Appalachian Trail: Route 624 to Tillman Ravine (Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area & Stokes State Forest)
Hike Type: One-Way
Distance: 9 miles
Elevation: 1234 feet
Time: 4 hours, 16 minutes
Hiking Challenges: New Jersey Appalachian Trail; 52 Hike Challenge
Distance: 9 miles
Elevation: 1234 feet
Time: 4 hours, 16 minutes
Hiking Challenges: New Jersey Appalachian Trail; 52 Hike Challenge
The Hike
Day two of our AT-palooza hiking weekend! I went back and fourth a few times on how to most effectively do this hike - we ended up dropping a car the upper Tillman Ravine parking lot and started the hike at the end of Fairview Lake Road, where there is a gate and the former road steeply climbs up the ridge via switchback. Getting there was a longer journey. Gen and I drove separately to do the car spot, but I didn't know she was stopping for gas so I was slightly panicked when she wasn't at the parking lot, but she eventually landed. I then decided to take the scenic route to Blue Mountain Lakes Road by taking Mountain Road past Buttermilk Falls, which is one of the most beautiful spots in the state. The road leading up to the falls was rough, but not nearly as bad as Mohican Camp Road. At the falls, however, the rest of the road was gated and closed apparently from storm damage this past April. At least we got to see the falls! We then continued to drive to Blue Mountain Lakes Road and found out that it was gated at the Blue Mountain Lake parking lot. I had read that Skyline Drive was closed on weekends, but that didn't start for another two miles! I thought we'd be able to drive to Skyline Drive and park there, but nope. After using those composting toilets, we took another half hour drive around the ridge to Fairview Lake Road, a place where I spent years of my life attending band camp, and parked at the bottom of the abandoned road leading up the ridge (in the past, Fairview Lake Road and Blue Mountain Lakes Road connected via a hairpin turn. Not sure when this closed). After about two hours of driving - it was finally time to start hiking!
We walked up the gated/washed out road to the top of the ridge, which was about as eroded as I remembered, but a little more grown in. There's a nice stream that parallels the upper half after the hairpin turn. The top of the road has a very partial view of the valley below through a power cut, and there is a short road walk to where the AT crosses Blue Mountain Lakes Road. There were some cars in the AT parking lot, which made me curious. Maybe they were park workers? Maybe backpackers? Who knows! The trail is clearly marked in white paint where it crosses the road, so we headed into the woods and officially officially got the day started.
The trail here was very nice and mellow with rolling ups and downs through open woods. The rocks were still present, but not as deadly as the day before. There was one steep descent, but other than that this section was generally uneventful. At the end of the descent there is what appears to be a dried up swamp/pond near Long Pine Pond. It was a very interesting area, I wondered if it is usually like that in July or if it was because of the drought. Soon after this area, the trail officially enters the Crater Lake area with a short scramble, intersecting old woods roads from the Tocks Island Dam controversy, and a view of the surrounding area. We ran into a thru-hiker right before the scramble who we realized we had seen the previous day which was fun. I didn't realize that the AT never actually provides a view of Crater Lake. If I had known this (aka done research) before, I probably would have added a side trip to the main parking area. I recognized the area once the Hemlock Pond Trail appeared, and this section of trail was very forgiving with its terrain.
The trail continues on towards Rattlesnake Mountain, but first passes the trail junction with the Buttermilk Falls Trail and another series of old woods roads. I had originally thought I hiked to the top of Mt. Paradise, but now looking at the map I haven't! There used to be a NJ1K hiking list, but it seems its no longer maintained. Maybe I'll make my own... Someday! Either way, we climbed moderately and steadily to Rattlesnake Mountain where there were nice views. It was very humid this day (like all of my AT hikes this summer...) so I was SOAKED (also as per usual...). We had a nice break and pretended we weren't overheated beyond belief. Had a nice meat stick break and Gen surprised me with a rice krispy treat which probably saved my life.
The final stretch of new trail was a descent down Rattlesnake, a short climb up the viewless Bird Mountain, and then crossing the boundary back into Stokes State Forest to the top of Blue Mountain, which had beautiful views just like last time. I was a little bummed that the day's haziness prevented views into the Catskills, but I got over myself and enjoyed what I could. At this point, I had already been on this stretch of trail so it was smooth sailing down to the junction with Brink Road, which we turned onto to slowly make our way back to Tillman Ravine. The road was wide and well traveled, passed what appeared to be a really nice elevated shelter area, and then made it to a junction with another woods road. The NYNJTC Map has parking areas labeled on this road which makes me wonder if/when the gate is ever open. The NJDEP map does not have any parking areas there, which makes me even more curious.
Anyway, we continued on Brink Road which immediately crossed a beautiful meadow and then reentered the woods for the remainder of the hike. The rest of the road was gentle, eroded, and overall featureless. I was delighted to see that it was not overgrown. We could have taken the Red Maple Trail, but this way saved us some miles and terrain, which we needed because we had an even longer hike planned for the next day. Brink Road terminates back at Dimon Road, which led right to the parking area. Hike #2 done!
"Crater Lake Trails" from Kittatinny Trails, 2004
"Local mythology claims that Crater Lake was created by a meteorite sometime during the 19th century. It seems more likely this beautiful mountain feature is another glacial lake like nearby Sunfish and Catfish ponds, despite its crescent shape and the high bluffs on the northwest side.
Crater Lake is far off the beaten track. Its large parking area and picnic grounds are at the end of a 2.4 mile long gravel road (Skyline Drive) which starts at the end of Blue Mountain Lakes Road. These roads dead end 5.5 miles from Old Mine Road.
The AT crosses at the point where Blue Mountain Lakes Road turns into Skyline Drive.
Buttermilk falls is the highest falls in New Jersey, about 200 feet high. It is best viewed in spring since at other seasons the water volume is quite low. The falls are at the western end of the Buttermilk Falls Trail, which is several miles from Walpack on the gravel Mountain Road."
Step-By-Step
- Drop car at upper Tillman Ravine parking lot.
- Drive to the end of Fairview Lake Road and park other car.
- Walk past gate and up the road to Blue Mountain Lakes Road.
- At top, follow Blue Mountain Lakes Road for short distance to Appalachian Trail.
- Turn right onto Appalachian Trail northbound.
- Be sure to follow blazes throughout this whole section as there are many old woods roads. I will note junctions with blazed trails, but there are many more intersections than just these.
- At junction with orange-blazed Crater Lake Trail, continue straight onto AT.
- At second junction with orange-blazed Crater Lake Trail, continue right onto AT/Orange trail.
- Orange trail leaves toward Hemlock Pond, AT continues on.
- At junction with blue-blazed Buttermilk Falls Trail, continue on AT.
- Summit Rattlesnake, Bird, and Blue Mountains.
- Descend Blue Mountain, turn left onto Brink Road toward AT shelter.
- At shelter, continue on Brink Road.
- At gate, cross woods road and continue on Brink Road.
- Cross meadow on Brink Road, continue to gate at Dimon Road.
- Turn left onto Dimon Road to Tillman Ravine parking lot.
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