ABOUT THE PARK:
McDade Recreation Trail - National Park Service
DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 41.04962, -75.02450
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| Riverview parking lot on the McDade Trail |
TRAIL MAP:
Kittatinny Trails Map #120 - New York New Jersey Trail Conference
HIKE DISTANCE: 9 miles (4.5 miles each way)
THE HIKE:
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| Heading north on the McDade Trail from the Riverview parking lot. |
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| Although it was supposed to be a gorgeous day, it started out in a cloud of fog. |
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| My hope was that it would clear up for the return route so it would be a whole different world heading back. |
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| That would be the Delaware River on the right somewhere in the fog. |
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| It's there somewhere. |
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| Waiting patiently while I went in search of the Delaware River. |
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| The Delaware River is slowly appearing from under the fog. |
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| Just beyond these two pillars, an option for a foot path. |
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| Hikers can take the foot path, bikes must stay on the road. |
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| Coming off of the foot path. |
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| Just after the Owens parking lot the trail starts to switchback up Hogback. |
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| At the top of Hogback and on to ... |
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| ... a loooooooong bridge. |
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| Heading towards the park headquarters where there are supposed to be wildlife viewing areas but will save that for the return route if the fog has lifted by then. |
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| For those without dogs, the shuttle that runs in the summer should give an option to be dropped of and hike one way. |
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| Coming up on an old red barn with a field to the right. |
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| The birds in the field might have thought they could not be seen in the fog so they were plentiful. |
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| Continuing on. |
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| Just beyond this post to the left ... |
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| ... the Bushkill Access with restrooms. |
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| This was our turn around point. |
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| Just in time for heading back, blue skies appearing! |
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| Sunshine and no more fog. |
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| Here is that field from earlier where all of the birds were. Not so many here now with the fog gone. |
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| Taking a break ... |
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| ... complete with power nap. |
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| All refreshed and moving on. |
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| Drying the fog out of his wings on a pylon. |
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| Back at park headquarters ... |
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| Not much to see from the first viewing platform ... |
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| ... and the second was not Shawnee-accessible ... |
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| ... so we moved on across the looooooong bridge. |
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| Instead of taking the footpath back, we did the road walk. |
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| Now the Delaware River was there. |
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| This downy woodpecker was so intent on his breakfast that he did not care how close I was standing taking pictures. |
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| Female common mergansers hanging out in the Delaware River. |
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| Back at Riverview parking. |
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| Heading home. |
