McDade Trail passes through the cornfields at Schneider Farm, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Note: There are mile marker posts along the McDade Trail just as there are along a highway. Trail miles are counted south to north, with Mile 0 being at the southern trailhead in Hialeah. Since this report is written from the perspective of traveling south from Schneider Farm to Jerry Lees, the accounting of the trail miles covered on the trip is in reverse order.
Trail Miles Covered: 20.8 to 15.9
Length: 4.9 miles
Difficulty: Easy with a couple moderate hills
River Run Shuttle: Can be flagged at Schneider Farm and Jerry Lees
To reach the McDade Recreational Trail from the Schneider Farm Trailhead parking lot on Federal Road, you must first hike or bike a .4-mile connector trail that heads downhill nearly all the way. The connector merges with the McDade Trail, so all you have to do is keep traveling straight ahead. From there, the trail runs along the corn and soybean fields of Schneider Farm for the next 2.5 miles. This is an open stretch of trail, so be sure to wear a hat and apply sunscreen if avoiding the sun is important to you.
This section of the McDade Trail is hilly, but nearly all hills are so mild that you might as well consider the trail level. There are only a few hills that I would rate as moderate in difficulty, with average grades approaching 10% (15% is considered the beginning of strenuous hiking). The only hill of any note comes about 2.6 miles from the Schneider Farm trailhead, and it is noteworthy only because it is longer than a tenth of a mile (both the up- and downhill sides), whereas all other hills are measured in feet, not miles.
Typical terrain of the McDade Trail between the Schneider Farm and Jerry Lees trailheads in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
After two and a half miles, the McDade Trail reenters the forest where it remains for the duration of the trip to Jerry Lees Trailhead another two miles away.
Forested section of the McDade Trail near the Jerry Lees Trailhead, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
After crossing Sparkman’s Creek, the second of three creek crossings, the McDade Trail dead ends into a dirt road. This is a road that leads from Federal Road to a small campground (Venturo Tract) that is reserved for park volunteers only. Take a left on the road and you’ll soon be at the parking area where you will find a fancy outhouse—what Jed Clampett would call a portable toilet in a permanent building. The McDade Trail continues at the far end of the parking lot.
McDade Trail dead ends into a road to a private campground near the Jerry Lees Trailhead, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
McDade Trail continues past the campground restroom near the Jerry Lees Trailhead, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Just past the third creek crossing, Alicia Creek, is a short-but-steep hill that I couldn’t get up on my bike, but that’s just because I am old and out of shape. It won’t be a problem for most cyclists.
The McDade Trail dead ends into another dirt road in a tenth of a mile past Alicia Creek. A left on the road leads a short distance to the Jerry Lees trailhead parking lot. Unlike all other trailhead parking lots north of here, it is not directly on Federal Road, which is within eyesight to the right. If you are ending your trip at Jerry Lees and want to catch the River Run Shuttle, walk out to Federal Road and flag it down. If you are continuing south on the McDade Trail, take a left.
Federal Road is within eyesight from the intersection with the dirt road that leads to the Jerry Lees Trailhead on the McDade Trail, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Not too far down the road from the intersection is a fork. Both routes reconnect a little farther down, so it doesn’t matter which way you go—I stayed to the right. The main parking area for Jerry Lees trailhead is just up ahead, 4.9 miles from the White Pines trailhead.
Split in the road just before arriving at the Jerry Lees Trailhead for the McDade Trail in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
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Last updated on February 10, 2024
