Pioneer Trail in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

---

Millbrook Village Area Trails Home Page

---

Length:  2.5 miles, one way
Time:  1 hour (one way)
Difficulty:  Moderate

The Pioneer Trail in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is located near Millbrook Village. It is an out-and-back trail that is most easily accessed via a short connecter just down the road from the Lower Van Campen Glen Parking Lot on Old Mine Road. Nobody in their right mind would actually hike out-and-back on this trail, as the only logical thing to do is combine it with the Hamilton Ridge Trail to form a 4.2-mile loop hike. This is what I did, first hiking northeast on the Hamilton Ridge Trail and catching the Pioneer Trail on the way back. This trail report only covers the Pioneer Trail starting from its northeast trailhead at the Hamilton Ridge Trail intersection. See the Hamilton Ridge Trail report here on National Park Planner for details and photos of that hike.

Millbrook Village Hiking Trails map

The route of the Pioneer Trail is marked with orange blazes. These are paint splotches on trees that serve as Hansel and Gretel breadcrumbs. They aren’t all that necessary here because the Pioneer Trail is easy to follow.

Orange blazes mark the route of the Pioneer Trail in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

From the Van Campen Glen Parking Lot, walk out to Old Mine Road and take a left. The connector that leads to the start of the Pioneer and Hamilton Ridge trails is about a hundred yards down on the opposite side of the road. Look for a wide trail (former dirt road) that is blocked off by a vehicle gate. From here, it is a .2-mile walk to the start of the two trails. Once at the intersection, stay straight to hike the Pioneer Trail or take a right to start hiking northeast on the Hamilton Ridge Trail (which is what I did).

Southwestern trailhead for the Hamilton Ridge Trail in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

Southwestern trailhead for the Pioneer Trail in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

From this direction, the Hamilton Ridge Trail is uphill all the way to the intersection with the Pioneer Trail, a distance of 1.5 mile. The intersection is marked with orange blazes on the trees, and a sign identifies the trail, so you can’t miss the turn.

Northeastern trailhead for the Pioneer Trail in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

Unlike the Hamilton Ridge Trail, which is an old road, the Pioneer Trail starts off as a traditional hiking trail. It is narrow and has a surface that is often covered in small rocks and roots.

Typical terrain at the upper end of the Pioneer Trail, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

From this direction, the Pioneer Trail heads down into a valley towards the Delaware River. This is accomplished with three major drops over the next .9 mile. The first drop is a tenth of a mile long and has an average grade of 13%. A 15% grade is where strenuous hiking begins, so this hill isn’t too bad. It is followed by another short segment that goes up and over two small hills that also have a moderate grade.

Downhill grade on the upper section of the Pioneer Trail, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

The second descent is the longest of the three at .4 mile. It begins about a tenth of a mile after the trail makes a 90-degree left turn and continues nearly to the bottom, running along a ridge most of the way. Its overall grade is only 14%, but about half of it has an average grade of 20%, which is noticeably steep. It was foggy when I did the hike, but I could definitely tell that the bottom of the hill was far down below. The trail drops 300 feet in elevation from top to bottom.

The Pioneer Trail follows a ridge high above the Delaware River, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

There are some remnants of stone fences along the way, evidence of former homesteads. This is probably where the Pioneer Trail gets its name.

Remnants of a stone fence along the Pioneer Trail in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

The terrain becomes very lush towards the bottom, and the trail is covered in grass and often appears to be a little overgrown. This is the type of environment ticks love to hang out in, so be sure to check the fronts of your legs every few minutes for the pests. For the record, I did not get any ticks on me during my mid-October hike.

Lush terrain along the Pioneer Trail as it nears the Delaware River, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

The third and final drop comes at another 90-degree left turn just before the bottom. It is similar to the first hill, a mere 100 yards with a 12% average grade. The National Park Service map makes it look as if you’ll be right at the Delaware River when you get to the bottom of the hill, but in truth, there is still plenty of distance between the trail and water, and you’ll never even get a glimpse of the river.

Once at the bottom near the river, the Pioneer Trail makes another 90-degree left-hand turn and immediately become noticeably wider. From here, the trail covers relatively flat ground and is easy to hike.

The Pioneer Trail in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area widens at the bottom of the valley near the Delaware River

Tire tracks worn into the ground and a partial foundation of an old building along the trail indicate that this section of the Pioneer Trail is a former road.

Section of the Pioneer Trail that runs parallel to the Delaware River, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

Part of a building foundation along the lower section of the Pioneer Trail in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

Just beyond the building ruins, approximately 1.6 mile from the start, the Pioneer Trail merges with what is obviously an old road. This intersection is not on the map, but just keep hiking straight ahead—there is an orange blaze within sight distance. I have no idea where you’ll end up if you make a right turn on the road. It is not on any maps that I have access to.

The Pioneer Trail merges with an old road about a quarter mile from the southern intersection with the Hamilton Ridge Trail, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

Southern end of the Pioneer Trail is a former dirt road, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

The Pioneer Trail remains an old road all the way back to the start of the hike at the intersection with the Hamilton Ridge Trail. Just keep straight ahead to get back to Old Mine Road and the Lower Van Campen Glen Parking Lot.

Back to the Top