Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, NJ - Copper Mines Loop

ABOUT THE PARK:
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area - National Park Service

DIRECTIONS:

GPS Coordinates 41.038195, -75.027726

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Copper Mines Parking Area

TRAIL MAP:
Kittatinny Trails Map #120 - New York New Jersey Trail Conference
Delaware Water Gap NRA - Copper Mines - AT - Kaiser Road Loop at EveryTrail


HIKE DISTANCE:  7.1 miles

THE HIKE:
It has been yet another month out of Shawnee's life spent recovering from her second bout of Old Dog Vestibular Syndrome but she has not recovered as fully as she did the first time she was stricken with this last fall.  Since I haven't been able to work her back up to hiking gradually and we have a trip coming up this week which will involve hiking, figured I had nothing to lose by throwing her into a hike to see if she could handle it.  My son, his girlfriend and their dog, Sebastian were along on this hike so if Shawnee would have problems, we'd have help along.  Fortunately, she did pretty darned well!

Starting off to the left at the first fork on a short out and back along cascades to...

... an abandoned mine.

Heading back to the fork to get to the Copper Mine Trail.

Ruins along the Copper Mine Trail.

Almost at the top, a break to reenergize.

With more people along, that means double break snacks.

Showing Sebastian how to wade in the creek.  He was being a little prissy about it.

Northern Flicker

On the Appalachian Trail.

Lower Yards Creek Reservoir from the first viewpoint.

Another break, of course.  A recovering dog (Shawnee) and a dog that has never hiked this far before (Sebastian) need lots of breaks.

A 14-year-old seasoned hiking dog resting.

A 6-year-old novice hiking dog resting. 

The blue-blazed Kaiser Road although most of the blue paint blazes have been replaced with white markers.

An easier, less rocky descent.

Shawnee was getting pretty tired and was limping a little during the last mile or so but she made it was fine after a good night's sleep.

One of the remaining blue blazes.

Blue forks, keep right back to the Copper Mines Trail.

The Delaware River up ahead.

Back on the Copper Mine Trail.

Crossing Mine Road back to the parking lot.

Delaware River

Two VERY tired dogs.