Delaware Water Gap NRA, NJ (Mt.Tammany)
Submitted by: NEGuiding
Description
New Jersey's biggest and best multi pitch climbing area. With over two hundred routes if you include Mt.Minsi which is on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware River. Mt Tammany is bigger and more spectacular than Minsi. With spectacular situations and easy access these cliffs will only gain in popularity as time goes on. Mt Tammany holds a hundred or so routes, many of them considered authentic "test pieces" for their grade, the maximum so far being in the 5.12 range. This area has a strong traditional ethic of being a "ground-up" area, there are no sport routes on the NJ side of the Gap and the use of motorized drills is illegal. Cleaning routes on rappel of loose rocks, dirt, and grass is encouraged. Helmets are MANDATORY when climbing at the Gap!!! If you value your safety you'll use them!!! Hike the Red Dot Trail next to the parking area and you'll be in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and camping is free...there is an awesome campsite up high which faces Mt.Minsi, Pa, You'll wake up above the clouds. the rock is MetaQuartzite and holds pro SOLID!
Getting There
Take I-80 west from N.J. and youll see it on the right just before crossing into Pa. Park at the first exit/parking lot just after passing the big cliff on your right. Approach by walking along the trail BEHIND the highway barrier wall (DO NOT walk on I-80) to reach the trail that leads up along the cliff or just before the roadside area venture left up a narrow trail to the top of the cliff and rappell down.
Photos
Mt.Tammany, NJ
Hiking up the 'Red Dot' trail on Mt.Tammany
Campsite while climbing at the Delaware Water Gap this past Winter.
Comments
Michelle Schonzeit Jan 20, 2010
Camping is only permitted within Delaware Water Gap at designated campground areas (either Dingmans Campground in PA or Worthington State Forest Campground in NJ) or for AT Thru Hikers meeting established distance criteria, or for overnight river trips meeting established river trip distances.
Camping regulations for Delaware Water Gap can be found at www.nps.gov/dewa
NEGuiding Apr 5, 2010
The muddy season is in at the Delaware Water Gap NRA. NPS ridge-runners have relayed some nasty conditions all along the Appalachian Trail and all Kittatinny trails so be careful on approaches and descents if not rappelling. If you must camp in the gap off-trail, please follow basic AT trail ethics and camp 200 feet from a trail and/or water source. The campgrounds are close so I would recommend staying in them, follow Michelle's link bel,ow or this link www.nps.gov/DEWA/planyourvisit/hike-backpack-appalachian.htm
RockinOut Feb 8, 2011
Why arent the 200+ routes listed if this is NJ`s largest area.
Peter McPherson Apr 11, 2011
has anyone been up to climb since the season started back up again?
NEGuiding Jun 30, 2011
No time to post all these routes ;) The NJ side is open this season, the PA side is closed due to Peregrine Falcon nesting again. The NJ side has A LOT of trees down which make trail navigation and route finding hard but take our time, it's not that hard to locate walls up there.
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