Complete hike details on our State Line page.

The fall foliage maps pointed to the Bearfort Mountain region being at peak color. They were right. The last time we hiked to Surprise Lake there weren’t many leaves on the trees, so we wanted to come back to get photos during autumn.

This hike has tons of views of Greenwood Lake and the surrounding NJ/NY area, a nice lake, and multiple rock scrambles. Most people probably just do the 4.1 mile loop around the lake, but we added on two viewpoints along the Appalachian Trail in NY. This section was much nicer than when we went south last time. Another option is to make a larger loop by using the Bearfort Ridge and Quail Trails, and of course you can go for a very long way on the AT.

There were a lot of hikers and hiking groups there, and they all were going around the loop opposite than what we do. We like to hit the view over Greenwood Lake and arrive at Surprise Lake early and have them to ourselves, which also allow us to tack on the AT out and back at the end… but you can do the loop the other way. Some scrambles on Ernest Walker may be easier that direction.

Note: There is a ladder to the a viewpoint on the AT north. It’s more like climbing up skinny steps than a ladder… but if you hike with a dog that doesn’t do well with scrambling, check out the photo of it in the gallery.

Parking: N41 11.146 W74 19.918 – 287N to exit 55, Rt 511 towards Wanaque. Follow 511 as it makes a right (Lakeside Rd) and hugs the west side of Greenwood Lake. Take it all the way to just before the NY border (if you hit the border, you went too far). The parking is tough to spot, it’s on the left across from a marina. Go straight back on a rutted dirt road (we managed in a car) to the trail sign. Very limited parking.

Restrooms: None. There was a gas station as you turned onto Lakeside Rd., and before that there are ones on 511.

Miles: 7.2 – Rocky trail, steep right in the beginning, multiple elevation changes. Even though it’s not a long hike, we’d rate it challenging due to the rock scrambles. Read more…

NJ Hiking Bearfort Ridge Appalachian Trail, Challenging, Lake, Passaic, Rhododendron, Scrambling, Viewpoint

The weather for Mother’s Day weekend was positively lovely but we had obligations to attend to both days. With another perfect hiking day forecast for Monday, there was no other option than to take a day off. (We would have just spent the day looking out our office windows and sighing dramatically, anyway.)

We opted for one of our all-time faves, Dunnfield Creek trail to Sunfish Pond, around the pond, then return via the Appalachian Trail. It had been a few years since we’d done this route, as we’ve been sticking to the longer and more challenging Mt Tammany Fire Road – Sunfish – Dunnfield route.

Since it wasn’t a weekend, it was also a better day to be going to such a popular area. We were still surprised to see many cars in the lot and quite a few people enjoying Sunfish.

9.5 miles. More info on hikes to Sunfish Pond here.

ROUTE: Appalachian Trail – Dunnfield Creek (GREEN) – AT around Pond – Turquoise – Fire Road – Appalachian Trail

There was a forest fire in the area last year, and damage was visible on the west side of the pond and along the Appalachian Trail on the return. The Appalachian Trail acted like a fire break – the forest was burnt right up to it, but the fine on the other side.

Wildlife spotted: FOUR snakes, and a salamander(?) of some sort (a quick look online found reptiles in NJ and this nifty salamander search tool but not sure still). [update: This is actually probably a 'five lined skink lizard' - thanks Nicholas! A little skink info here: Finding a Five-lined Skink in NJ] Read more…

NJ Hiking Delaware Water Gap Appalachian Trail, Lake, Moderate

Complete hike details, photos, and video on our Stairway to Heaven page.

Gorgeous and diverse section of the Appalachian Trail through northern NJ….

Hike first on boardwalks through marshy areas and over the Pochuck Suspension Bridge, then through hardwood forest, tall fields of wildflowers, over train tracks, a cow pasture (watch for cow pies!) and a boulder field.

All of this before steeply climbing up Wawayanda mountain on the “Stairway to Heaven” – lots of stone steps up switchbacks – to one of the best viewpoints in NJ: Pinwheel Vista. You can see the Kittatinny Mountains in the distance, farms in the valley below, and on a clear day, High Point Monument is visible. Read more…

NJ Hiking Highlands, Wawayanda Appalachian Trail, Moderate, North NJ, Viewpoint

For detailed hike directions, maps, photos and GPS coordinates, visit our updated Mt. Tammany page. The Mt. Minsi detail page is here.

Just an excellent day all around, perfect hiking weather – upper 50s and sunny. So nice after all the rain the day before and getting rained out both days the prior weekend. Slightly disappointed at the foliage – just missed peak color – but it was still spectacular.

Double Your Summits, Double Your Fun.
These hikes are normally done one or the other, not both. Somewhere along the way I saw someone post that they do both in one day every spring to gear up for hiking season, and thought “what a great idea”…

Mt Tammany – on the Jersey side of the Gap:

Read more…

NJ Hiking Delaware Water Gap Appalachian Trail, Delaware Water Gap, Mt. Minsi, Mt. Tammany, Viewpoint

For detailed hike directions, maps, photos and GPS coordinates, visit our Buttermilk Falls page.

7.4 miles – Moderate trail surface; steep in the beginning, some rocky sections but also a lot of really easy woods roads.

BLUE (Buttermilk Falls) – AT – ORANGE (Crater Lake) – Woods Road around Hemlock Pond – Woods Road – BLUE (Buttermilk Falls)

Another lovely fall day, a little warmer than we expected… a couple spots on Buttermilk are in the sun and we felt it. The falls are better with spring runoff but they weren’t too bad with the rain we’d had the day before. From the top of the falls it’s steep right away on Buttermilk Falls trail (BLUE) – more than people would expect.

Read more…

NJ Hiking Delaware Water Gap Appalachian Trail, Bear Spotting, Lake, Moderate, Waterfall