Sunrise Mountain and Stony Lake Loop, March 16, 2025, Stokes State Forest, Delaware Water Gap

Pines on the Sunrise Mountain ridge

The thing that I don't like about Stokes State Forest is its accessibility. Too many auto roads wind their way through this somewhat narrow tract of public land that it seems like you just can't escape people and signs of civilization. For this reason, the only time that I'll hike there is in the winter months when some of those roads are closed for the season. On this particular March day, I had the benefit of the closed-off auto roads but without the winter weather. By the time that I got off the trail in the early afternoon, the temperatures on this sunny, windless March day were in the mid 60s.

View to the southeast from AT

When I arrived at the Culver's Gap Appalachian Trail parking area at 7:15 a.m., I found the parking lot totally empty, quickly geared up, and was on the trail by 7:30. The first section is a quick climb up to the ridge that carries the AT a long, rocky five miles over to Sunrise Mountain. There are quite a number of very good lookout points along the way, as well as a fire tower to climb if you so desire. I don't do towers, so I took my first break of the day at a picnic table in its shadow -- the first of many signs of civilization that you find on this loop hike.

USGS summit marker, Sunrise Mountain

The next landmark, Sunrise Mountain, is totally built up with parking lot, restrooms and a picnic pavilion, but since the auto road leading there was closed for the season, the place was totally deserted. That auto road, by the way, basically follows the route of the AT nearby, so much so that you can see it from time of time and, in the busy season, would surely hear it. Another downer.

Vernal pond near Swenson-Tinsley trail nexus

Leaving Sunrise Mountain, my route descended off the ridge for a long southwesterly return in the valley below. After crossing Sunrise Mountain Road, the trail enters into some pleasant, lonely woods for a spell before reaching a bog-side cabin located at the Swenson-Tinsley Trail nexus. From there, a slight uphill brought me to the most pleasant spot on the entire hike -- a vernal pond teeming with spring peepers sounding their raucous cacophony. I chose this as my lunch break site and stayed there for a full half hour, choosing only to be on my way when the frogs suddenly stopped singing and went silent. 

Bog stream near cabin

If that unexpected vernal pond was the best moment of the trip, the worst was soon to come. Stony Lake has a huge, I mean HUGE, parking lot to service the multiple buildings scattered along the eastern shore. Unlike the one leading to the pavilion at Sunrise Mountain, this auto road does not get closed in winter. I had to amp up my pace to the double-quick to blow past a large group of extra-loud teenagers and over to the Coursen Trail, which got me away from the noise and onto a final, peaceful mile back to Culver's Gap. That is, until I hit the mid-day road noise coming from busy Route 206. 

Yeah, this hike has highway noise, too.

Destination: Sunrise Mountain and Stony Lake
Distance: 11.4 miles
Elevation: 1,564 feet (gain)
Route: Loop, AT to Cartwright Trail to Swenson Trail to Coursen Trail to Sunrise Mountain Road
Conditions: 35 degrees F increasing to 65 degrees F
Notable Flora/Fauna: Spring peepers, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Garter Snake

Rattlesnake Mountain and Silver Spray Waterfall, March 2, 2025, Delaware Water Gap

View to the southeast from Bird Mountain

One good thing about Delaware Water Gap hikes is that they can offer some elevation variety, which sets them apart from those in my preferred hiking spots -- the Adirondacks and White Mountains. In the latter locations, a hiking day is almost always up-up-up-up-up followed by down-down-down-down-down. Classic peak bagging. But in the Water Gap, you can put together some nice loop hikes with substantial elevation gain that alternate between climbing and descending throughout the day. One of the very best is a hike to Rattlesnake Mountain and Silver Spray Waterfall, a hike of nearly 2,000 feet of gain in which you climb and descend six times.

Brinks Road shelter

The access point is the lesser-known Arctic Meadows Preserve, which offers parking for two cars and a spur trail leading up the ridge to the Appalachian Trail. Traveling counter-clockwise, I made a quick ascent up to Rattlesnake Mountain (1,490 feet) and then headed northeast along its adjoining ridgeline. The ridge offers a number of very nice views to the east and west along the way, and I took the time to stop and admire most of them. The AT goes up and over a few knobs (one called Bird Mountain and the other Blue Mountain) before descending down into the col where it connects with Shay Trail leading to the Brinks Road shelter. From the shelter, I took the woods road as my return route and needed spikes to keep traction on the ice. This long straightaway eventually led to an icy switchback climb back up to the ridge. As far as trail conditions go, it was that transitional time of year when the most of the trails are totally clear but those in hollows and out of direct sun still have a good amount of lingering ice. 

The long straight woods road

This particular hike is more of a figure 8 than a loop, so at the top of the ridge I retraveled the Bird Mountain section that I passed earlier in the day before turning off on a long descent back into the valley. My second destination, Silver Spray Waterfall, is not situated on the trail. Some maps call it "Hidden Falls" because you need to bushwhack about 1/4 mile to the south in order to find it. You can't even hear it from the trail proper, so it takes advance knowledge of its existence to make it part of your itinerary. I wouldn't rank it as one of the more dramatic of falls. In fact, I'd probably call it more of a cascade than a waterfall, at least at this time of year. But the secret spot offers a nice flat boulder for seating and the pleasant sounds of the cascades, making it perfect for a long lunch break.

Lingering winter conditions

After lunch, I continued down into the valley again and then made another icy climb back up to the AT followed by a final descent down to Arctic Meadows. Through all the ups and downs, I didn't see a single person the entire day. Just like I like it.

Destination: Rattlesnake Mountain and Silver Spray Waterfall
Distance: 9.7 miles
Elevation: 1,973 feet (gain)
Route: Loop, AT to Brink Road to Woods Road to AT to 
Conditions: 35 degrees F
Notable Flora/Fauna: Ravens, coyote scat

Sunfish Pond and Mt. Tammany, January 25, 2025, Worthington State Forest, Delaware Water Gap

Sunfish Pond in Winter

For many years, I've strictly followed the one unbreakable rule to New Jersey hiking. Don't go to the Delaware Water Gap on a Saturday. On a recent, super cold (15 F plus windchill) Saturday following a midweek snowfall, I had the crazy idea to break this rule. The plan was particularly audacious because I wasn't going to a remote trailhead. My plan was to start at the most single most popular one in the entire Water Gap -- the Dunnfield Creek Natural Area/Appalachian Trail parking area on I-80. My thinking? With a forecast for sub zero temperatures and a brisk, icy wind, the conditions would be way too cold for most hikers. I fully expected that I'd see some people on the southern end of the trail network. However, if I got out early, I figured that once I looped around Sunfish Pond for the return on the fire road, there would be a very good chance that I'd be the first to break the trail and have the woods all to myself. Fortunately, I was right.

Trail break on north shore

Upon arrival, I found several parties of hikers starting out and actually got stuck behind a large group of 15 people and 2 dogs on the AT route to Sunfish. They didn't stand aside, so I had to do a fast-paced bushwhack around them, with one of their canine companions deciding to stick with me instead of the slowpokes. I sent the friendly Labrador Retriever back to his people with a point and a wave and pressed on past the turnoff to the Holly Springs Trail. I paused there to put on microspikes and saw that the party wasn't going to Sunfish but doing the shorter loop via Holly Springs. Bingo.

Coyote tracks

From there, I continued the long, icy climb up to Sunfish. I always do this trail at least once or twice a season in the autumn, but Sunfish is a beautiful spot in winter, too.  At the south shore vista point, I saw that someone had been here since the snowfall as their boot prints went straight out across the frozen pond. It was surely cold enough to make a pond crossing safe, but I nonetheless stuck to the trail and clambered along the rocky shore to the north side vista point for a long break. As I expected, there were no human tracks from this point on and the snow was deep enough for a switch to snowshoes.

View to Mount Minsi

After a short distance along the Buckwood Trail, I hit some tracks once again. Coyote tracks. It was fun to follow them for a good distance down to and then along the fire road with its long, straight approach to Mt. Tammany. This is a neat, rarely-used trail that follows the ridge and offers some good vista points in winter due to the lack of foliage on the trees. I was able to stay with snowshoes all the way to the intersection with the Blue Blaze Trail. Here, the trail was well-worn by the (probably) hundreds of people who did the short loop up to the summit of Mount Tammany after the snow day. The trail condition was a harbinger of things to come. As I continued over to the summit and then down the long, steep decline, I encountered about 15-20 hikers making the climb to the top. The peace and quiet was fun while it lasted. 

Despite my good luck on the day, I'll probably continue to avoid Saturdays at the Gap.

Destination: Sunfish Pond and Mount Tammany
Distance: 10.3 miles
Elevation: 1,830 feet (gain)
Route: Loop, Appalachian Trail to Buckwood Trail to Fire Road to Blue Dot Trail
Conditions: 15 degrees F not including windchill
Notable Flora/Fauna: Snow tracks - coyote, red fox, squirrel, raccoon and others