Decrease Hornbecks Creek Path – Delaware Water Hole

July 10, 2021 – Dingmans Ferry, Pennsylvania

Issue: Straightforward

Size: Roughly 2 miles

Max elevation: 596 ft.– whole elevation achieve roughly 60 ft.

Route kind: Out and again

Purchase Map: *New 2021* Delaware Water Hole & Kittatinny Trails Map

Avenza App Map: 2021 – Delaware Water Hole & Kittatinny North #122

Trailhead parking: Hornbecks Path – Federal Rd (U.S. Route 209), Dingmans Ferry, PA 18328

No bogs on website

Please observe: Waterfall circumstances are dynamic, altering with climate and seasons. Keep on the path when doable and be cautious of your environment, like slippery or rocky terrain, fast paced water, or steep drops.

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Overview:

The Delaware Water Hole Nationwide Recreation Space (DWGNRA) straddles a stretch of the Delaware River on the New Jersey and Pennsylvania border. It encompasses forested mountains, grassy seashores and the Delaware Water Hole, which slices by way of the Kittatinny Ridge. The DWGNRA encompasses greater than 70,000 acres and has over 150 miles of trails.

The DWGNRA is on the jap fringe of the Pocono Mountains in Northeastern Pennsylvania, the place 40 miles of the Delaware River runs briskly between excessive bluffs and forested shores. There’s nearly nowhere with the next focus of nice waterfalls than the Pocono Mountains. The area is dwelling to some really gorgeous waterfalls. A few of these waterfalls are positioned alongside well-established trails and are common vacationer sights, whereas others are hidden away in relative obscurity. The waterfalls of Hornbecks Creek (which flows into the Delaware River) may be the very best hidden gem within the Poconos, with its scenic cascades and deep gorge. Whereas it may not have the peak that the extra well-known waterfalls have, Hornbecks Creek Falls is one which shouldn’t be missed when mountaineering within the Delaware Water Hole Nationwide Recreation Space.

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Historical past:

Hornbecks Creek had an early grist mill on the base of the mountain by 1775. In 1870, Jacob Hornbeck purchased the property alongside the stream that finally took on his title. The creek cascades over stair-step layers of shale between two bigger drops. This gave the stream its Nineteenth-century title of Indian Ladders Creek. The title additionally utilized to a vacationer boarding home within the valley.

The unique path, which had been there for over a century, was positioned within the creek’s floodplain and flooded regularly. The path reopened in September 2019 after the winter storms of March 2018 struck the realm and prompted substantial and widespread harm throughout the area. Huge timber had been toppled by excessive winds, the stream financial institution alongside Hornbecks Creek partially collapsed and footbridges had been washed away. Path crews re-routed the path to increased floor to make it extra sustainable within the face of extra frequent and extra intense storms.

Roughly 900 toes of path was re-routed to increased floor and one other 500 toes of path was resurfaced. A 15-step staircase was constructed from native stone, some weighing as a lot as 600 kilos, in an space the place the stream had eroded a steep financial institution. New drainage programs had been put in to divert water and defend the path from erosion. Two new bridges had been constructed from domestically sourced lumber and had been put in increased above the water degree to raised defend them from flood harm. Different options of the brand new path embrace the addition of turnpikes, areas the place the path is elevated above the floodplain or moist areas; lavatory bridges, which permit hikers to go over quick muddy spots; and water bars, diagonal channels throughout the path that divert floor water away from the path.

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Trails Overview:

The mile-long Decrease Hornbecks Creek Path often known as the Indian Ladders Path, may be accessed off of US Route 209 between mile markers 10 and 11. A small parking space with room for about 10-12 autos is on the finish of a gravel highway. Extra parking is on the market in a gravel lot immediately throughout the highway from the trailhead.

The Decrease Hornbecks Creek Path partially follows the previous Glenside Rod & Gun Membership highway alongside Hornbecks Creek. The shaded path meanders by way of the plush forest, crossing backwards and forwards over Hornbecks Creek on a collection of footbridges earlier than ending on the base of the 25-ft. tall Hornbecks Creek Falls. The path is unmarked, however simple to observe. The world is owned and managed by the Nationwide Park Service.

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Hike Overview:

Steady heavy rain that fell over the Northeast from Hurricane Elsa, and all of the waterfall posts on social media, made this hike a straightforward alternative. Making an attempt to avoid the lots that are inclined to flock in direction of the extra “touristy” waterfalls within the area, this comparatively unknown waterfall makes for an idyllic vacation spot.

This principally degree hike is a brief out and again that crosses Hornbecks Creek a number of occasions. A pleasing stroll by way of the woods with a scenic waterfall because the payoff.

Though it’s not as effectively often called different waterfalls within the space, Hornbecks Creek Falls does see some foot visitors. We arrived at roughly 8am on a Saturday morning and had been the primary ones on the trailhead. On our return from viewing the falls, we handed a number of teams of individuals alongside the path. As with the rest nowadays, it pays to get out early.

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The Hike:

The hike begins on the northern finish of the parking space on an previous gravel highway that parallels Hornbecks Creek. Following the banks of Hornbeck’s Creek, the path meanders upstream by way of a mature forest composed of a terrific number of giant, previous timber.

In a brief distance, the path crosses a picket footbridge to the opposite aspect of the creek and begins to steadily, climb above the creek, passing stone steps that when led to an previous dwelling. The path ranges off excessive above the creek which has lower a steep-sided ravine by way of the terrain.

The path then crosses Hornbecks Creek once more on a fiber-reinforced polymer path bridge that was put in January-March 2016 to interchange the bridge that was washed out by a storm a number of years earlier.

The path descends a 15-step stone staircase in an space the place the stream had eroded the steep financial institution.

A glance again on the stone staircase.

The path then crosses the creek once more, this time on a single log bridge. It turns left and continues upstream over a number of lavatory bridges earlier than crossing Hornbecks Creek on one other single log bridge.

The path turns proper and follows the creek upstream a brief distance to Hornbecks Creek Falls.

The 25-foot tall Hornbecks Creek Falls, often known as Decrease Indian Ladders, is a slide waterfall which is surrounded by cliffs and plummets into a big round pool. Please observe: that swimming right here is prohibited by the Nationwide Park Service.

When you find yourself achieved having fun with this picturesque waterfall, retrace your steps again the best way you got here, to the parking space, the place the hike started.

When you find yourself achieved, you may get in your automobile and drive a brief distance to the Higher Hornbecks Creek Path to view some extra waterfalls.

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Evaluation:

A really nice stroll by way of the woods to a really scenic waterfall. This quick hike is ideal for a sizzling and humid day after some rainfall. The path is effectively shaded and though it’s not marked, it’s effectively outlined and simple to observe. This easy out and again is nice for households and people who wish to get pleasure from nature with out working up a sweat.

Execs:

Hornbecks Creek Falls, pleasing path, effectively maintained space, litter free.

Cons:

None.

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Take a hike!

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Sources:

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