Hike #6 - Cliff Park in Milford, PA

"The Cliff Trail offers some of the most spectacular overlook views in the recreation area of the serpentine Delaware River valley from atop the Raymondskill Ridge. This view was so inspiring to early film makers that several westerns were filmed using this magnificent scenery as stand-ins for the landscapes out west. Early 1900s actors Tom Mix, Walter Miller and Mary Pickford are just some of the stars who once stood on these vary cliffs." .... The National Park Service

Time has gotten away from us this Autumn, but we're hoping for some good weather for what very well be the last hike of 2017.  On November 18, we'll head to Milford, PA to hike Cliff Park.  Cliff Park has an excellent effort to reward ratio with one large hill and then almost constant views of the cliffs overlooking the Delaware River.   Also within walking distance of the parking area is the largest waterfall in Pennsylvania, Raymondskill Falls (not to mention a lovely pond and Hackers Falls as well).

Please contact Jeff Carlson (jc1372) by November 14th if you are interested in joining us.

• Easy/Moderate - One steep incline at the start and the rest is fairly level.
• Length - Appx 7.4 Miles
• Elevation Gain - ~1,000 feet
• Expected Duration - 4-6 hours
• Park Trail Map
• Our Route - See screen shot in "What to Expect" below
• Parking Location - Raymondskill Road, Milford, PA 18337 (41.290330, -74.840084).  See below for note
• Restrooms - At the Parking Lot

What to Expect

Cliff Park area and Elevation Profile of our route

By all accounts this should be an exciting, but not exactly challenging hike.  The views are incredible and there are two large waterfalls to add to the show, but 1000 feet elevation gain in 7.4 miles will make this likely the easiest hike we've tackled.

The most difficult section is at the onset, a 350 ft gain in less than a mile.  This is certainly not easy, but at the same time not really close to the 1000+ feet we tackled with Mt Tammany and Buttermilk Falls.  Once atop the ridge we hike alongside the cliff edge on an unblazed trail and eventually overlook the town of Milford.

We then backtrack just a bit and head alongside Cliff Park Golfcourse to the pond and Hackers Falls, before descending back down the ridge to the parking lot.  Here, we can chose to head home to walk over to Raymondskill Falls to take in the tallest falls in PA.  This is a very short (1/3 mile?) walk from the parking lot and well worth the small hill it takes to get there.

This area is extremely crowded during peak fall foliage season.  We should have missed it, but will likely not have the trail to ourselves.

Blazes and Mileage

• Cliff Park Trail - Unblazed (2.3 miles)
• Right onto Cliff Trail (north)  - White Blaze too Milford Knob Overlook (0.8 miles)
• Back on Cliff Trail (south)  - White Blaze (1.5 miles)
• Right onto Buchanan Trail (west) - Orange Blaze (0.15 miles)
• Right onto Pond Loop (north) - Blue Blaze (0.5 Miles)
• Right onto Buchanan Trail (west) - Orange Blaze (0.4 Miles)
• Right onto Hackers Trail (southwest) - Yellow Blaze (1.6 miles)

Note:  Cliff Park Trail literally takes us next to open cliff ledges with a severe drop.  There are no sections of trail that are dangerous, but ponder this fact before bring your pets or small children.

Note 2:  Dogs are not allowed on the Raymondskill Falls trails.  I couldn't find any information if they are allowed on the Cliff Park side.

Parking Note:  There is a small dirt lot across from the trailhead.  I don't have an address, so please use the GPS coordinates above.  If you search Parking Lot for Raymondskill Falls on Google Maps it will take you to a lot 250 ft past the trailhead.  Consider this lot overflow if it's crowded.

Lou has hiked some of Cliff Park and Cliff Trails, along with the walk to the main Raymondskill Falls location, but not the rest.  Here are some photos: