Delaware Water Gap – PA Side – AT South out and back – 16.6 miles, 7.5 hours. Perfect weather for hiking – 70, sunny but a nice breeze.
Trailhead: Route 206 N to 80W. Cross the bridge (Toll: 75c) Take 1st exit on right, 310 to 611S. R at light at end of ramp, Left at next light in Village, Turn R onto Mountain Rd (Inn on right corner). Bear next left up to trailhead.
*No bathrooms. Use the porta at Dunnfield parking on Rt 80 or the visitor center on the PA side. On the way back to Jersey, the visitor center has portas/bathrooms.
Followed the AT (WHITE) up the gravel road, then left in closer to ridge. Steady climb with outlooks along the way. Path was rocky as usual in the Gap area.
Rocks worn rather smooth either from use or water runoff. Two main viewpoints with very nice overlook of the Gap. Road noise from Rt. 80 below. This is a popular trail, especially in the fall.
At the summit of Mt. Minsi, the AT turns S away from the Gap and views. Follows a woods road with a couple paths to the left to viewpoints/snack spots.
The AT finally bears left off the road, and the service road continues straight. The AT here is slightly less rocky, and feels secluded.
A red tower is passed. Shortly later the AT crosses the road again at Totts Gap. “Lunch Rocks” is a nice place to sit and check out the view. Right before route 191, there is a trail kiosk. On either side of 191 is parking.
The trail gets a little less used here, and the kiosk mentions hunting is allowed. Brewers Lane is crossed. Not much further the trail scrambles up a rock tumble. This was at 8.3 so we made it our turnaround.
*The first couple miles up along the Gap is the most scenic. After Mt Minsi, the trail is nice but there aren’t as many views or any water features. Good to do a long distance hike, mostly level along the ridge with some elevation changes along the way.