Appalachian Trail NJ: Pochuck Mountain to Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge

ABOUT THIS PARK:
Appalachian Trail - NY/NJ Trail Conference
Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge - US Fish and Wildlife Services

DIRECTIONS:
Appalachian Trail Parking on Route 565

GPS Coordinates 41.249825,-74.497962

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Pull-out parking for 2-3 cars

TRAIL MAPS:
Appalachian Trail Guide to New York-New Jersey - NY/NJ Trail Conference
Wallkill River NWR Brochure - US Fish and Wildlife Services

APPALACHIAN TRAIL SECTION HIKING:
TrailHeadFinder.com - AT section miles 1335.9 to 1330.8

HIKE DISTANCE:
9.7 miles total out and back if not hiking with a dog
10.2 miles total out and back if hiking with a dog
Can be done as a 5.25 mile shuttle hike by spotting a car at Wallkill River NWR (41.283434, -74.526079)

THE HIKE:

The Appalachian Trail on Pochuck Mountain.

Partial views from one of the Pochuck Mountain summits (apparently there are several summits).

You will encounter several swamp crossings on boards.

Almost 2 miles into the hike, open views of the Wallkill Valley and High Point Monument in the distance.

High Point Monument

An almost continuous .4 mile section of boardwalk over swamps just before entering Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge.

Entering the Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge.

There is conflicting information regarding the dog policy online but this is what the sign says.  The fact that dogs are allowed at all on a portion of this trail is probably due to Appalachian Trail thru-hikers with dogs so please, leash your dog while here!  This area is a quiet haven for birds.

Being a model canine citizen and not disturbing the birds.

Looking back across Liberty Marsh towards Pochuck Mountain.

Taking a break where the AT leaves Wallkill River NWR and heads back across Pochuck Mountain.

HIKE SUMMARY:
[0.00]    Route 565 pullout parking; head south on white-blazed Appalachian Trail (same side of road as parking)
[0.10]    Cross wooden bridge over stream
[0.35]    Pass through red cedars
[0.40]    Cross swampy area on boards then rock hop over stream
[0.60]    Cross dirt road
[0.90]    Cross swampy area on boards 
[1.15]    One of the summits of Pochuck Mountain; side trail on right to limited views
[1.35]    Cross dirt road
[1.85]    Overlook of Wallkill Valley and High Point
[2.15]    Cross woods road
[2.45]    Summit of western ridge of Pochuck Mtn; begin to descend
[2.65]    Blue blazed side trail to Pochuck Mountain Shelter
[3.10]    Cross open field on hillside
[3.20]    Cross paved Lake Wallkill Rd, turn right on road then left into woods
[3.30]    Cross swamp on boards for next .4 miles
[3.70]    Left on Liberty Loop Trail into Wallkill NWR and around Liberty Marsh
[5.10]    At Oil City Road, retrace back to start of hike (can finish Liberty Loop back to AT if not hiking with a dog)

Appalachian Trail PA - Totts Gap to Wolf Rocks

ABOUT THE PARK:
Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania - Keystone Trails Association

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 40.9508, -75.1639

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Looking back at Totts Gap Road after starting hike on gravel road beyond gate - driving in on Totts Gap Road, parking is on the right before the gate.

TRAIL MAPS:
PA Appalachian Trail Map Sec. 1-6: Delaware Water Gap to Swatara Gap - Keystone Trails Association

HIKE DISTANCE:  8.5 miles

APPALACHIAN TRAIL SECTION HIKING:
TrailHeadFinder.com - AT section miles 1269.2 to 1273.2

THE HIKE:

Totts Gap Road continues beyond gate as a gravel road.  At the top, the white-blazed Appalachian Trail crosses over.

The Appalachian Trail at Totts Gap

At Lunch Rocks Vista views north of the communications tower at Totts Gap, Mount Minsi and Mount Tammany.

Nelson Overlook

Views to the east at Nelson Overlook

A nice section of trail where rocks are moved off to the side.

Kirkridge Shelter

Appalachian Trail kiosk in Fox Gap at Route 191.

Crossing over Route 191 to the left of the guardrail.

Sign at Fox Gap

Woods roads almost all the way to Wolf Rocks.

A rock scramble over a jumble of boulders up to Wolf Rocks.

The AT follows the jagged rock slabs jutting out along Wolf Rocks.  You can catch occasional views to the west along these rock slabs but the open view is a short distance ahead.

View to the West at Wolf Rocks.

From the open view at Wolf Rocks, retrace back to Totts Gap.  You can continue on before turning around.  I went out another mile.  The trail descends off of Wolf Rocks then becomes much rockier.

The Appalachian Trail beyond Wolf Rocks - this is why it's called Rocksylvania.

A little patch of snow on a 60 degree day.

HIKE SUMMARY:
[  0.00]  Walk beyond gate and follow the gravel road uphill
[  0.25]  At intersection continue straight on gravel road to top of incline; turn right on white-blazed Appalachian Trail before the gravel road starts to descend
[  0.35]  Cross power cut
[  0.40]  Cross power cut
[  0.95]  View to the west at small clearing on right as AT turns left
[  1.00]  Short side trail on left to Lunch Rocks overlook of Mt. Minsi and Mt. Tammany
[  1.85]  Nelson Overlook at grassy open area
[  2.00]  Blue-blazed side trail on right to Kirkbridge Shelter
[  2.15]  Blue-blazed side trail on right leads back to AT from Kirkbridge Shelter
[  2.25]  Cross power cut
[  2.60]  Kiosk at Fox Gap
[  2.65]  Cross Route 191 and proceed on AT through parking area
[  4.00]  Cross power cut
[  4.20]  Rock scramble up to Wolf Rocks
[  4.25]  Open view at Wolf Rocks; retrace back to Totts Gap

Pequannock Watershed, NJ: Clinton Reservoir

ABOUT THE PARK:
Pequannock Watershed - Newark Watershed Conservation and Development Corporation

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates to parking P1:  41.075339,-74.445161

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There are several roadside pullouts near the trail head.  The P1 sign is at the intersection of Clinton Road and Van Orden Road.

IMPORTANT:

A permit is required to hike in the Pequannock Watershed.  Permits must be purchased in person at the Newark Watershed office.  Click here for information on obtaining permits.

TRAIL MAPS:
North Jersey Trails Map #116 - NY/NJ Trail Conference

HIKE DISTANCE:   8.75 miles

THE HIKE:

A lot of ruins along the first blue connector trail.  Hanks Pond in the distance.

Red and white-blazed Fire Tower Ridge Trail.

Second blue connector trail.

Yellow-blazed Fire Tower West Trail.

Yellow Fire Tower West Trail intersects with the white Two Brooks and teal Highlands Trails.

First brook rock hop crossing.

Second brook crossing on split log bridge.

Mossman's Brook

Crossing Mossman's Brook on Clinton Road bridge.

Clinton Reservoir from white-blazed Clinton West Trail

Break time at Clinton Reservoir Overlook.  (She had her snack but snarfed it down too quickly.)

The white-blazed Clinton West Trail ends where the Highlands Trail used to turn left.  This area was flooded out by a beaver dam and has been closed and  rerouted.  You can see painted over teal Highlands Trail blazes all along the Clinton West Trail.  Turn right here on the red-blazed Buckabear Pond Trail.

Buckabear Pond from the white trail and red trail intersection.

Clinton Reservoir from Clinton Road walk.

After 3/4 of a mile road walk on Clinton Road, turn left at P2 on the yellow-blazed trail.

HIKE SUMMARY:
[  0.00]  From the intersection of Clinton Road and Van Orden Road, walk beyond the gate a the start of the white-blazed Hanks East Trail
[  0.20]  When white leaves the woods road to the right and the woods road continues straight, turn left on the blue connector trail a few steps ahead
[  0.45]  Rock hop over creek; blue trail ends uphill short distance ahead; turn right on the red/white blazed Fire Tower Ridge Trail (woods road)
[  0.55]  Straight on red/white when blue/white goes right
[  0.75]  Turn left on blue connector trail (easy to miss - if you end up on field with cairn you missed the turn)
[  1.10]  Right on yellow Fire Tower West Trail when blue ends at T-intersection
[  2.20]  When yellow goes right joining with teal Highlands Trail, turn left on white Two Brooks Trail/teal Highlands Trail
[  2.40]  Rock hop over first brook then two small creeks
[  2.80]  Cross second brook on split log bridge
[  3.25]  At Clinton Road parking P4, go to guardrail, turn left, cross Clinton Road bridge and continue a short distance on Clinton Road
[  3.35]  Turn right off of Clinton Road on teal Highlands Trail
[  3.55]  At top of incline, turn left on white-blazed Clinton West Trail when the teal Highlands Trail continues straight
[  4.60]  View of Clinton Reservoir
[  4.80]  Cross over red-blazed Buckabear Pond Trail
[  5.35]  View of Clinton Reservoir
[  6.15]  When white ends, turn right on red
[  6.45]  Cross over white staying on red
[  6.65]  Red turns left on woods road
[  6.85]  Red ends at P3 parking, turn right on Clinton Road
[  7.60]  Turn left on yellow leaving Clinton Road at P2 parking
[  7.65]  Turn right on blue connector trail
[  8.00]  Turn right on red/white
[  8.20]  Keep straight on red/white when blue/white goes left
[  8.25]  Turn left on blue when red/white continues straight
[  8.30]  Rock hop over creek
[  8.55]  Right on woods road; continue following white on woods road when white comes in from the left
[  8.75]  Back at parking

Pequannock Watershed, NJ: Echo Lake West

ABOUT THE PARK:
Pequannock Watershed - Newark Watershed Conservation and Development Corporation

DIRECTIONS:
GSP Coordinates 41.046983, -74.410376

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IMPORTANT:

A permit is required to hike in the Pequannock Watershed.  Permits must be purchased in person in the office at the starting point for this hike.  Click here for information on obtaining permits.

TRAIL MAPS:
North Jersey Trails Map #116 - NY/NJ Trail Conference

HIKE DISTANCE:   4.3 miles

THE HIKE:

Crossing the dam at Echo Lake.

Echo Lake from the dam.

The teal-blazed Highlands Trail starts out smooth along Echo Lake before it becomes rocky and wet in places.

A female and male Common Merganser.

Canada geese in flight.

Ice in Echo Lake breaking up in 50 degree weather.

The white trail leaves the Highlands Trail at the end of Echo Lake and leads into a swamp.

Looking back at Echo Lake from the swamp.

Kanouse Mountain Road

The sometimes white square blazed woods road back down to Echo Lake and the Highlands Trail.

Heading back on the Highlands Trail.

Some litter removal from along the trail.

HIKE SUMMARY:
[  0.00]  From the parking follow the teal diamond blazes of the Highlands Trail towards Echo Lake
[  0.30]  Trail begins to follow along Echo Lake, occasional white blazes along with teal
[  1.65]  Left on teal uphill when white forks to the right (white trail ends in swamp)
[  1.85]  Left on unmarked woods road (Kanouse Road) when teal goes right
[  2.10]  Keep straight on woods road with unmarked trail blocked by logs goes right
[  2.35]  Keep straight on woods road when unmarked trail at a large rock goes left
[  2.40]  Keep straight on woods road when unmarked woods road at cairn goes left
[  2.65]  Turn left on woods road just as Kanouse Road starts to descend and bend to the left
[  2.70]  At intersection with another woods road, turn left and descend down to Echo Lake (occasional white square blazes along this trail)
[  3.05]  Right on teal blazed Highlands Trail at Echo Lake
[  4.30]  Back at parking lot