Delaware Water Gap: 70,000 Acres, Zero Parking

Quick Facts

• Location: PA/NJ Border (Poconos)
• Size: 70,000 acres, 40 miles of Delaware River
• Key Feature: The Gap (river cuts through Kittatinny Ridge)
• Best For: Day hikers, river tubers, waterfall chasers
• Warnings: Parking at Mt. Tammany fills by 8:30 AM, Dingmans Falls closed until 2026, swimming prohibited at waterfalls.

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is 70,000 acres of river and ridges straddling Pennsylvania and New Jersey. It’s the largest National Park Service site in the region. It’s also the most crowded. On summer weekends, the parking lot at Mt. Tammany fills by 8:30 AM, the beaches charge $10 per car (proposed increase to $20 in April 2025), and I-80 through the Gap turns into a parking lot. This isn’t a wilderness escape - it’s a logistical puzzle. Here’s how to solve it.

Visit the National Park Service site for trail closures and check AllTrails for current conditions.

The Gap - where the Delaware River cuts through the ridge

What’s Open (and What’s Not)

❌ Dingmans Falls is CLOSED

The second-highest waterfall in Pennsylvania (130 feet) is closed until Spring 2026 for a major bridge replacement and trail reconstruction. The access road, visitor center, and boardwalk are all off-limits. Don’t drive there hoping to sneak a peek.

• Alternative: Try Hornbecks Creek (trail is unmarked, but the waterfalls are great and less crowded).

✅ Raymondskill Falls is Open

Pennsylvania’s tallest waterfall (150-178 feet across three tiers) is open. The trail is short (0.3 miles one-way) but steep.

⚠️ Warning: Swimming and wading are strictly prohibited within 50 feet of the falls. People have died slipping on the rocks here. Rangers patrol this area and will ticket you.

Mt. Tammany (The Parking Nightmare)

The Hike

• Distance: 3.5-mile loop (Red Dot up, Blue Dot down)
• Elevation Gain: 1,200 feet in 1.5 miles
• Difficulty: Strenuous. The Red Dot trail involves scrambling with your hands. It is steep, rocky, and exposed to the sun. This is not a casual walk.
• The Reward: The iconic view looking down at the Delaware River cutting through the ridge.

The Parking Problem

The Dunnfield Creek parking lot fills by 8:30 AM on weekends. If you arrive later:

1. You might find a spot at the Kittatinny Point Visitor Center (if open).
2. You’ll have to walk 10 minutes to the trailhead.
3. Overflow parking often spills onto the I-80 shoulder, which involves a dangerous highway crossing.

Best Advice: Arrive by 8 AM or go on a Tuesday. Alternatively, hike Mt. Minsi on the PA side - it offers a similar view (looking at Tammany) but is slightly easier and physically on the Appalachian Trail.

Dunnfield Creek Trail

After descending Mt. Tammany via the Blue Dot Trail, you’ll follow the Appalachian Trail alongside Dunnfield Creek back to the parking lot. This 3.5-mile section features cascades and stream crossings. The creek is a designated Wild Trout Stream. For a longer hike, continue to Sunfish Pond (a glacial lake) before returning.

Mt. Tammany Red Dot Trail - steep, rocky, and strenuous

The River (Tubing and Kayaking)

The massive Delaware River is the main attraction for non-hikers. Outfitters like Edge of the Woods and Chamberlain Canoes offer tube and kayak rentals with shuttle service.

• Cost: Expect to pay $40-60 per person.
• Safety: The river is wide and generally calm, but currents can be strong. Always wear a life jacket.

Fees (It’s Not Free)

There is no entrance fee to drive through the park (it’s a public highway, after all), but extensive “Expanded Amenity Fees” apply at:

• Milford Beach (PA)
• Smithfield Beach (PA)
• Turtle Beach (NJ)
• Dingmans Access (Boat Launch)

Cost: Currently $10 per vehicle, but a proposed increase to $20 per vehicle is expected in April 2025.

What You Need to Know Before You Go

I-80 Is a Nightmare

The interstate cuts right through the Gap. On Friday afternoons (westbound) and Sunday afternoons (eastbound), it is bumper-to-bumper traffic. Plan for delays.

Cell Service Is Spotty

Coverage is inconsistent in the gorge and on the river. Download your maps offline.

Best Time to Visit

• Spring: Raymondskill Falls is at its peak flow.
• Fall: October foliage is spectacular, but Mt. Tammany will be packed.
• Summer: Great for tubing, terrible for parking.

FAQ

Is Dingmans Falls open? No. It is closed until Spring 2026.

Can you swim in the waterfalls? No. Swimming is prohibited at Raymondskill and all waterfalls. Swim at the designated beaches on the river (Smithfield/Milford).

Is it free? Driving through is free. Parking at beaches costs money.

Which side is better, PA or NJ?

• NJ Side: Has Mt. Tammany (the harder hike, iconic view).
• PA Side: Has Mt. Minsi (Appalachian Trail, easier hike), Raymondskill Falls, and the river beaches.

Explore More

• Check out the Poconos region guide.
• Visit Hickory Run for the Boulder Field.