Half my life has been spent in some form traveling from New England to the Midwest or vice versa. Anyone who's made that trip knows that there's a place where I-84 goes down a giant hill and crosses the Delaware River in a small town. Doesn't matter what direction you're going; it happens that way. This is a mundane happening on your way from point A to point B. Doesn't matter which way you're going. You've probably stopped at the Pennsylvania Welcome Center to go to the bathroom. You may have stopped to eat in the area.
The Delaware River divides that area between Metamoras, PA; Port Jervis, NY; and whatever is going on around Carpenter's Point in New Jersey. Seems calm. There's a Walmart. But, what you don't know is that it's one of the coolest areas around.
Exit #1 on the east side of the river goes to High Point State Park and the monument that sits up there. The monument is for veterans. The view of the valley is amazing. Not to be missed.
The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is an amazing place for anyone who loves the outdoors. There are several different kinds of activities you can do in the river. There's camping all over the place and of all kinds. This is a tourist area, a travelers area, and all summer long, it's busy with lots of options.
Most of the activity is in Pennsylvania, as that's where the national recreation area is technically located. All along Route 209 you'll find things to do and places to stay.
As you travel down the highway, you'll first stop at Raymondskill Falls. This is the highest waterfall in Pennsylvania. That's a point of distinction, since there are hundreds of waterfalls in the state. There's a short trail to the falls and there are a few sections to the falls, so make sure you walk around and see it all. If you're lucky, like I was a couple times, you might see some crazy kayakers going down the falls. It's not uncommon and very entertaining.
Next, you'll come to Dingman's Ferry and Dingman's Falls. Here there's a rickety bridge across the river. That's not for the feint of heart. On the other side of the road just past the intersection, is the drive to the trailhead and the visitor's center at Dingman's Falls.
I have to add a story here. The first time I ever visited Dingman's Falls was on February 5th of some year or other. It was winter, and I was feeling a bit of cabin fever. I'd never heard of any of the area, except that I drove through there a lot on I-84. I went and hiked up the drive, which was closed for the winter, and along the trail to the falls in deep snow. It was amazing, and I've been going back ever since. Albeit, in warmer weather.
At any rate, there's a lovely visitor's center there, and the trail is largely a boardwalk. This makes the whole place wheelchair accessible and a very nice option for mobility challenged folks.
The boardwalk goes by Silver Thread falls, which is a lovely drizzle and then on the main event at Dingman's. The view is stunning. If you like, you can hike up and down the side of the falls. The views are great anywhere in there, and well worth the short walk. The only downside is that you have to watch the weather. If there's been a lot of rain, the trail may be closed. It does flood.
And last, but not least, there's Bushkill Falls. There are seven miles of walking you can do on a loop through the boardwalks, bridges, and trails in Bushkill. There are eight waterfalls in the park, and the views are amazing. It does charge a fee, as it's privately owned. Also, if you bring a little one, put them in a backpack carrier. It's a challenging walk on a good day.
The cool part of Bushkill is that there's a resort right there, activities, food, and shopping. Bushkill is also in that area of the Poconos well known for honeymoons and romance. There are several resorts in the area that are adults only and even a casino or two is available. So, if bringing children, make sure you book the correct lodging.
Good that we've covered all that. But, here's the part that I never knew. Along Route 209 on your way to all those cool waterfalls is a town called Milford. I've been through Milford many times. It's cute, showing off its heritage and history. I love to drive through it, and it has some cute places to eat as well. I've spent so much time looking at waterfalls, that I missed something, and I got to see that recently.
We go to visit my son a lot, and we take two days for the drive just because it's long. So, we now have some time to stop along the way and check some things out. This last time, we were in the Metamoras area and decided to stop at Grey Towers in Milford. Wow.
Grey Towers was the estate of Gifford Pinchot. So what, you say? I thought that too. You may have heard of Pinchot State Park or Pinchot National Forest? That's all about him. He was the very first head of the United States Forestry Service. He was also the Governor of Pennsylvania twice. He brought forestry into the spotlight for our government the way Teddy Roosevelt highlighted the wild areas that became national parks. He was key in designing a way to use our forested areas while preserving them for future generations. No small feat.
Yes, he was a rich man, but those were the people who originally dedicated their later years to bettering the world for others. Grey Towers was the location of research and education as well as his home. President John F. Kennedy officially accepted the donation of the house and grounds into the National Forestry Service and it is the only estate operated by that agency. The Pinchot Family also founded Pinchot University and created the Pinchot Institute for Conservation. The institute has offices right at Grey Towers to this day, as well as in Washington DC.
The Pinchot's were forward thinking people. The estate is beautiful and you can walk the entire grounds, save a garden off to the side. Admission to the grounds is free. There are no tours of the inside of the house going on at the moment, but there are rangers there who will take you inside if you ask. There's a small building that was once used as a library and research center where you can watch a video about the founding of the American Forestry Service. It's fascinating and hiding in Milford, Pennsylvania.
I don't know about anyone else, but I've spent a lot of time in Pennsylvania, whether I want to or not. I've often wondered about its unique lifestyle. There are a lot of places in the state that have baffled me over the years. Somehow, learning that the Pinchot's had such an impact on an already unique state, put some of my questions to rest. I now understand the entire region known as the Wilds of Pennsylvania. I get it. Conservation at its finest. Welcome to Pennsylvania.
Road trips have become extremely popular since Covid, and I'm one that's done a lot of roadtripping in that time. What can I say? I've had lots of questions about things I have seen in Pennsylvania for decades. What did I find out on a roadtrip? All I had to do was turn right instead of left in Milford. All I had to do was visit Grey Towers instead of always running to the waterfalls.
I took that right turn last time, and I'm glad I did. I learned some fascinating history. I learned about a man driven to do the right thing for future generations. I also got to see a beautiful estate. It was a nice stop on the way to see my son. Don't be afraid that you'll get off your schedule by stopping along the way. It's worth it. I promise.
So, while driving along, stop and see some sites. You might just have a wonderful adventure. Remember, there are tourists and travelers. Be a traveler. You may notice that I almost always put a link for Atlas Obscura, All Trails, and World of Waterfalls in my blogs. It helps you discover amazing things. It helps you learn to wander. It makes you a traveler to stop along the way and wander a bit. It's a great thing and helps you learn and feel a part of your journey so you can enjoy!
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