and park at Smithfield but then you can't say you biked the entire trail.  

You can't see the steepness in the pictures but the very steep downhills had to be walked also.

Coming into Smithfield Beach, go left on the road around and through the parking lots to the right to the very far end of the second lot at the bus stop sign.

Coming in from the McDade Trail on the left, the bus stop is at the far end of the second parking lot.

Captured a Baltimore Oriole while waiting for the bus.

And here it comes.

The bike racks did not work with my bike so it got to ride inside the bus.

There was a couple with kayaks on the bus heading to Bushkill Access.  They saw my bike get loaded then heard me tell the driver I was going all the way to the end at Milford Beach.  They promptly tried to dissuade  me, telling me I was not going to be able to make it all the way back, that the trail was rough gravel, not at all pleasant to ride on, with lots of steep hills, it just was not going to be possible.  I assured them I had hiked all of it in sections so I was familiar with the terrain and knew I would be walking a lot of the hills.  Worst case, if I really could not make it, I could always catch the shuttle bus back.  What Debbie Downers!  I had asked a park ranger where to find the bus stop at Smithfield and she asked me where I was going to bike back.  Her comment:  "Oh, awesome!  Have a great time!"  I went with her comment and was not going to let that couple get in my head.

Shuttle stop at Bushkill Access where that couple got off with their kayaks.

Dingman Access stop where we picked up two men with kayaks.

Loading up the kayaks took some time so I went down to the Delaware River for a minute.

Dingmans Bridge

Back on the bus to continue on to ...

... unloading all at Milford Beach.  Those were the only people the entire ride but they say the shuttle gets much more crowded as the summer goes on.

Starting my ride at Milford Beach.  (The shuttle is to the far left behind the cars.)

It starts off with some hilly parts ...

... but then flattens out through fields with views of the cliffs.

Shortly after crossing this bridge parallel to Route 209 ...

... there is about a 2-mile section where bikes are not allowed.  This section is actually supposed to be closed for eagle nesting from January 15 - June 15 but there were no signs.

So for bikes it is to the right on a short path ...

.. to a left on Route 209 for a bit over a 2-mile road bike.  There is enough room to the side of the traffic lane so it's not bad riding at all.

Left at the McDade Trail sign ...

... to the Conashaugh Trailhead to access the trail again.

There are a few spots with downed trees to lift the bike over.

Rough Trail?  That gravel is really rough, how much rougher could it be?

Oh, a lot!  Don't plan on riding until the ROUGH TRAIL sign at the other end.  It's down a steep set of steps to start.

But you get nice views of the Delaware River at the botton.

Lots of roots and big rocks going steeply back up.

Just before Route 209 ...

... up steeply again past the other ROUGH TRAIL sign on that tree stump.

Now it's smooth sailing for a while.  

When you get a reprieve from the rough gravel on pavement, it's only for about 15 seconds...

... before heading on to the gravel again.

Passing the store at Dingman's Campground.  Should have stopped there for more to drink because I ended up rationing mine towards the end.

A little over 1/3 of the way.

Say what????  I had checked the NPS website and there was no mention of a closure there, only the part where eagles nest which turned out not to be closed at all.  I went on in because well, I wasn't prepared with a detour.

Turns out this was the issue - a huge tree had fallen across the bridge but it had been cleared.  The bridge was a bit wavy but it was solid and it certainly was not hazardous crossing over.  So on I went.

Jerry Lee Trailhead - for reference.

Song Sparrow

Eshback Access Trailhead - for reference.

A little over half way.

Almost didn't see this guy hopping across the trail ahead of me but he made it.

Bushkill Access Trailhead - if you need to catch the shuttle back the last 8 miles to Smithfield.

Where the trail comes out on Route 209 to cross Bushkill Creek ...

... it's a left before that white building just after the bridge.  There is no trail mark so it's easy to miss.

This part is much steeper than it looks - time to walk the bike up again.

It's 6 more miles to Smithfield with the last two to Hialeah.

A pretty pond along the way.

In the park headquarters area ...

... there is a long bridge before descending after all that climbing up.

Almost there!

After the Riverview Trailhead ...

... the trail is the crushed stone of rail trails so easy peasy for 2.5 miles all the way to Smithfield.

Coming out at the Smithfield parking lot where I had caught the shuttle over on the right.

Now continuing through Smithfield to the trailhead on the other side.

Just beyond the restroom building, left on the road a short distance ...

... then right on the trail for the last 1.5 miles of sometimes grueling trail.

For the grand finale, the last uphill where you can barely push your bike up, it is so steep.

Back at the Hialeah parking lot.

In summary, this ride is totally worth it and it is awesome that the shuttle is provided and free of charge at that.  The scenery is gorgeous and it is so peaceful.  Yes, the ride is grueling at times, especially riding the entire trail at once.  There are options to bail if needed and there is no shame in walking your bike up and down steep hills - just plan on the extra time that takes.  Roughly, the first and last 10 miles have the most hilly sections where the middle 10 miles is mostly easy biking.  Just don't expect the smoother crushed stone until the last 2.5 miles before Smithfield.  But there is a great deal of satisfaction in knowing you did the whole trail in one shot.  I proved that couple wrong!

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