Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.

Henry David Thoreau

A Park Within a Park in the Delaware Water Gap

Wednesday September 1, 2016
Dingman’s Campground                                     Most Recent Posts:
Delaware Water Gap                                          Traveling South Through Delaware Water Gap
Dingman’s Ferry, Pennsylvania                           Dingman’s in the Delaware Water Gap

 

 

This is our third morning to hike to a waterfall in the Delaware Water Gap.  This time we come to an area known as George W. Childs park.  It’s named after philanthropist Childs who purchased the land in 1892 because of its natural beauty and wildlife,  He developed a public park because he believed everyone, not just wealthy landowners, should be able to experience and appreciate being outdoors. In 1912, Childs' wife, Emma, deeded the land to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  It became part of Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in 1983.

 

 

 

There are 3 water falls here located on Dingmans Creek above the larger Dingman’s Falls that we saw previously at the visitor center. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IMG_9821

It is a lovely short flat walk from the parking lot to the bridge where everyone apparently goes across to see the first falls known as “Factory Falls” because it was used by the Brooks family who ran a woolen mill from 1823 to 1832.  Apparently Dingmans Creek boasted a dozen mills at its peak but a woolen mill was quite unusual outside of cities.  The mill ruins are above the waterfall.

Knowing that, we didn’t do the hike from that direction hoping to mitigate how many people we would run into how soon on this popular trail.  We hike down the near side trail and peek at the falls before climbing back up to Factory on the other side.  So that’s the order of the pictures. 

 

The bridge we didn’t cross until on our way back

IMG_9829

 

IMG_9836

 

The rest of the 1.5 mile loop trail beyond the first of the three falls is a series of steps, some steep. We had the trail all to ourselves for a while in the morning but as time passed more and more people came especially families as this is an easy and interesting trail for the nimble.

 

Glimpses of  the falls from the top and “the far side”

IMG_9839

 

 

Fulmer Falls from the top.

IMG_9857

 

IMG_9858

 

IMG_9863

 

IMG_9862

 

 

Fulmer Falls is a short distance downstream from Factory Falls. .

 

IMG_9866

 

The trail is a combination of roots and stairs.

IMG_9893

IMG_4876

 

 

The size of some of the trees must have been something when George Child’s bought the property.

IMG_9871

 

 

IMG_9904

 

IMG_9917

 

 

Finally, the trail loops past a third waterfall, Deer Leap Fall.   This view from the top shows just how short a gap a deer would have to leap to get over the water as it heads for the falls.

IMG_9922

 

The above photo was taken from this bridge across.

IMG_9944

IMG_9933

 

We’ve reached the end of the trail and hang around at the bottom before crossing over to the other side and heading back up toward Factory Falls.

IMG_9952

 

 

IMG_9954

 

David of course has to check out how they built the bridges now that he can.

IMG_9963

 

One last picture with Deer Leap in the background.

IMG_9972

These are such beautiful falls.  George Childs certainly was generous to share this lovely place with all of us for more than a century now.

 

IMG_9975

 

 

IMG_9993

 

Deer Leap from the other side of the trail.  Guess you could say it’s my favorite.

IMG_9982

 

Although, seeing Fulmer Falls from this side may make me change my mind.  Here’s the long view.

 

 

And the short view.

 

IMG_0019

 

The trails here have been extremely well done with boardwalks, viewing platforms and bridges.

IMG_0035

 

We’re near the top again when we reach Factory Falls.  With careful selection, and using my zoom, I can make it look as though there is no one else here sharing this wonderful spot with us.

 

IMG_0038

 

IMG_4941

 

 

But the truth is we’ve been joined by quite a few people and have to wait a while to get these shots without dozens of our new best friends in them..

 

IMG_0040

 

It’s time for lunch and obviously this spot at factory falls would be a fabulous picnic spot, but it is now all covered with people so  with one last look further up, we walk back up Dingman’s Creek – it sure doesn’t seem there is an agreed upon term for various amounts of water stream/creek/river.  This is a mighty big creek in my mind.

 

IMG_0059

 

 

Along the way I spy these beauties and we look at the mill ruins.

 

 

IMG_0089

 

IMG_4942

 

 

Here’s the place we pick at a spot above where Dingman’s Creek begins its cascades and falls down stream headed for the Delaware River.  And we do have it all to ourselves

IMG_0107

Since it only took all morning to hike this 1.5 mile trail,  we have plenty of time to spend the afternoon at Hornbeck’s Creek Trail trying to figure out how to get from the lower Indian Ladder Falls to the Upper.  There is no trail connecting them.  You have to drive about 8 miles to take a separate trail in to the upper falls.   Or at least that’s what the map says.
We’ll check it out and let you know but in the next post.

12 comments:

  1. Lovely waterfalls. Always nice, but not always easy to find a private spot for lunch.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Such a rich variety of waterfalls here!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love waterfalls, especially those that seem to go on and on such as Fulmer Falls. And there are always people to contend with when you find a lovely view.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great post...another beautiful day in a beautiful place!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. This was a wonderful place to hike and visit with all the various views of the several falls from both sides on the creek. Very generous gift from Mr. Childs indeed! Thanks for preserving the memory so well!

    ReplyDelete
  6. It's so fun to see all the wonder behind the trees we passed :-) I love the top of Fulmer Falls - all the rocks are so beautiful. The pool at Factory Falls is so serene in your photos. Magical little mushrooms :-))))

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh my, how beautiful it is there! This is a hike that we would love minus all the people of course. It is so nice and green in there and with the waterfalls what a perfect setting. I will have to put this one on our list of places to visit. So glad you had such a wonderful hike there.

    www.travelwithkevinandruth.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. So David is on to a new career as a bridge inspector? What a great way to support your RV travels! :cD

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wow, good to see that there is lots of water in the falls there. Nice hike!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Gorgeous falls...how beautiful!! Love that you got a picture of you both there. Amazing what you get to see. So glad it's preserved. Thanks, Emma :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thank goodness Childs had foresight. I often walk the opposite direction recommended on loop trails for just that reason, plus to buck the system I suppose. ;) Not always easy, but usually possible, to find a quiet place to be. And this is such a lovely landscape. After my days with the Colorado River I can better appreciate the wonderful energy found along your creek and falls.

    ReplyDelete

Your comments are the best part of this blog for me.
I LOVE hearing from you!