Hiking the Cliff Trail to the Hackers Falls Trail

Hiking the Cliff Trail to the Hackers Falls Trail

Those of you that read last week's trip report from the McDade Trail saw the huge cliffs in my photos that follow along Rt 209 in Milford PA. Not only is this where the Milford Knob Trail lives, which I visited this Spring, but it is also the home of the Cliff Park Trail System. This network is comprised of multiple hiking trails that lead you to The Knob, Hackers Falls, the Pond Loop and Cliff Park. Over eight miles of trails can be connected together here for a long day of hiking. Along these cliffs there are three official overlooks, as well as many other great views, that gives you a peek at the vast area of farm land and the Delaware River that lie in the valley below.

Hackers Falls Trailhead

You can gain access to the Cliff Park Trails through multiple trailheads including the Milford Knob trailhead at N41° 18.572' W74° 48.425', the Milford Cemetery trailhead at N41° 18.905' W74° 48.322', the Cliff Park trailhead at N41° 18.227' W74° 49.972' and the Hackers Falls trailhead. I chose the start at the later. The Hackers Falls trailhead is located directly across from the Raymondskill Falls parking lot at N41° 17.416' W74° 50.409'. Parking along Raymondskill road is prohibited.

Hackers Falls Trail and the Cliff Trail

After passing around the gate at the Hackers Falls trailhead, you will be met with a fork in the trail. If you continue straight on the yellow blazed hiking trail, the path will take you directly toward Hackers Falls. To the right is the white blazed Cliff Trail. My plan for this trip was to take the Cliff Trail up to the overlooks, then to the Milford Knob, back down Cliff Trail, around the Pond Loop Trail and finally down to Hackers Falls.

Bridge

Long uphill hike to the cliffs

The Cliff Trail is pretty steep right from the get go. It gains about 350 feet of elevation in the first mile. About a half mile in you'll come across another fork in the road. Left takes to back down to the Hackers Falls Trail while straight and to the right will keep you on the Cliff Trail. I went to the right to get up near the cliffs as soon as possible. This section of trail gets pretty overgrown by this time of year but the trail was still clearly visible.

Another fork in the hiking trail

Cliff Trail

Tri-State Overlook

Just over a half mile from the trailhead you will be greeted by the first of three official overlooks. The first one is named the Tri State Overlook that gives you views of PA, NJ and NY.

View from the Tri-State Overlook

View from the Tri-State Overlook

Onward and upward!

Minisink Overlook

A half mile after the first overlook you'll meet up with the Minisink Overlook which gives you views of Minisink Island. This two mile long island is named after a larger area referred to by the Lenape Indians who occupied this land for hundreds of years. You can also clearly see parts of the McDade Trail from this location.

View from the Minisink Overlook

View from the Minisink Overlook

View of the McDade Hiking Trail

Hiking on the Cliff Trail

You'll walk up the Cliff Trail for another mile before coming upon the last of the three overlooks. This one is officially titled the Riverview Overlook as it gives you a view of the Delaware River. This is an awesome place to stop and grab a bite to eat. You did bring food, didn't you? Afterwards, you'll keep on trucking for another mile until you come across the Milford Knob.

View from the Riverview Overlook

Riverview Overlook

Hiking Trail

When I last came up here in April, the giant star that overlooked Milford was still standing tall and proud. Sadly, the photo below shows it's current state. For those who haven't heard, earlier this year the Lions Club, which has been lighting the Milford Knob star for years, was told by the Park Service that they weren't going to be permitted to light the cross, which is attached to the star, this year. Since then it has become apparent that the star wouldn't be lit for this holiday season either. That is just sad. This beautiful star has given joy to literally millions of people who have traveled through Milford for roughly the last 100 years. The current star is thought to have been built in the early 1930s with another star preceding it. Now, because of a few sour apples, this beautiful tradition has been destroyed. While I can sort of understand non-Christians not wanting a cross standing on public land, how can anyone possibly have a problem with this beautiful star shining over Milford through the cold Winter months? It's just a freakin' star, after all! If you'd like to help keep the star shining bright, please contact the Park Service and voice your opinion.

Milford Knob Star

View from the Milford Knob

View from the Milford Knob

Back down the Cliff Trail

After visiting the star, I backtracked down the Cliff Trail until I found the orange blazed Buchanan Trail. You'll stay on this trail for a tenth of a mile before turning right onto the blue blazed Pond Loop Trail.

To the Buchanan Trail

View from the Pond Loop Trail

Pond Loop Trail

Cliff Park Golf Course

In the photo above you can see part of the Cliff Park Golf Course in Milford, Pennsylvania. The property that Cliff Park sits on was owned by the Buchanan Family, close relatives of President James Buchanan, since the early 1800s. In 1900 an old farm house was converted to an Inn with a golf course to follow just thirteen years later. The golf course was popular with many golfers throughout the tri-state area including women. Annie Buchanan created it because women weren't allowed on most other public golf courses. In 2003, Harry Buchanan, who was the grandson of Annie, worked with the Park Service to hand over the property with the understanding that the land and the golf course will remain undeveloped and open to the public as part of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. In 2013, PGA pro Joe Stead signed a ten year lease to manage the property and golf course.

Log bench

Old dock

Cliff Park Trailhead

Cliff Park Trailhead Map

After passing the pond you'll come across the Cliff Park trailhead. It features a trail map, a large parking lot, and restrooms.These are the only restrooms on the entire Cliff Park Trail system so take advantage of them while you can. Not long after crossing the parking lot you'll see multiple abandoned buildings. While I don't know the history of these buildings, they probably were part of Cliff Park back in the day. One building appeared to be a large horse or cow barn.

Hiking Trails

Abandoned trailer

Abandoned building

I met the Geico Gecko's cousin Nelly the Newt

Roughly six miles into this hike I finally found Hackers Falls! The falls are located at N41° 17.947' W74° 50.305' along the yellow blazed hiking trail. Hackers Falls is named after Arthur and Emily Hacker who purchased the property in 1924. The falls are part of Raymondskill Creek which runs for miles from Camp Netimus Lake, through Beaver and Silver Spring lakes, over Hackers Falls and finally out to the Delaware River. I passed over this creek on my previous hike on the McDade Trail.

Hackers Falls

Hackers Falls

Raymondskill Creek

Rotting tree or the work of Woody the Woodpecker?

Red berries on the Hackers Falls hiking trail

Back down to the car

My hike on this particular day totaled 7.1 miles. If you'd like to follow my steps through the Cliff Trail and Hackers Falls Trail, check out the map of my trip and download the GPX file below. It contains the route I took as well as some important waypoints.

Cliff Trail and Hackers Falls Trails Elevation Graph

Cliff Park Trail System Map

Download the GPX file for my trip along the Cliff Trail to Hackers Falls Trail here. (right click save as)