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McDade Trail

4.6 ★★★★★ 39 Google reviews · Running trail in Bushkill, Pennsylvania · Open 24 hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Crushed gravel
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Open 24 hours

Confirmed from McDade Trail's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

Crushed gravelOpen 24hHillyQuiet

What runners say about McDade Trail

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (39 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 3 mentions

“Took a cut through to the river, very peaceful and beautiful.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 4 mentions

“Pretty quiet on a Thursday afternoon, only saw a couple people on the trail outside of access areas.”

👟 good for all levels 2 mentions

Great trail. Wide gravel path with gentle rolling hills. Lots of deer and other woodland creatures.

★★★★★ — Joe , Jul 2022

Great spot for a bike ride! A little more hilly than I expected (near the Bushkill village area.) I did about a 6 mile stretch, 12 total. Hoping to ride the entire trail before the end of the summer. Pretty quiet on a Thursday afternoon, only saw a couple people on the trail outside of access areas. Lots of wildlife.

★★★★★ — Beth , Jun 2021

We picked up this trail by Milford Beach. We hiked 2.5 out and back. It’s a wide, gravel trail. Accessible and easy. Took a cut through to the river, very peaceful and beautiful.

★★★★★ — Cherie , Nov 2022

I LOVE this trail. It’s great for taking a walk, run, stroll, or biking. I believe people even walk their dogs on this path. It’s got some awesome scenery and I’ve never felt like I was in danger while running on this trail.

★★★★★ — Rachel , Mar 2020

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 39 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

⛰️ Hills / elevation 4 mentions

“No matter which direction you start there are hill climbs, we took a shuttle from Milford to Hialeah (unscheduled stop on the road) trailhead, about 200 yards from the road.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 4 mentions

“Pretty quiet on a Thursday afternoon, only saw a couple people on the trail outside of access areas.”

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🪨 Crushed gravel / limestone 3 mentions

“Wide gravel path with gentle rolling hills.”

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Plan your run at McDade Trail

The practical stuff

  • AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
  • SurfaceCrushed gravel — the rail-trail classic: softer than asphalt, still smooth enough for tempo work
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.

Hours

Monday Open 24 hours
Tuesday Open 24 hours
Wednesday Open 24 hours
Thursday Open 24 hours
Friday Open 24 hours
Saturday Open 24 hours
Sunday Open 24 hours

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find McDade Trail

3251 US-209, Bushkill, PA 18324

Get directions

Running trails near Bushkill

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

McDade Trail (Bushkill Access Trailhead)

4.6 ★★★★★ 34 reviews

Lehman Township, PA

ScenicDog-friendly

1.3 miles away

Bushkill Falls

4.6 ★★★★★ 10,260 reviews

Bushkill, PA

LoopBoardwalkScenicDog-friendly

Park with a 100-ft. waterfall plus trails, fishing, boating & other family-friendly activities.

1.7 miles away

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

4.7 ★★★★★ 6,795 reviews

Bushkill, PA

BoardwalkScenic

Vast forested preserve featuring hiking trails, campsites & water sports on the Delaware River.

3.1 miles away

Smithfield Beach

4.4 ★★★★☆ 922 reviews

East Stroudsburg, PA

Scenic

Grassy beach, park and recreation area, featuring picnic spots, a boat launch, lifeguards on duty and biking trails.

5.1 miles away

Thunder Swamp Trail Junction

4.2 ★★★★☆ 70 reviews

East Stroudsburg, PA

18.3 miLoopNatural surfaceScenic

5.6 miles away

Hialeah Trailhead

4.5 ★★★★★ 79 reviews

East Stroudsburg, PA

Crushed gravel

Woodland trail leading to a river, with options for boating, hiking and biking.

6.5 miles away

All running trails in Bushkill, PA →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.