Appalachian Trail - Lusscroft Farm to Sunrise Mountain (High Point State Park and Stokes State Forest, NJ)

ABOUT THE PARKS:
High Point State Park
Stokes State Forest
Lusscroft Farm
Sunrise Mountain (NJ1K.org peak)

TRAIL MAP:
Half of the hike on each of the following maps:
NY/NJ Trail Conference Northern Kittatinny Trails Map #123 (Lusscroft Farm trails on back)
NY/NJ Trail Conference Northern Kittatinny Trails Map #122

DIRECTIONS:
GPS coordinates to parking lot off of Deckertown Turnpike (Route 650) 41.252618, -74.690083
At the time I hiked this, as I turned on to Deckertown Turnpike a sign indicated no thru traffic as the road was closed 3 miles ahead.  The parking lot is before the road closure so it was accessible.  Deckertown Turnpike goes uphill.  Once it starts to descend the hill, watch for a paved road to the right which takes you directly to a paved parking lot that holds about 8 cars.  There is no sign indicating this is a parking lot so watch closely.

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HIKE DISTANCE:  7 miles out and back without Lusscroft Farm trails; with Lusscroft Farm trails it would depend on trails taken through the farm.

HIKE DIRECTIONS:
This is a very easy way to reach Sunrise Mountain without much change in elevation.  The hike starts up high and follows the Appalachian Trail along a ridge with some minor ups and downs.  Lusscroft Farm trails do go steeply downhill so that would be the part requiring climbing.

Pick up the white-blazed Appalachian Trail directly across Deckertown Turnpike from the parking lot.

After a short distance, arrive at a shelter where the Appalachian Trail makes a sharp turn to the right:

You will soon be walking along a smooth rock surface with limited views to the west.  Turn around and you will be able to see High Point Monument to the north.

At 0.75 miles the Appalachian Trail merges on to a woods road that comes in from the right.  A short distance ahead a trail goes to the left while the white-blazed AT continues to the right.  The trail to the left is the trail to Lusscroft Farms although you won't see blazes until you are a little farther along that trail.  You will be on the blue-blazed Explorer Trail.

At the first intersection the blue-blazed Explorer Trail forks.  Turning right would take you back to the AT.  Left continues to the rest of the Lusscroft Farm trails.  A short distance ahead the blue trail turns to the left leaving the woods road which continues straight as an unmarked trail so this turn is easy to miss unless you are paying close attention.  From this point forward, although well-blazed, the trails become very overgrown.  That in addition to seeing a young bear in a tree the same time he saw me made me abandon my plans to hike farther into the Lusscroft Farm trails.  The bear skittered down the tree and took off in the direction I was heading so I turned around and went back to the AT.  The farm trails might be better explored during the winter when they are more passable.

At just a little over 3 miles (not counting Lusscroft Farm trails) ascend a few stone steps heading towards Sunrise Mountain.  Watch for an unmarked trail on the left after the steps.  This trail comes out at a bench with great views to the east.

Backtrack to the AT, turn left and continue to the pavilion at Sunrise Mountain.

View to the east.

View to the south.

View to the west.

Retrace your steps back along the white-blazed Appalachian Trail back to the parking lot to finish the hike.

Bash Bish Falls/Sunset Rock/Prospect Hill - Bash Bish State Park, MA and Taconic State Park, NY

ABOUT THE PARKS:
Bash Bish State Park, MA
Taconic State Park, NY

TRAIL MAP:
NY/NJ Trail Conference South Taconic Trails Map #4
Mt. Washington State Forest Map - Massachusetts DCR

DIRECTIONS:
From the New York State Thruway I-87/I-287, take the Saw Mill Parkway north to I-684 north. I-684 north turns into 22 north. Stay on 22 north all the way to Copake Falls, NY, then turn right on 344 to Taconic State Park.  Pass the Bash Bish lower parking area on the right in Taconic State Park and proceed to the upper Bash Bish parking area a short distance ahead on the right in Bash Bish State Park, MA.  GPS coordinates: 42.113844, -73.491608

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HIKE DISTANCE:  8.1 miles

HIKE DIRECTIONS:
From the upper Bash Bish Falls parking lot in Massachusetts, with your back to Route 344, head to the right on the blue-blazed trail.  This trail is not shown on the main map but there is an enlargement of it on the reverse side of the map.  This trail is rocky and at times descends steeply while going through a beautiful forest which chokes out most of the sunlight.  You will be able to hear the waterfalls which become increasingly louder.

At 0.4 miles, arrive at a gravel road.  Turn left to go a short distance to Bash Bish Falls.

View from the upper platform.

Up close view at bottom of steps leading to the falls.

Start the hike early because the falls will be crowded later in the day as you come this way again.

After visiting the falls, head back the way you came on the gravel road, keeping to the left as the blue-blazed trail you came down on veers to the right.

You will soon see signs indicating you are leaving Massachusetts and entering New York.  The gravel road will run parallel to Bash Bish Brook.

At 1.0 miles arrive at the Taconic State Park, NY lower Bash Bish Falls parking lot where there are porta potties.  Continue through the lot veering right to Route 344 where you will see the Cedar Brook Trail trailhead directly across Route 344.

This is an optional return route if water levels are low as this trail is impassable otherwise.
Cross over Route 344 and turn left.  Walk a few steps over the bridge then turn right into the woods where the white-blazed South Taconic Trail heads north.  Follow this trail heading towards the campgrounds.

Most of the South Taconic Trail will be a woods road up to Sunset Rock.

Follow the white-blazed Taconic trail to the right when the campground is visible straight ahead and then to the left at a chain link fence section.  The trail will be going uphill, sometimes gradually, other times more steeply.  At 2.6 miles arrive at the other end of the Cedar Brook Trail keeping left on the South Taconic Trail.

At 3.25 miles arrive at a sign which points to the left for Sunset Rock.  Follow red blazes painted on the stones on the ground, then on trees for a short distance to the overlook.  You will need to stand on Sunset Rock for better views over the trees.

Views of the Hudson Valley with the Catskills in the distance.

Retrace your steps on the red-blazed trail, turning left on the white-blazed South Taconic Trail.  You will soon enter an arbor tunnel where the trees form a canopy overhead.

At 3.5 miles keep to the left when an unmarked trail veers right.  At 3.7 miles cross over Sunset Rock Road, turn left and walk briefly down the road to the continuation of the white-blazed South Taconic trail on the right.

At 4.1 miles there will be a Massachusetts state line marker dated 1898 straight ahead.  Turn left before the marker to Prospect Hill views.

I hiked farther north almost another mile from this point as there were supposed to be more views but I did not see any so unless you want a longer hike, retrace your steps back from this point for an 8.1 mile hike.
At 5.6 miles arrive back at the blue-blazed Cedar Brook Trail trailhead.

This trail is strenuous with some very steep downhill sections where you need to watch your footing carefully but it is a much prettier and interesting trail than the woods road of the South Taconic Trail you came up on.  Only attempt this trail during periods of low water as otherwise the trail would definitely be not be passable.  You will be rock hopping over Cedar Brook several times.  If water levels are high or if you are not up for a more strenuous section, return the way you came via the South Taconic Trail.  Either way, you will end up back at Route 344 where you go left through the lower Bash Bish Falls parking lot to the gravel road that takes you back to the falls.

At 7.7 miles arrive back at Bash Bish Falls and turn left on the blue-blazed trail which leads back to the parking lot.

At 8.1 miles arrive back at the parking lot.  If you are up for a very short but challenging rock scramble to some great views, head on up by the sign at the south center of the parking lot which directs you to a scenic view.  There will be hand rails and cables to assist in climbing up.

If you are heading back home south on Route 22, about half an hour away from the park is a farm market on the right that has some very nice organic produce.

Appalachian Trail, NJ - Millbrook Road to Crater Lake, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

ABOUT THE PARK: Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

TRAIL MAP: NY/NJ Trail Conference Southern Kittatinny Trails Map #121

DIRECTIONS:
I-81 to exit 12 (Route 521-Blairstown); left on NJ-94 South to stop light; right on Bridge Street; right on High Street briefly on to Millbrook Road.

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GPS coordinates: 41.059215,-74.963497

There are a few parking options - I'll go into detail here since parking is limited.


Parking for two cars at the northbound A.T. trailhead where this hike starts:


Parking along Millbrook Road facing east - black car at southbound AT trailhead; red car at gravel pull-off. (These would be on your left heading west.)


HIKE DISTANCE: 12 miles out and back including loop around Crater Lake

HIKE DIRECTIONS:
Views are limited along this section of the AT. You catch glimpses of both east and west views between the trees so I would imagine views would be much better all along the ridge when the leaves are down. Much of this hike is fairly level with some ups and downs. You are starting out up high at 1250 feet with the highest elevation around 1490 feet.

Start northbound on the white-blazed Appalachian trail where it reenters the woods after following Millbrook Road west for a short distance.

At .4 miles arrive at Black's Pond which has a beaver lodge.



At .7 miles arrive at a power cut with views to the east and west, although marred by towers and power lines.




For the next 3 miles you will be walking along the ridge. The trail turns to smooth, easy woods road about half way along the ridge.


At 3.2 miles, a view over Fairview Lake to the east:


At 3.9 miles there will be a water pump to the left. Stay to the right, cross over Blue Mountain Lakes Road, turn right at the AT sign. Follow the road briefly and reenter the woods to the left at the next AT sign.


At 5.1 miles turn right on the orange-blazed trail which will bring you to the east side of Crater Lake. There are side trails to the lake, closer to the north end you will find picnic tables at the lake.



Because cars can drive up to the lake, there will be other people around. At the north end of the lake is a parking lot with surprisingly decent restrooms.


I could find no orange trail blazes at all in this area. To continue around Crater Lake, take the service road from the parking lot (across from the restrooms):


A short distance ahead the service road curves to the right, the orange-blazed trail goes to the left (blazes on tree). From this point the trail is again poorly blazed and several unmarked trails branch off. I did not do this correctly but did end up back on the A.T. which is what you want. I stayed left at the first fork, right at the second fork and that brought me to the white-blazed A.T. - turn left on the A.T. A short distance ahead is a view to the west.


From here stay on the white-blazed A.T. back to where the hike began.

NOTE: As you start to hike away from Crater Lake at the southern end, you will come to an intersection where the orange-blazed trail begins at triple blazes on the right. In this area, the orange trail loops around and crosses over the A.T. again a short distance ahead. If you continue straight ahead on the A.T. you will need to descend very steeply down an escarpment. If you prefer to avoid this section, take the less steep orange trail detour to the right, then right on the white-blazed A.T. when the trails intersect again.