Hike #557; Pocono Rim 5/8/11
5/8/11 Pocono Rim; Dingman's Ferry and Adams Creek with Brad Baesic, Dave "Captain Soup" Campbell, Joe Blevins, Corrin Dylnicki, Kaitlin Dylnicki, Krithika Raman, ?, ?, Hadas Yatom-Schwartz, Simon Schwartz, "Action Adam" Stevens
The group on the Joseph McDade Recreation Trail, Del Water Gap NRA in Dingman's Ferry
My next hike would be another loop on the next section of the Pocono Rim. I had been wanting to do another Pocono Rim hike for a while, but was holding out because I wanted it to be warmer for swimming. Then, my friend Christina passed away, and when I tried to remember what hikes she really liked I remembered her being really happy with the Pocono Rim waterfalls. I figured it would be nice to go ahead with the hike a bit earlier in honor of Christina, and that way if a lot of her close friends or family, some of whom had never joined me would be able to see a place that she liked and have a nice experience. Unfortunately, very few who even knew Christina were able to come, but that's understandable since it was such a crazy weekend.
I met the group in the morning at a pull off in Dingman's Ferry near the Delaware Cemetery. The original meeting point I had in mind was Childs Park, but I had found out that it was under construction so I had to change the plans a bit.
While waiting for people to show up, Joe, Captain Soup, Action Adam, and I headed down to our beginning point, the base of Johnny B Road at the turn off to the Dingman's Falls visitor center. Krithika, Simon, and Brad had all gotten pulled over and ticketed on the way to the hike! This absolute crazy coincidence was made worse by the fact that Brad was not allowed to drive from the site. Captain Soup drove me out to him and I was able to drive his car to the meeting point. There were a total of eight tickets given out between the three drivers pulled over.
Abandoned house in Dingman's Ferry
We began walking up the road; Simon and Hadas were running a bit late and ended up meeting us further up at the Dingman's visitor center. We walked the road past the abandoned house, and since there were already police run ins we didn't want to push it by going in.
We continued past the visitor's center and along the pathway to Silverthread Falls.
Nice cascade on Dingman's Creek below the falls.
Silverthread Falls
There had been a sign out in the Dingman's lot saying "Waterfall Walk Today", 10 am. It was just barely after ten already, and we figured we would be out there before that walk started. There was already a ranger giving the walk when we reached Silver Thread Falls. Hadas and Simon ended up running along the path to meet up with us here. There were only two people on the rangers waterfall walk, older women, and he looked none too enthused to be out there with them, especially since I came walking by with a group of better looking young women.
Silver Soup Falls?
As we walked, he was moving on, and ask "Are you hiking through to Childs Park? It's closed." I told him we were cutting out before there, which of course wasn't exactly true, but that's okay.
Dingmans Falls
Dingmans Falls
We continued on to Dingman's Falls, one of the largest falls in Pennsylvania. The water was flowing very strong, and it's always beautiful despite the amount of patronage the site gets. This time, other than the ranger and his duo of ladies, there was no one else there. We didn't hang out there long because I didn't want to be questioned by the ranger more about our trip. We moved on up the steps toward the top of Dingman's Falls with more views along the way.
Small falls to the south of Dingmans Falls
Deer Leap Falls
Deer Leap Falls
Deer Leap Falls
The steps ascended, then descended again into a gully and over a bridge crossing a tributary creek with another nice small falls above us. We then ascended to the right to the top of Dingman's Falls. There were nice views, and even when we got to the top, the ranger and his seniors had not reached the base of the falls yet. We took a breather and admired the view, as well as the upper falls above the main Dingmans Falls.
We continued from here off of the boardwalk section and onto the rustic unmarked trail high above the creek. We kept to the left side of the creek and soon crossed over the abandoned Doodle Hollow Road where a foot bridge had been installed across. We then continued along the creek to the north. The side hilled trail, seldom used, was not too tough to follow but had some big drops if anyone had fallen. We then crossed the paved and very busy Milford Road and continued on the rough trail into Childs Park. We tried to get out of sight before cars went by.
We only went as far as Deer Leap Falls where we took a nice break. I knew there were people supposed to be busy with work, and volunteers on the weekends, so I didn't want any of them to see us in the more active area.
Action Deer Leap Adam
Action Falls Adam
Deer Leap Falls
Action Shower Adam
Action Adam made his way out along the edge of Deer Leap Falls and got right up to the cascade. The bridge over Dingman's Creek had a tree fallen on it, and the pathway up the south side was eroded and washed out a bit, but nothing too unsafe.
After a bit of goof off time, we headed back down along Dingman's Creek on the opposite side we came in on. After crossing the utility right of way, we ascended a bit to the left to the base of what was probably a pavilion during the early days of Childs Park before it was part of Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. I had noticed behind it there was an old road, so instead of following the trail down along the creek, we followed this back to Milford Road and turned left up hill.
Abandoned house near Dingman's Ferry
Two Sisters Deli
We passed by the abandoned house I had gone into on the last Pocono Rim hike, but this time we didn't bother going in because there seemed to be too much activity in the area. A lot of people were going into the deli across the street. We took a break and went into the bar, Silver Lake Tavern, on the corner where Brad got a six pack and a lot of the group used the restroom. We then crossed the street and got some stuff at the deli. I of course got Lehigh Valley Chocolate milk. They had it in the small container for 90 cents.
It was tough trying to get my bearings, but when I figured it out we continued along Milford Road to the north. We continued on the road to the north all the way to Dingman's Turnpike and went right. There was a pizza place on the left, and although we had just had food, Brad, Captain Soup, and I ran in to get a couple slices. It was quite good. Or at least I thought. I think Soup said it sucked. But he hates everything.
Action Adam, with prior obligations, had to cut out and run the road back to his truck. The rest of us continued to Sproul Road and turned left.
Abandoned house
Abandoned barn
Abandoned barn
Inside the abandoned barn
Abandoned house
We continued along the road past a few houses, and then it game to a locked gate with Delaware Water Gap NRA signage. The rest of the road was abandoned, as I suspected. We followed the gravel road down hill gradually from sparsely wooded area to thick older forests. Just as we reached the bottom, the road forked. Straight ahead, our route, became far more deteriorated while to the left the gravel continued up hill. I said we should check it out, and no sooner did we take a few steps, we found an abandoned house. This house was in good condition, with windows boarded up and secured tightly. It had a best lock on the door, and some moss growing on the roof showing it was not too recently used. There was an old barn with a wrecked greenhouse on it's side to the left. The lawn looked as though someone had kept it up rather well. From the front, the home looked like a small Cape Cod style, but from the side it was obviously much larger. We went to the barn to check it out, and Brad found a jingly chain thing he carried for the rest of the hike.
Nice tree at the abandoned house
We returned to the abandoned Sproul Road and continued heading down hill.
Abandoned Sproul Road descending to Adams Creek
When we reached Adams Creek, I was amazed to see an old mill, in remarkable condition, sitting on the edge of the creek. It was amazing also because it was situated in a narrow part of the creek where natural outcroppings were an obvious place for a bridge, but the water levels and difficulty to maintain a mill in that chasm must have been very labor intensive.
Old mill on Adams Creek
Cascade at the mill on Adams Creek
Cascade on Adams Creek
The old water wheel, amazingly still intact.
A slab of rock is a natural bridge over a small chasm near the mill
The group on the rock outcropping above the mill
The falls directly upstream from the old mill
Cascade on Adams Creek up stream from the mill.
Looking more closely at the old mill, it was most certainly altered in part to preserve what remained of it. I would guess it was in ruins, probably only a framework of a building with the waterwheel still in place, and someone added a new cap structure to protect what was left. The structure had masonry work of two different colors, so one can assume the upper part was added later. The roof was certainly not more than a couple decades old, and it had a new window boarded shut. A pier holding the downstream section roof corner was probably new as well, because it did not seem like a practical construction for the sort of works a mill would be intended for.
The bottom half of the water wheel was rusted away, but most of it was in amazingly good condition.
Foundation that utilized a natural rock outcrop.
The mill and falls on Adams Creek
The group at some ruins near the old mill
Falls directly below the mill on Adams Creek
Mill and falls on Adams Creek
Ruins
Old mill on Adams Creek
Adams Creek outcropping
The outcroppings were capped slightly with some masonry, proving that this was once a bridge site. Furthermore, the abandonment of Sproul Road could be seen ascending the other side of the creek, though it was in even worse condition from here.
There was also a concrete structure and I Beam along the creek up stream from the bridge site slightly.
I climbed down the chasm below a natural stone slap bridge to the front of the mill to have a better look at the wheel and the falls. It was amazing.
We all continued from here down stream past some more ruins. The stone work was quite nice, and was a great example of how the architect of this integrated masonry work into a cliff and used natural rock as one of the building walls. Captain Soup and Joe went across the stream at a narrow spot to see if there was a way into the mill from the other side, but it was so small there wouldn't be much to see anyway.
Adams Creek cascade
Adams Creek
We continued down stream and passed more fine views of the old mill structure and falls, as well as more stone ruins, and an oblong shaped area where another building appeared to once sit.
As we continued a short distance, we came to a site where an old masonry dam probably spanned the creek. Only the north side remained to the edge of the stream, all other remains had long since washed away.
Adams Creek and falls
Ruins of a masonry dam over Adams Creek
Cascade on Adams Creek
Heavily flowing natural spring along Adams Creek
More falls on Adams Creek
As we continued down stream, we came to a beautiful spring that was flowing quite heavily from the ground. It's not often I see a spring flowing so strong, directly from the ground.
We continued on the path following Adams Creek down stream. We could barely see it, but there was another waterfall down below us to the left. The trail got steep as we continued to descend, and it reminded me more and more of upper Tumbling Waters from further south on the Pocono Rim.
Falls below us on Adams Creek
Trail along Adams Creek
Trail along Adams Creek
Along Adams Creek
The trail continued to get more difficult. We came to one spot where the drop off was at least forty feet down to our left, off of a very narrow path. We would certainly not survive a fall like that. We had to be very careful across it. After this section, it became a bit easier, but then tough again as we descended steeply to the edge of the creek again. I could see three people below, two girls and one guy, looking surprised to see us coming down there.
I made it to the bottom, and recognized this as the falls I had been to with my grandfather years before. We had just never gone further up.
The kids there told me it was about 25 feet deep and safe enough to jump off from the top! I think I might want to try it over the Summer. This cliff is probably about forty feet high as well. I chatted with them for a bit, gave them Metrotrails business cards, and they were on their way. When the others arrived, I helped them across the stream, because the "trail" if you want to call it that continued on the other side.
Without thinking, I jumped into the water for a swim, and then realized I had my cell phone in my pocket. I removed the battery immediately and put it in my pack.
The next day, I ruined the phone by trying to warm it in the stove, as I'd done before. The stove worked stronger and not only burned my lunch, but ruined the phone completely.
After everyone else was down, Simon was the only one other than me to swim. I also checked out a little cave area on the opposite side.
Adams Falls
Adams Creek
Adams Falls
Adams Falls
Water flowing through a log off a tributary to Adams Creek
Adams falls from a distance
Smaller falls below the large ones on Adams Creek
Path along the Adams Creek
Ledge path along Adams Creek
"trail" along a ledge above Adams Creek
Rock outcrop above Adams Creek
After a nice long break, we continued along Adams Creek down stream. I descended to the right briefly and found another secondary falls; not as big but still incredibly impressive. We made our way along a very steep section, then along a ledge that was a bit freaky to descend to another very large pool, excellent for swimming. None of us jumped into this one, opting instead to continue on down the along the creek.
The trail became quite a bit easier here, but then we had to cross to stay on the cleared trail. After just getting their shoes and socks on, some took them off to cross again. It was possible on this one to go across on fallen logs though. A series of three fallen logs zig zagged across, and we used teamwork to give each other hands across. Once across, we had a nice easy walk for a bit, but then came to yet another place where we had to cross. Captain Soup and Joe went down hill a bit and found a dry spot while everyone else stayed on the more beaten path and changed out of their shoes again. Joe was outstanding in these areas; when I was below helping people, he held back and lended a hand to those further back in the group.
We passed a small waterfall on the left, on a tributary to Adams Creek.
We continued along for a bit more, and then came to yet another spot where we had to cross. Everyone again took off their shoes and socks and crossed for the last time.
Pool on Adams Creek
Trail along Adams Creek
Crossing Adams Creek
Adams Creek
Small falls on a tributary to Adams Creek
One final stream crossing without a bridge.
The trail made it's way up hill from here a bit, and picked up an old woods road rather than following along the edge of the creek itself. We made our way up high above the creek and could hear, and see a little, another falls down below us. I knew we'd have to come back to explore this.
Woods road high above Adams Creek
One of the coolest things about the ravine was that it appeared to have old growth Hemlocks growing in it, something not often seen.
We continued on the woods road as it ascended, then descended toward Rt 209. We could see 209, and just before reaching it, a trail cut to the left and over a foot bridge crossing the Adams Creek. The bridge was pretty cool, a planking with a railing laid across a fallen giant tree.
Foot bridge over Adams Creek
Foot Bridge over Adams Creek
The trail led us through the woods parallel with Route 209, and then reached a parking lot. We saw two ladies walk through, and she asked if all of us were going to fit into that one car. There was only one parked in the lot, and I laughed, letting her know we weren't parked nearby. She was surprised we were doing such a long hike.
WE LOVE MCDADE TRAIL!!!
We turned left briefly along Rt 209. Soon, we came to a sign reading "McDade Trail" pointing across the street. We crossed onto another completed section of the long multi use trail we had been using for years to close in loops on the Pocono Rim.
McDade Trail
Adams Creek bridge on McDade Trail
We followed the trail a short distance and then crossed a new bridge over Adams Creek, continuing south. The trail zig zagged a bit, and then came very close to 209 where the Delaware River came close to it.
Oh no! A steep hill on the McDade Trail? Can we handle it???
McDade Trail in Dingman's Ferry
Along McDade Trail, Dingman's Ferry PA
McDade Trail, Dingman's Ferry PA
Everyone asked if there were any more hills or if we were finished with those. I confidently commented that we were pretty much finished, but when McDade Trail turned away from the river again, there was a sign reading "Steep Hill" to which Captain Soup joked about being able to handle it.
Surprisingly, this probably was the steepest hill I'd ever encountered on all of the McDade Trail. I had been on this section to some extent before it was in place with Jillane over a year before, but we didn't realize it would take such a steep route. It headed down hill, cut to the left, and then switched back hard to the right close to the river. it continued on and then went rather steeply back up hill on the other side right next to Rt 209.
We stopped near an historical marker here in Dingman's Ferry, and some passing cyclists took a group picture for us.
Historic marker
We soon crossed over the Dingman's Turnpike and then crossed over Dingman's Creek on a new pedestrian bridge which had been put in during the previous year. On my last visit, it was not there yet and Jillane and I had to walk around on the road bridge.
We crossed, and then turned right on the abandoned road for a shot while.
McDade Trail, bridge over Dingman's Creek
Abandoned road section of McDade Trail in Dingman's Ferry
Dingman's Ferry PA
McDade Trail turned off of the road to the left, but we continued straight on to Rt 209 and crossed, directly to the parking lot where we'd started.
We had finished earlier than planned, which was great considering some of the terrain we crossed. The easy sections I suppose made up for the time we spent scrambling.
I passed out some Happy Bag items, and said farewell to the rest of the group, while Captain Soup, Brad, and I went out to the pizza place in Bushkill where I had met Brad almost two years before. It's always great to end a hike with pizza, especially when it's on sale for eight dollars a pie!
The next Pocono Rim hike will probably include Adams Creek again, but this time incorporating the first section of the Conoshaugh trail system.
Parking lot at Rt 209 and Johnny B Road, finishing the hike. Brad has the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue 2011!
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