Mt. Tammany (Worthington State Forest)
Distance: 3.52 miles
Elevation: 1,181 feet
Elevation: 1,181 feet
Time: 1 hour, 38 minutes
Hike Type: Loop
Hiking Challenges: N/A
Hike Type: Loop
Hiking Challenges: N/A
The Hike
We're nearing the end of February break, and it was time for my semi-annual Mt. Tammany hike! I made it to the parking lot around 8:00am on a Saturday which was a MISTAKE. There were so many people getting ready, which more or less turned this into a cardio circuit. It was 35 degrees and windy, and I got right to work!
The lower trail was muddy, and the first climb had some snirt (snow-dirt) and ice, but it was easily avoidable. I did think that rock spikes would have been nice to have, but I only brought my good Hillsounds, so I was avoiding putting them on. I took a short break to catch my fleeting breath at the view ledges, but there were still a good amount of people behind me, so I kept it going. The ridge that followed was fun to see without leaves - I didn't realize how spacious the area is!
The second climb was a bit icier, which required more intentional footing. I couldn't help but laugh at how humbled this mountain always makes me feel! I got caught behind a few guys heading up, but thankfully after closely trailing for a few minutes one of them went "let's let this guy pass."
The third climb starts right after the second (I consider the switch-spot to be when the trail becomes less rugged and steep... slightly). The third climb is always longer than I remember, but the grades were more moderate, thankfully. I continued my power hike to the "final push" area, where the trail climbs and dips a couple times. I admired the view of Mt. Minsi through the trees, and eventually made it to the view! There was a LARGE family enjoying the view, so I just took a ceremonial photo and continued on. Up top it was 31 degrees with 10 mph wind gusts.
The blue trail along the ridge is truly lovely, and then the long descent was less lovely. At this point, I stopped running into people which was lovely, sans a few trail runners (how they were able to run and not slip is astounding to me). My spikes were on for most of the descent, minus a few on-and-offs in the lower stretches. I also remembered I wore spikes for the very first time on this trail a few years ago - fun!
Eventually I landed at the beautiful Dunnfield Creek, who's water was extra clear. The swimming hole before the falls was almost emerald in color (and to be clear, swimming is prohibited). I always think about how fun it would be to treat the creek like a natural waterslide... if I had a life jacket, helmet, and LOTS of padding. The last half mile walk along the creek is truly magical. Once I was back at the car I quickly changed and headed back to Mom's house for a haircut
Step-By-Step
- Start hike on red-blazed Mt. Tammany Trail.
- After main viewpoint on Mt. Tammany Trail, trail terminates and the blue-blazed Pahaquarry Trail begins.
- At trail junction, turn left to continue on blue-blazed Pahaquarry Trail.
- At trail junction, turn left to continue on blue-blazed Pahaquarry Trial, which now coincides with green-blazed Dunnfield Creek Trail.
- At trail junction, blue and green trails terminate. Continue straight to follow the Appalachian Trail to the parking lot.
Trail Descriptions
"Red Dot Trail" from Kittatinny Trails
The Red Dot Trail is one of two trails which climb to the top of Mount Tammany from the Dunnfield parking areas. The Dunnfield parking areas are in the heart of the Delaware Water Gap just off Interstate 80 westbound and just prior to the I-80 toll bridge which crosses into Pennsylvania. Mount Tammany is the high point of the New Jersey side of the Wtaer Gap. It's New Jersey's equivalent to Mount Minsi which is described in the previous section. The other Mount Tammany trail is the Blue Dot Trail, described on pages 40-41.
The Red Dot Trail is relatively difficult. It climbs from the Gap almost directly up the north face of Mount Tammany. The north face is the most gradual route but still quite steep, rising about 1100 feet in about 1.2 miles. Excellent Water Gap viewpoints exist about 1/3 of the way to the top and at the top.
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In places, stairways have been established by the trail maintainers out of wood or stone. In other areas, some rock scrambling is required. The trail improvement work continues. About half the trail is steep enough to reuiqre either stairs or scrambles. The other half is stony woods path. There are no significant wet spots or stream crossings.
Spectacular views of the Water Gap exist at two locations on the trail. The scenery at the Dunnfield parking areas is also remarkable. In addition to the viewpoints shown on the map, lesser, more restricted views are available from about 1/3 of the trail.
For those not interested in climbing all the way to the top, the lower viewpoint, about 500 feet above the Delware River, is worth a journey.
The trail is steep, rising about 1150 feet in little more than 1.2 miles. That is an average slope of 18%. In several places, there are short slopes in excess of 50% (0.5 feet per foot). No rock climbing is required, however.
"Blue Dot Trail" from Kittatinny Trails
The Blue Dot Trail climbs the same mountain, Mount Tammany, as the Red Dot Trail, but does it in 1.4 miles, rather than 1.2 miles. So it is a bit more gradual. The trail is mostly east of the Red Dot Trial and therefore a bit removed from the Water Gap. There are no Water Gap views except from the top.
Starting at the end of the Red Dot Trail, the trail traverses 0.3 mile of the Mount Tammany ridge line before turning left down the north face of Mount Tammany. At 1.4 miles the trail merges with the Dunnfield Creek Trail. The Dunnfield Creek Trail and the AT can be used to return to the Dunnfield parking areas in 0.7 mile when doing a Red Dot/Blue Dot loop hike. Total distance is 3.3 mi. See the elevation profiles.
The trail is in hardwood forest most of its length. At the top of Mount Tammay the trees are stunted, almost scrub-like. At the Dunnfield Creek end, hemlocks before more frequent.
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For most of its length, the Blue Dot Trail is a stony woods path with little or no rock scrambling required. At the top of the Mount Tammany ridge line, the trail is broader and less stony for 0.35 mile.
There are spectacular views of the Water Gap where the trail joins the Red Dot Trail and also of the Great Valley of the Appalachians in New Jersey all along the Mount Tammany ridge line.
From the Dunnfield Creek Trail to the top of the Mount Tammany ridge line is about a 1000 foot climb. A gradual downward slope follows to the junction with the Red Dot Trail. The AT portion of the Dunnfield parking areas to the Dunnfield Creek Trail climbs about 200 feet (see elevation profile on p. 39).
"Dunnfield Creek Trail" from Kittatinny Trails
One of two trails from the Water Gap to Sunfish Pond, the Dunnfield Creek Trail branches right off of the AT at 0.4 mile from the Dunnfield parking areas at I-80. It follows Dunnfield Creek, crossing it at several points, for most of its length (about 2.8 miles) and then veers left away from the stream climbing 350 feet to a ridge line a little above Sunfish Pond. At 3.4 miles, the trail terminates at the AT again, only a few hundred feet from Sunfish Pond.
The AT, starting at the second Dunnfield parking area, follows Dunnfield Creek on a broad, well traveled woods road. At 0.4 mile from the parking area, the AT climbs away from the creek to the left. At this point the Dunnfield Creek Trail veers to the right to stay with the stream. It crosses the stream about six times, the first three on foot bridges. The other crossings are far enough upstream so that stepping stone crossings are usually not a problem.
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The southwest end of the trail is on a broad, fairly smooth woods road. [...].
For most of the trail length you will be in mixed hardwood and hemlock forest.
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