The Delaware River offers different perspectives on Pike: the McDade Trail is open year-round for walks, hikes, and bike rides along the river. In summer, Pike County also offers canoe trips on the Delaware River. This lets you experience the trails along the banks and activities on the water as different sides of the river landscape.
Hiking Trails Between River and Forest
The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area stretches along the Delaware River and covers more than 17,000 acres; Pike County is home to part of the area. The recreation area has more than 150 miles of hiking trails with varying difficulty levels. The size of the area and the range of trails make hiking an important part of the region’s outdoor experiences.
Another point of reference is Promised Land State Park: it is in Pike County, ten miles north of Canadensis, on PA Route 390. The park and the adjacent Delaware State Forest together have about 50 miles of hiking trails. This figure describes the trail network of both areas combined. Little Falls Trail, in turn, is a separate, 1.02-mile loop with a higher difficulty level.
The Pocono Environmental Education Center also offers several ways to explore on foot: its six loop trails begin and end on campus. The center’s hiking trails are free and available year-round.
Delaware State Forest in Pike County is characterized by remote glacial lakes and bogs. Its landscape includes a diverse variety of plant and animal life, as well as scenic beauty. The combination of forest, wetlands, and lakes offers a different emphasis from the trails along the Delaware River and broadens the view of the area’s natural environment.
Discover the History
American writer Zane Grey lived in the Zane Grey House from 1905 to 1918. Self-guided museum exhibits are open to visitors seasonally, from Memorial Day weekend through the last weekend in September; check these dates before your trip. There is also a public river access point opposite the house, where visitors can reach the river for boating and fishing. A visit to the house and access to the river thus offer two different ways to connect with the same place.
Roebling's Delaware Aqueduct is the oldest surviving wire suspension bridge in the United States and is designated a National Historic Landmark and a National Civil Engineering Landmark. Visitors can walk across the bridge, following the historic route used by canal boatmen and their mules more than a century ago. Here, the opportunity to cross the bridge on foot today can be connected with its former role as part of a historic route.
The Columns Museum, which houses the county’s artifacts and archives, offers further insights into Pike County. In Milford, Grey Towers was the home of Gifford Pinchot. The self-guided Walking Tours of Historic Milford pass through a historic district dating back to 1733. A restored, water-powered mill is the Upper Mill; it was originally built in the early 19th century. The museum, estate, walking tours, and mill each highlight different aspects of the area’s history.
Local Life in Milford
Local products from makers, bakers, and farmers are available at the Milford Farmers Market. The market is listed in Milford’s 2026 activities calendar; its seasonal dates may change. An opportunity to explore local products thus complements the natural and historical experiences with a connection to everyday life and local producers.
Discover more destinations: Matamoras, South Sterling, Bushkill, Tafton, Chester, Sullivan County, Blair, Snyder County.
For the main travel overview: Pennsylvania.
