<<<Hikes in NJ - Trails Less Taken

Sunrise Mountain

Stokes State Forest - Branchville, NJ

 

Summary: Nice views of rural Northern NJ from Sunrise Mountain, plus hiking through a thick, secluded-feeling forest.

 

8.5 miles. Moderate - to difficult, typical rugged north Jersey trail surface. The AT is not as rocky here as it is closer to the Gap. Steady uphill on the Cartwright Trail as well as being quite rocky, and a bit overgrown. Stony Brook was wet in areas with rocks.

• Shorter - extensive trail system here, use the trail map to create shorter options

• Longer - To make the loop 10 miles, pass Stony Book and take the next trail to the right instead, Tower (GREEN), in the description below.

• Casual Day Out - Perhaps combine a drive to the view at Sunrise, take the short hike at Tillman Ravine, and drive to see Buttermilk Falls.

Map: Pick up a map from the visitor station, or view it here. A very worthwhile purchase is the Kittatinny Trails Map Set- Stokes is #122 of the set. If you use the map set, it's not a bad idea to have the park map too... the trails are color coded (helpful to see that GREEN Station Trail is really light green as opposed to GREEN Tower Trail which is darker green for example), and there is a trail mileage/difficulty chart.

 

Books: Detailed trail descriptions found in"Kittatinny Trails" and the New Jersey Walk Book. A 10 mile loop is described in "50 Hikes in New Jersey". A 5.9 mile loop that does not take in Sunrise Mountain can be found in "Hiking New Jersey".

 

 

Parking: 206 North until you enter Stokes, pass Rt 636 and then turn right for the park entrance. Drive down Coursen Rd and make a right at the end to get to the trail lot. (Follow signs for Stony Lake)

 

Parking fee is charged from Memorial to Labor day. Info on the NJ State Park Pass.

 

There are cabins to rent, get a brochure from the visitor center.

 

Restrooms: at the Visitor Center. Also at Stony Lake (walk up the hill from the parking lot) from Memorial to Labor Day.

 

Hike Directions: Overview: From Stony Lake parking... Swenson Trail (RED) to Cartwright (BROWN-RED) to AT (WHITE) to Stony Brook (BROWN) to Station (Light GREEN). To make the 10 mile loop, pass Stony Book and take the next trail instead, Tower (GREEN).

 

0.0 - Look for the trail kiosk (large wooden sign), that marks the beginning of the trails - all 5 start down the wide path. Follow this for a bit and then turn LEFT as Swenson (RED) veers off on its own. Swenson is pretty level.

 

1.7 - Stay on RED on it bears left. YELLOW joins in from the RIGHT, and is co-aligned for a bit before leaving to the left.

 

2.2 - Pass a cabin. The trail goes around to the right, look for trail sign post. There are also blue blazes for a short connector trail.

 

2.8 - Turn RIGHT onto the start of Cartwright (BROWN/RED). Cartwright is rocky and overgrown.

 

3.8 - Viewpoint. After crossing Sunrise Mountain Rd., it heads uphill... then steeply over a slab of rock that opens up to a wonderful view. Look north (to your right) and spot the High Point Monument in the distance. There is another view in a bit, but this one is better.

 

4.1 - Turn RIGHT onto the AT (WHITE). Level footpath.

 

4.5 - The parking lot appears up to your right. Pass that, go up some stone steps and then on your left is the view from Sunrise Mountain. Plank bench here. View is better here than at the next one.

 

4.6 - Large pavillion with benches with a view on both sides, however it is partially obscured with brush. AT continues - on your left if you are facing your direction of travel (south)

 

Pass Tinsley (YELLOW) on your right, and later another nice view and break spot on your right.

 

7.2 - Turn RIGHT onto Stony Brook (BROWN). Stay to your left when you approach the shelter, the marker is a little hard to spot. Wet and rocky.

 

8.0 - Turn RIGHT onto Station (Light GREEN). The trail continues straight as well, and is blazed BROWN and Light GREEN.

 

Follow Station and then the trails basially converge and all just kind of end up at the parking lot.