View of Lower Indian Ladders from the end of the Lower Hornbecks Creek Trail in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

Length:  1.25 mile, one way
Time:  1 hour 15 minutes round trip with time to enjoy the falls
Difficulty: Mainly easy with some moderate hills

The Lower Hornbecks Creek Trail in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is located on the Pennsylvania side of the park three miles south of Dingmans Ferry on US 209 / Federal Road. It is an out-and-back trail that leads to a small waterfall called Lower Indian Ladders. Because of the destination, expect to see a lot more people on this trail than on non-waterfall trails in the park. There are two parking lots, but neither is very big. Arrive early or try to do the hike during the week, because on summer weekends parking spots are going to be hard to come by.

Start of the Lower Hornbecks Creek Trail in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

There is also an Upper Hornbecks Creek Trail, but this is accessed from another location. The two trails used to be one, but the central section was severely damaged by erosion and closed. Unfortunately, I was not able to hike the Upper Hornbecks trail during my visit to Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.

Lower Hornbecks Creek Trail Map

By the end of the hike, you will be at a higher elevation than when you started, but other than a few steep-but-short hills, for the most part the trail is easy. It starts out perfectly flat as it follows right along Hornbecks Creek. The path is wide and the surface smooth, largely free of sizeable rocks and roots that can cause you to trip.

Lower Hornbecks Creek Trail in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area follows Hornbecks Creek

Hornbecks Creek is fast flowing and very pretty. The trail is not always within sight of it, but you can usually hear the water for it is always close by.

Hornbecks Creek in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

A third of a mile from the start, the trail crosses the creek via a footbridge. From here you can get a really nice photo looking downstream.

One of three creek crossings on the Lower Hornbecks Creek Trail in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

Hornbecks Creek in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

Beyond the bridge, the trail begins climbing and soon the creek is far below. However, the climb is gradual and grades rarely exceed 10% (strenuous hiking begins at 15%).

Hilly terrain on the Lower Hornbecks Creek Trail in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

Lower Hornbecks Creek Trail in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area rises high above Hornbecks Creek

After another half mile, the trail crosses the creek again, this time high above it via a steel footbridge. Beyond the bridge, the trail narrows and is more like a traditional hiking trail than an old road as it has been since the start of the hike. The terrain remains mildly hilly.

Steel bridge over Hornbecks Creek on the Lower Hornbecks Creek Trail in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

View of Hornbecks Creek from the Lower Hornbecks Creek Trail in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

Not long after the steel bridge is a set of stone stairs that leads down to a third bridge over Hornbecks Creek. This one has yet another design.

Stone stairs on the Lower Hornbecks Creek Trail lead down to a third bridge over the creek, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

Third bridge over Hornbecks Creek on the Lower Hornbecks Creek Trail in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

The Lower Hornbecks Creek Trail now becomes a little more difficult to hike due to the prevalence of tree roots on the path, and very close to the waterfall are some extremely rocky sections.

Rocky section of the Lower Hornbecks Creek Trail right before Lower Indian Ladders, a waterfall within Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

The hike ends at the waterfall. You can see where the trail once continued on to Upper Indian Ladders, but it is now closed beyond this point due to what looks like a landslide of some sorts.

Lower Indian Ladders, a waterfall within Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

Once done at the waterfall, head back the way you came to the parking lot. The round trip takes between an hour and an hour and a half, depending on your hiking speed and how long you want to look at or photograph Lower Indian Ladders.

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