Worthington State Forest, NJ: Appalachian Trail - Sunfish Pond - Dunnfield Creek Loop

ABOUT THE PARK:
Worthington State Forest - New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection




DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates to Dunnfield Parking: 40.971797, -75.125589

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TRAIL MAP:
Southern Kittatinny Trails Map #120 - NY/NJ Trail Conference

HIKE DISTANCE:  9.1 miles

APPALACHIAN TRAIL SECTION HIKING:
TrailHeadFinder.com - AT section miles 1,279.3 to 1,283.8

THE HIKE:

Pick up the white-blazed Appalachian Trail which goes through the parking lot and to the left of the porta-potty.

The hike starts along scenic Dunnfield Creek.

Dunnfield Creek

Veer left on the A.T. - the Dunnfield Creek Trail on the right will be the return route.

A very foggy morning on the Appalachian Trail.

Beyond the backpacker camping area, fire damage from the forest fire of August 7, 2010 on the left side of the AT, the right side of the AT untouched by the fire.

Sunfish Pond was full of huge tadpoles becoming frogs.

Continue following the Appalachian Trail to the left of the pond skirting along the water on boulders.  At the far end, continue a short distance then turn left on the orange-blazed Springs Trail.  A short distance ahead, enter the far end of a clearing on the left and look for an unmaintained trail which leads up a hill to a view into Pennsylvania.  There are several trails back in there, just pick whichever is easiest to follow up to the top of the hill.

It was still cloudy and hazy so can't say how nice the view would be otherwise.

Return to the A.T., turn right and start watching for the turquoise trail on the left.  The blazes are high up, faded and there are multiple unmarked trails so you need to look carefully.

Turn left on the turquoise-blazed trail.

A short distance ahead, a view of Sunfish Pond from the opposite side.

When the turquoise trail turns left on the Sunfish Pond Fire Road, turn right and follow the unmarked fire road to the green-blazed Dunnfield Creek Trail on the left.

The green-blazed Dunnfield Creek Trail starts out rocky and descends to Dunnfield Creek.

Arriving at Dunnfield Creek.

For the last 3 miles of the hike, this is pretty much what you will be seeing and hearing.  Nice! 

You won't have to worry about this bag of garbage detracting from your view of the waterfalls in Dunnfield Creek.  I packed it out, brought it home, pulled out 12 plastic bottles for recycling and put the rest (Subway wrappers) in my trash can.  So hard to believe 12 people had lunch here and not one of them could carry out their trash.

HIKE SUMMARY:
[  0.00]  Pick up white-blazed Appalachian Trail to the left of the porta-potty in the parking lot
[  0.10]  Cross bridge over Dunnfield Creek
[  0.40]  Keep left on the AT at the fork; the right fork will be the return route
[  1.40]  Keep straight on the AT when the red-blazed Holly Springs Trail goes right and the yellow-blazed Beulahland Trail goes left
[  2.90]  Keep right on AT when the blue-blazed Douglas Trail goes left at the backpacker campsite
[  3.50]  Turn left at the Sunfish Pond sign; pond view to right, keep left on AT along pond
[  4.20]  Turn left on orange-blazed Springs Trail
[  4.30]  Turn left into far end of open area, take unmaintained trail up hill to view; retrace
[  4.50]  From clearing, right on orange-blazed trail
[  4.60]  Turn right on the white-blazed Appalachian Trail
[  4.75]  Turn left on the turquoise-blazed trail
[  4.80]  View of pond on right
[  5.00]  At fire road when turqoise turns left, turn right on unmarked fire road
[  5.50]  Turn left on green-blazed Dunnfield Creek Trail
[  6.35]  Trail starts to parallel Dunnfield Creek
[  7.50]  Keep left on green-blazed Dunnfield Creek Trail when red-blazed Holly Springs Trail goes right
[  8.60]  Keep straight on green-blazed trail when blue-blazed trail comes in from the left
[  8.80]  Left on white-blazed Appalachian Trail
[  9.10]  Back at parking lot

Appalachian Trail from Hoyt Rd., NY to Kent, CT with Herrick Preserve and Bulls Bridge Side Trips

ABOUT THE PARK:
History of the Appalachian Trail in Connecticut - CT AMC
Appalachian Trail Region NJ/NY - NY/NJ Trail Conference
Herrick Preserve - Naromi Land Trust
Bulls Bridge Recreation Area - Litchfield Hills Connecticut Visitor's Bureau


DIRECTIONS:
One Car Shuttle Hike
Park Car Here:
GPS Coordinates 41.731029, -73.490691

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CT 341 Roadside Parking at AT Crossing

Contact Backcountry Outfitters in advance to arrange for a shuttle to Hoyt Road from CT 341. (They will shuttle your dog, too!) Park car at CT 341 and walk .6 mile east on CT 341 to Backcountry Outfitters (on the right just before intersection with Route 7) for shuttle.   When I did the hike, the cost of the shuttle was $25 - less costly than gas and tolls to break up this section of the AT into two out-and-back trips.

OR for a two-car shuttle - 

Park Car 2 here:

GPS Coordinates 41.640959, -73.520118
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Hoyt Road Parking at NY/CT State Line

TRAIL MAP:
Connecticut Appalachian Trail Guide (available in map boxes through hike but not very useful)
Appalachian Trail Kent to Rt. 55 - Connecticut Explorer's Guide (very useful topo map)
Herrick Preserve - Naomi Land Trust (detail of first part of AT and side trail to views in Herrick Preserve)

Bulls Bridge Scenic Area Map

HIKE DISTANCE:
AT with all side trips:  15.5 miles
AT only with no side trips: 11.5 miles
Herrick Preserve:  2.35  miles
Bulls Bridge Scenic Area: 1 mile
From Ct 341 parking to Backcountry Outfitters: .6 mile

PEAK BAGGING:
Tenmile Hill, CT
Schaghticoke Mountain, NY
Mount Algo, CT

APPALACHIAN TRAIL SECTION HIKING:
TrailHeadFinder.com - AT section miles 1,434 to 1,445.4

THE HIKE:
For written description, see my NY/NJ Trail Conference writeup.

Starting out on the AT from Hoyt Road

Beginning of the Herrick Trail off of the AT

Blue side trail blazes become Herrick Preserve markers

Housatonic Overlook off of Herrick Trail side trail

Amy's Lookout off of Herrick Trail side trail - a wonderful breezy and mossy break spot

Tenmile River

Ned Anderson Memorial Bridge Over Tenmile River

Housatonic Whitewater

View from Overlook Deck at Bulls Bridge Scenic Area

Bulls Bridge

Canal Headgates at Bulls Bridge Scenic Area

Bulls Bridge Dam

The AT follows along Schaghticoke Road for a short distance.

View of Tenmile Hill from Schaghticoke Mountain

View West from Schaghticoke Mountain

Hiking back into Connecticut from Schaghticoke Mountain summit in New York.

New England Countryside View

HIKE SUMMARY:
[  0.00]  Walk east along CT 341
[  0.60]  Arrive at Backcountry Outfitters; shuttle to Hoyt Road, hike north on white-blazed AT
[  1.00]  Side trail on left to Route 55 parking lot at information board
[  1.05]  Connecticut Appalachian Trail sign
[  1.25]  Cross Route 55 (caution - very fast traffic)
[  1.80]  Trail forks left - easy to miss
[  2.50]  Partial view from short side trail to left
[  2.70]  Right on blue Herrick Trail; blue blazes change to preserve markers
[  3.05]  Turn left on side trail at Housatonic Overlook sign
[  3.15]  View straight ahead at rock outcrop; retrace
[  3.20]  Continue left on Herrick Trail
[  3.80]  Turn left on side trail at Amy's Lookout sign
[  3.95]  Amy's Lookout; retrace
[  4.05]  At intersection turn right on Herrick Trail
[  4.70]  Left at fork when Housatonic Overlook side trail goes right
[  5.05]  Right on white-blazed Appalachian Trail when Herrick Trail ends
[  5.35]  Trail turns sharply to the right where branches cover trail straight ahead
[  5.75]  Cross woods road
[  5.85]  Trail turns right at Tenmile River
[  6.10]  Cross Tenmile River on the Ned Anderson Memorial Bridge (steps may be difficult for dogs)
[  6.20]  Trail crosses power cut
[  6.70]  Bear right at fork on wide gravel road
[  6.85]  AT leaves gravel road to the left into woods; stay on gravel road for scenic side trail along the Housatonic to Bulls Bridge
[  7.10]  Right on paved road, either of two side trail to right goes short distance to overlook deck; retrace and continue right on paved road to Bulls Bridge
[  7.25]  Bulls Bridge straight ahead, turn left on trail between parking lot and bridge to trails along the river to the dam; retrace
[  7.55]  Back at paved road turn right and walk along paved road
[  7.65]  Turn right through field beyond gate to left on trail along Spooner Dam to cut off part of road walking; comes back out on road short distance ahead
[  7.75]  Continue right on paved road
[  7.85]  Turn right on Schaghticoke Road at Indian farm stand sign; now back on AT
[  8.10]  AT leaves road to the left into woods
[  8.90]  Partial views through trees to the left
[  9.70]  View to the south at rock outcrop
[11.00]  NY/CT state line
[11.45]  View to the east at Indian Rocks in the Schaghitoke Indian Reservation
[12.00]  Short side trail to right to view
[12.15]  Stay on white-blazed AT when blue-blazed side trail goes left to Schaghticoke Camping Area
[13.50]  High point; begin descent
[14.10]  Cross Thayer Brook
[14.50]  High point of trail on Mount Algo; begin descent
[15.14]  Stay on white-blazed AT when blue-blazed side trail goes left to Mt. Algo shelter
[15.40]  Cross woods road
[15.50]  AT parking area on CT 341

Fahnestock State Park, NY - School Mountain Road Loop

ABOUT THE PARK:
Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park - NY State Office of Parks and Recreation

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 41.442292, -73.915487

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There are many parking places along the right side of the road beyond the clearing on the right (one trailhead) opposite the house on the left.  Another way to access the trail is a little farther up the road to the right of the gate at the right of Hubbard Lodge.

First trailhead at open field beyond which parking starts.

Second trail access to the right of the gate and gazebo  next to Hubbard Lodge.

TRAIL MAP:
East Hudson Trails, Trail Map 103 - NY/NJ Trail Conference
Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park Trail Map - NY State Parks

HIKE DISTANCE:
12.5 miles
click here for the shorter 7.5 mile Round Hill/East Mountain Loop

PEAK BAGGING:
Round Hill
East Mountain

HIKE DIRECTIONS:
Several of the views are overgrown in the summer so to get the most out of the views, the best time for this hike would be when leaves are down.

Whether you begin at the clearing or at Hubbard lodge, the trails converge at a map.  If starting from the clearing, continue straight on the white/blue trail; if coming from Hubbard Lodge, turn left on the white/blue trail.

Map where trails come together.

School Mountain Road (white) combined with Fahnestock Trail (blue)

Old pillars just before the blue-blazed Fahnestock Trail leaves the white-blazed School Mountain Road

View south from summit of Round Hill

View from summit of Round Hill (click twice to enlarge)

Blue-blazed Fahnestock Trail

The Fahnestock Trail passes along a pond

Red-blazed Charcoal Burners Trail

View from side trail off of red-blazed Charcoal Burners Trail

View from Charcoal Burners Trail (click twice to enlarge)

Blue-blazed Wiccopee Trail

School Mountain Road is lined with old stone walls

Abandoned house on School Mountain Road

Old, rusty farm equipment on East Mountain Loop Trail

View of South Beacon Mountain from East Mountain

View of Fishkill RIdge from East Mountain

HIKE SUMMARY:
[  0.10]  Trails from clearing and Hubbard Lodge meet at map, continue on white/blue School Mountain Road
[  0.15]  Cross over two steel bridges
[  0.35]  Old stone wall, old stone pillars, cross bridge, turn right on blue as white goes straight
[  1.05]  Partial views at rock outcrop on right
[  1.85]  Views to the south at summit of Round Hill
[  3.65]  Right on blue/yellow when yellow goes left (for 7.5 mile version, turn left here)
[  4.00]  Left on blue when yellow goes right
[  4.25]  Pond on right but no access
[  4.60]  Cross over Clove Creek
[  4.75]  Right on blue at fork when left is unmarked
[  5.50]  Left on red-blazed Charcoal Burners Trail when blue/red goes right
[  6.35]  Side trail to right to view
[  6.45]  At intersection red ends; continue straight on blue-blazed Wiccopee Trail when unmarked goes left
[  7.20]  Left on blue when yellow goes right
[  7.35]  At fork keep right on blue when unmarked comes in from left
[  8.25]  Left on white-blazed School Mountain road when blue ends
[  9.50]  Keep right on white when unmarked comes in from left (not on map)
[  9.75]  Abandoned house on right; turn right on red-blazed East Mountain Loop Trail just beyond the house but before the bridge
[10.55]  Partial views of Fishkill Ridge
[11.25]  Cross wood beam bridge; right on white-blazed School Mountain road; cross another wood beam bridge
[11.80]  Cross steel bridge
[12.10]  Keep straight on white when blue goes left at old stone pillars and steel bridge
[12.30]  Cross steel bridge
[12.35]  Either straight or right at intersection with map
[12.50]  Back at parking