After our more functional trip yesterday, we decided to enjoy a more scenic hike. Near the village of Equinunk, PA, there is a bridge over the Delaware River that takes you to Lordville, NY. After a short drive in, we arrived at the trailhead that, after considerable elevation gain, would take us to a gorgeous view of the valley and the river.

The Hike Up

We started hiking at about 8:30 AM and were off to a decent pace. The sun had been up for about two hours, and the temperatures were already rising. But, with plenty of shade, the low-50s weather still felt quite cool. That was good, as we were soon breathing heavy and taking our first breaks. The trail was free of debris, but the first portion was very rocky and uneven. As we were headed up, another two people were on their way down. Given there were no other cars in the parking lot, we assume they were from one of the several nearby campgrounds. This trail passes through private property, but hikers are allowed to pass through on the trail.

The trail eventually smoothed out, with tree roots becoming the only obstacles to avoid. The incline of the trail leveled out as we got closer to the mountaintop, and it was exciting to see blue sky between the trees in front of us. After an hour of walking uphill, it was refreshing to see the trail open up to a stream and our first scenic view.

Views on the Mountaintop

A stream came from across the mountain top and over the side of a steep dropoff. Unfortunately, rainfall was low, and the waterfall was not much more than a trickle. However, the area was nice and open, and I imagine that with more water, it would be a more impressive scene.

Next, we went across a ridge that had very little vegetation, but was littered with flagstone. At first, I thought there had been a cabin here, given a few piles of stacked and fitted stones. But as I walked out, I noticed several other stacks of stones in various shapes and sizes. I saw a seat, a fire pit, and an impressive diamond-shaped stack. As we walked past this space, I realized the best was yet to come.

A warning sign for a falling hazard let me know we were coming to the best lookout spot yet. We came to a gorgeous view of the valley and the Delaware River below. According to my father, the trees had grown up a bit, as he couldn’t see as far both upstream and downstream. After a few minutes of taking it all in, we decided to continue the loop around and head back to the main trail.

The Hike Down

Our walk down the mountain started around 10 AM. My trekking poles were useful as I needed to slow myself down on the rocky terrain. I didn’t recall this much loose debris on the way up, but we were often sliding on our way down. We only stopped a few times during our descent, but the tops of my thighs were quite tired by the end. However, with the change in perspective, we noticed a few more sights, including an interesting rock formation and some flagstone fashioned into a small bench.

We passed two more groups of two on our way down. When we got to the trailhead, there were several more cars, including a group of teenagers on small all-terrain vehicles. We were wondering where the crowds were over Labor Day weekend, but I think we were just up a little too early. We arrived at the car about 10:30, with the whole trip taking almost exactly two hours.

Stargazing That Night

Later that night, back at our camp, the night sky was alight with stars. The moon was very bright and when overexposed, looked like the sun. It was a nice end to a relaxing day that began with this wonderful hike.

What Went Well

• Trekking poles allowed me to use some upper body strength to pull myself up this long hill, and kept me safe on the slippery descent.
• With only a sun shirt and short-sleeved base layer, I was chilly at the start of the hike. But that was the right state to be in at the beginning, and I was comfortable the entire trip.

Even Better If

• My only regret is not spending more time and taking more pictures near the stream and the small waterfall at the first part of the overlook..