Orchard Trail in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Millbrook Village Area Trails Home Page
Length: .5 mile, one way
Time: 15 minutes
Difficulty: Moderate
The Orchard Trail is located at Millbrook Village in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. It is a half-mile long out-and-back trail that connects to the Hamilton Ridge Trail. Nobody in their right mind would actually hike out-and-back on this trail, as the only logical thing to do is make a loop with the Hamilton Ridge and Pioneer Trail. This report covers only the Orchard Trail.
Millbrook Village Hiking Trails map
The Orchard Trail begins on the other side of Old Mine Road from the main parking lot at Millbrook Village. It starts off on a staircase up a steep hill, and it is pretty much uphill all the way to the Hamilton Ridge Trail other than a short level area at the very end. The climb is steady, with an average grade of around 13% (15% is the start of strenuous hiking).
Orchard Trail starts on the other side of Old Mine Road from the Millbrook Village Parking Lot, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Start of the Orchard Trail at Millbrook Village, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Worse than the climb are the numerous small rocks on the trail, which I call ankle breakers. During my October hike, there were so many leaves on the trail that I couldn’t tell what I was about to step on. They’re not so bad on the way up, but remember, you must hike back down the Orchard Trail as well, and the small rocks can slip out from under your feet like loose marbles.
Orchard Trail in autumn, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
The last tenth of a mile of the Orchard Trail is very pleasurable to hike. Parts are lined with old stone fences, remnants of Millbrook’s pioneering past. This area was most likely part of a homestead of a Millbrook resident. I wouldn’t doubt that this was once either a walking path or a road down to the village.
Level terrain at the northern end of the Orchard Trail in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
The Orchard Trail dead ends into the Hamilton Ridge Trail, which is a wide former road. Take a left to hike southwest towards the Pioneer Trail if your goal is to complete the aforementioned loop hike, which is approximately 5.8 miles in length.
With a few exceptions, use of any photograph on the National Park Planner website requires a paid Royalty Free Editorial Use License or Commercial Use License. See the Photo Usage page for details.
Last updated on February 2, 2024
