Hiking the Cliff Trail for fall foliage views of New Jersey, plus Milford Knob, Hackers Falls, and Raymondskill Falls.
We’ve only hiked this area once, in June 2017, and I’d noted to try it during foliage season. There a ton of views packed into a relatively mild hike and it offers a different perspective for peeping the leaves in New Jersey.
Cliff Park is just over the Jersey border in Pennsylvania and within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.
From the Cliff trail there are multiple viewpoints across Pennsylvania but also of New Jersey on the other side the river, including High Point State Park’s monument.
!! For a detailed hike guide see our main “Cliff Park, Milford Knob, Hackers Falls” page !!
The hike starts in the Hackers Falls lot, next to the lot for Raymondskill Falls. We popped over to that first thing:
On a geeky photo side note, Tom upgraded to the iPhone 11 a few weeks ago so we’ve been testing it out on hikes since Osio/Torne.
We’ve been pretty pleased with it’s photo abilities. Having a wide angle option is nice and the clarity and color overall is really good.
This long exposure shot above (for “milky” water) is with a photo app and a little Joby tripod – not our DSLR like we’d normally use.
View of the lower platform as seen from the upper. This area received a lot of storm damage in March 2018 and had to be rebuilt.
It was quite foggy in the early morning and as we started up we wondered how that would affect the Cliff Trail.
Ah. Like this.
We may not have been able to see anything but it certainly made for some cool shots as we waited a bit for it to clear a little.
The clouds were amazing today.
Looking back towards New Jersey on the other side of the river, the Water Gap in the distance.
Not sure why the field below has wavy lines – it seem to be like that last time. Kinda hoping it’s purely for aesthetic reasons or someone’s amusement.
Close up of the bridge over the Delaware River and the surrounding foliage. It was really hard to narrow down the photos from this hike, so bear with me here.
We use the casual trail that hugs the cliff more closely than the actual Cliff trail as there are more views. This was closed at a certain point to protect nesting peregrine falcons.
At the end of the Cliff Trail is Milford Knob. The view is partially obscured by trees but the town of Milford, P.A. is visible below. It helps if you stand on the cement post, are tall, and zoom in.
Last time at this viewpoint, when I looked to the left to see if there was a trail to a better vantage – a bear was looking back at me (the first of two spotted this day).
So we didn’t stick around long enough to find a different viewpoint – and so much for having a snack break. This time I went to the path on the left but it was just more trees.
Back in 2017, there was also a large metal star was laying on the ground that is usually standing upright.
It was placed here in the 1930s according to this article: “Milford’s star on the Knob shines again“. It wasn’t here now, just two trash cans filled with cement in the ground.
Brilliant yellow on the way to the pond.
There is a nice bench for a view of the pond and a golf course is behind that
There’s a parking lot and composting toilet. The trail passes an old building off on the left.
Last time we hiked here, a door was slowly banging in one of the buildings – just enough to sound creepy.
A few minutes later we spotted a bear wander out of the woods lumbering nonchalantly towards the trail – the largest bear we have ever seen (other than at Glacier N.P.). HUGE.
We backtracked a bit and waited while he crossed the trail, and only continued once we spotted him way off into the woods on the other side.
Next up is Hackers Falls.
When we arrived there was one car in the lot, now both lots were jam packed – as expected on a beautiful sunny day at the perfect temperature for hiking.
Miles: 8.0; did a little extra than our hike page.
Wildlife spotted: None.
Post hike: Venti iced vanilla lattes. We spotted a brand new Starbucks in Sparta on the way so now there is a closer option to hikes in this area.