Worthington State Forest is a forest located along the Delaware River in Warren County. Often confused with the nearby Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Worthington State Forest is home to some excellent hiking trails, including the notorious Mount Tammany. Mount Tammany is half of the Delaware Water Gap itself, a geologic feature where the Delaware River splits a ridgeline into two distinct sections: The Blue Mountain Ridge (Mount Minsi) in Pennsylvania and the Kittatinny Ridge (Mount Tammany) in New Jersey. Aside from Mount Tammany, the park is also home to a handful of waterfalls and Sunfish Pond, all along steep and rocky trails. For those wanting a challenge, Worthington State Forest is perfect.
Explore North Jersey Review: Excellent hiking park highlighted by Mount Tammany and Sunfish Pond
Basic Information
Parking:
- Mount Tammany and Dunnfield Creek:
- Kittatinny Point: (Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area property)
- Karamac Area:
- Douglas Area:
- Rockcores:
Restrooms: Yes-at Kittatinny Point, Mount Tammany and Douglas Area (in campground)
Activities:
- Hiking
- Camping
- River Boating/Tubing
- Fishing/Hunting
Points of Interest
- Mount Tammany
- Sunfish Pond
- Laurel Falls
- Dunnfield Creek Falls
Mount Tammany
Mount Tammany is the highlight of Worthington State Forest. A steep and rocky 1.2 mile hike will take you 1,125 vertical feet to the summit. From the summit, there are incredible views of the Delaware River as it cuts through the mountain range.
A hike to the summit is challenging, but the views are excellent. This is a very popular area, and you will likely see other hikers at any time of the year. Partly as a result of being directly off Interstate 80, the parking areas fill up very fast on nice days. There is alternate parking further away at Kittatinny Point in the Delaware Water Gap, but this area fills up fast, too.
Being such a popular trail, Mount Tammany often has many unprepared hikers. Make sure you have proper footwear and plenty of water. This is on of the hardest hikes in New Jersey.
Sunfish Pond
Sunfish Pond is a small pond located on top of the Kittatinny Ridge (the ridge home to Mount Tammany). The pond is very scenic on top of the ridge, and the trails surrounding it provide many views. Sunfish Pond is a popular spot for those looking for a longer Mount Tammany hike. Hikers can take a fire road to Sunfish Pond, creating a 10-mile loop to the scenic lake. Alternatively, visitors can take a gradual hike from the Dunnfield Creek parking area or a short but steep hike from the Douglas parking area. Those hiking from the Douglas parking area are treated to Laurel Falls at the start.
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