Black Friday at The Gap

Where: Appalachian Trail to Mount Minsi
Mileage: 8.37
Type: Out and Back
Parking: Dunnefield Creek/Appalachian Trail exit off I-80

Black Friday here in America usually entails a day off work to scurry in the herds of crowds at shopping malls to begin your holiday Christmas shopping. Depending on your personality this could be your dream come true or your worst nightmare. I lean towards the latter. So this Black Friday I decided to head over to The Gap I prefer. Aside from the coincidental name, this location was primarily chosen as it is very convenient to get to the trailhead right off the highway on the way going to and from the Poconos on a visit with family.

To hike just Mount Minsi there is a better trailhead to start from within the residential neighborhood for the Lake Lenape Parking area.

http://www.nps.gov/dewa/planyourvisit/to-mt-minsi.htm

Being that I wanted to hike as much of the AT as possible, I included the extra highway walking along I-80. Not the best place to hike if you want just views and solitude in the woods. Although looking through my guidebook, I wasn't aware of how far it would be to actually include this extra mileage. I would definitely recommend skipping the highway and starting from Lake Lenape.

 

Some winter berries along the walk

 After going under the underpass of I-80 you will see Kittatinny Point Visitor Center.

Walking towards the highway

Street sign in town

Sign towards Lake Lenape Parking Area

 You will pass the lake towards the beginning of the hike and the trail will gradually ascend with some viewpoints along the way of the Delaware Water Gap.

Lush Green Tunnel

  There is an area where you walk through some very green trails and it is very peaceful and calming.

A side trail took me to this area where someone had placed the American Flag.

Keep hiking up and you will eventually get to the top of Mount Minsi marked by this sign on a tree log. There is not really a view here, but there is a makeshift campground nearby.

Here I turned around and headed back to the parking lot.

GPS maps below...

Food Recommendation:

Thai Orchid

I was surprised to see so many veg options on the menu here in PA. The pad thai was pretty good. :)

or within walking distance of the trail...

Zen Fusion

I could see this location as a tempting rest stop along the way on a thru-hike.