 |
| View to the southeast from Bird Mountain |
One good thing about Delaware Water Gap hikes is that they can offer some elevation variety, which sets them apart from those in my preferred hiking spots -- the Adirondacks and White Mountains. In the latter locations, a hiking day is almost always up-up-up-up-up followed by down-down-down-down-down. Classic peak bagging. But in the Water Gap, you can put together some nice loop hikes with substantial elevation gain that alternate between climbing and descending throughout the day. One of the very best is a hike to Rattlesnake Mountain and Silver Spray Waterfall, a hike of nearly 2,000 feet of gain in which you climb and descend six times.
 |
| Brinks Road shelter |
The access point is the lesser-known Arctic Meadows Preserve, which offers parking for two cars and a spur trail leading up the ridge to the Appalachian Trail. Traveling counter-clockwise, I made a quick ascent up to Rattlesnake Mountain (1,490 feet) and then headed northeast along its adjoining ridgeline. The ridge offers a number of very nice views to the east and west along the way, and I took the time to stop and admire most of them. The AT goes up and over a few knobs (one called Bird Mountain and the other Blue Mountain) before descending down into the col where it connects with Shay Trail leading to the Brinks Road shelter. From the shelter, I took the woods road as my return route and needed spikes to keep traction on the ice. This long straightaway eventually led to an icy switchback climb back up to the ridge. As far as trail conditions go, it was that transitional time of year when the most of the trails are totally clear but those in hollows and out of direct sun still have a good amount of lingering ice.
 |
| The long straight woods road |
This particular hike is more of a figure 8 than a loop, so at the top of the ridge I retraveled the Bird Mountain section that I passed earlier in the day before turning off on a long descent back into the valley. My second destination, Silver Spray Waterfall, is not situated on the trail. Some maps call it "Hidden Falls" because you need to bushwhack about 1/4 mile to the south in order to find it. You can't even hear it from the trail proper, so it takes advance knowledge of its existence to make it part of your itinerary. I wouldn't rank it as one of the more dramatic of falls. In fact, I'd probably call it more of a cascade than a waterfall, at least at this time of year. But the secret spot offers a nice flat boulder for seating and the pleasant sounds of the cascades, making it perfect for a long lunch break.
 |
| Lingering winter conditions |
After lunch, I continued down into the valley again and then made another icy climb back up to the AT followed by a final descent down to Arctic Meadows. Through all the ups and downs, I didn't see a single person the entire day. Just like I like it.
Destination: Rattlesnake Mountain and Silver Spray Waterfall
Distance: 9.7 miles
Elevation: 1,973 feet (gain)
Route: Loop, AT to Brink Road to Woods Road to AT to
Conditions: 35 degrees F
Notable Flora/Fauna: Ravens, coyote scat
.jpg)
.jpg)
