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A Falling Adventure
By Kelly Meinhart
ate summer and early fall are wonderful times to get outdoors and
enjoy nature — especially wooded areas. One of my favorite areas
to visit is the Delaware Water Gap, located on the border of Pennsylvania
and New Jersey. It stretches along 50 miles of the Delaware River
and covers over 70,000 acres along both shores.
 he
Water Gap is famous for its scenic vistas and overlooks, but I prefer
getting in touch with, and up close to the natural beauty of the area.
It's easy to do, there are various trails to get you away from civilization,
including the Appalachian Trail, and of course walking along the Delaware
River affords you some quiet time as well. If you've never visited
this section of the river, you might want to check it out. Especially
during the fall bird migration season — great area to see Bald Eagles!
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he
Water Gap is not only home to the Delaware River, but miles of wooded
streams, kettles, and other natural wonders. One of the most famous
of those natural wonders is Bushkill Falls. It's most commonly referred
to as "the Niagara of Pennsylvania" and it's located along Route 209,
just a few minutes away from the Delaware Water Gap. The country drive
you'll take to get there is well worth it.
 've
been to the falls several times, but re-visited recently for a day
of nature photography and hiking. If you enjoy hiking, you'll enjoy
the park. But be sure to wear sturdy shoes — the hikes can be quite
challenging for some, and even though most of the trails near the
falls are boardwalk style, they can be quite slick and often take
you up some pretty steep slopes.
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think
that most people will recognize the quintessential Bushkill Falls
photo — you know, the one that displays the Main Falls. I've included
a few of those in this feature, so I'm sure you'll recognize it. The
Main Falls is amazing; it drops 100 feet and is especially beautiful
this year thanks to the abundance of rain we've received. It's easy
to get to — it's just a few hundred feet from the entrance to the
park. So even if you're not in the mood for a walk, you can find some
peace and natural wonder without breaking a sweat.
 ut
if you take a look at the trail map link listed below, you'll see
that there are a variety of other, smaller falls to visit as well.
There are eight falls in all, and each has it's own splendor. I personally
enjoy walking along the wooded, earthen trails that follow along the
Bushkill Creek. It's here that you will find wildlife, birds, an assortment
of mushrooms and other fungi, and quite possibly the most peaceful
places within the park.
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he
park has been around for a long time, Charles E. Peters opened it
in 1904, yet considering the number of people who have visited this
natural wonder over the years — you wouldn't know it. The property
continues to be owned by the Peters family, and maybe that's why.
It's nice to see popular attraction area still family owned —
definitely makes me feel like supporting it.
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entire Delaware Water Gap area is perfect for a weekend get-a-way
in the fall, just expect to have company. It's a popular area this
time of year, but definitely not anything that should deter you from
visiting. There are wonderful bed-n-breakfasts in the area, quiet
nooks for lunch, and natural beauty to make you forget about work.
For more information visit the following websites:
 Delaware
Water Gap
Bushkill
Falls
Bushkill
Falls on line Trail Map
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