Waterfall hike in Pennsylvania.

After freezing rain covered my region with snow and ice for weeks, we finally got a thaw so I promptly scheduled a hike, this time just across the state border (I’m coming from Port Jervis, NY) to Pennsylvania. I visited Hackers Falls, one of several waterfalls in the area and one of two big draws in the popular Cliff Loop trail that also features a hike along the top of a cliff (which is probably how the trail got its name) that offers sweeping views of the Delaware River below and northern New Jersey beyond.

Cliff Loop is 3.7 miles long, but I only went as far as Hackers Falls which is 1.6 miles (or 3.2 miles out-and-back). The hike is “easy” and “good for all skill levels” according to alltrails.com and children may be brought along. Some trails are flat and wide enough for vehicles to pass although I did not see any tire tracks. But I don’t think you could push a baby stroller along because the inclines can be steep.

Considering that my out-and-back to Hackers Falls was just 0.5 mile shy of the full loop (3.2 vs 3.7 miles), why, one might ask, did I not just do the full circuit and enjoy the scenic vista from the cliff edge, too? Maybe one day I will. But for now, my mind dictates that when it comes to admiring beauty, I do not necessarily always have to go for the two-for-one.