Day hikers can explore a clifftop above the Delaware River Valley and enjoy some great vistas along the way.
The 5.6 miles round trip Cliff Trail crosses the Raymondskill Ridge in the Delaware Gap National Recreation Area near the Pennsylvania-New Jersey border. White blazes painted on trees mark the route.
To reach the trailhead, from Milford, Pa., head south on U.S. Hwy 209. Turn right/west onto Raymondskill Road/County Road 2009. Drive up the hill and go left/south into the Raymondskill Lower Lot; it will be the first parking lot you see.
From the lot, walk east a few yards on the road to the trailhead, which is on the left/north. You’ll start on the Waterfall Trail. In about 0.12 miles, head right/south onto the Cliff Trail.
Four overlooks
The trail quickly gains about 250 feet in elevation but after that is level most of the way. You’ll mainly hike through the woods close to the cliff’s edge. There are fairly good views most of the way, but four overlooks offer particularly great vistas.
The first is the Tristate Overlook, which you’ll reach at about 0.3 miles. You can see parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York state from the overlook. The view is partially obscured by trees, but there is a pointed section of cliff just beyond them if you are not afraid of heights.
At 0.5 miles, the trail junctions the Logger Path on the left/north.
A connector trail on the left/north heads to the Buchanan Trail at 0.75 miles. The Cliff Trail widens once past this junction.
You’ll arrive the second vista, the Minisink Overlook, at 0.85 miles. While the view of the serpentine Delaware River and farm fields below are nice, the real treat is the cliffsides. Listen for the sound of nesting peregrine falcons and watch the skies near as they fly off the rocks and hunt.
At 1.6 miles, the trail reaches the third vista, the Riverview Overlook. You get a good view of the river and the surrounding woodlands and farm fields. A wooden fence keeps you from getting too close to the cliff’s edge. There’s also bench if you need to take a rest.
Milford Knob
The trail junctions the Quarry Path Trail on the right/south at 1.8 miles. This is a connector trail to the Milford Knob Trail.
Continue on the Cliff Trail. You’ll junction the Milford Knob Trail on the right/south at 2.75 miles.
Just beyond that at 2.8 miles is the Milford Knob for the fourth overlook. The vista offers a good view of Milford, a charming town at the recreation area’s northern end.
After taking in the view, retrace your steps back to the parking lot.
Be aware that a number of unmarked paths split off the Cliff Trail. These are older trails (among them is the Lower Cliff Trail) that the National Park Service no longer maintains, but they are used enough that they have yet to be overgrown. All of these spurs and splits can make the route confusing, so be sure to carry an up-to-date paper map and if possible use GPS. If you’re right at the cliff’s edge (except at the overlooks), you’ve taken one of the abandoned trails and should head back to the main route.
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