Mt. Tammany, Dunnfield Creek, Holly Springs, & AT (Worthington State Forest)

Mt. Tammany, Dunnfield Creek, Holly Springs, & AT (Worthington State Forest)

Hike Type: Loop

Distance: 6.01 miles

Elevation: 1,614 feet

Time: 2 hours, 18 minutes
Hiking Challenges: N/A

The Hike

Time to revisit a long-time favorite - Mt. Tammany! I hadn't been to the water gap area in a while, so I was excited to get back out there. I had a dreadfully sleepy 40 minute drive and eventually did stop at the rest area just before the NJ/PA border on I-80 to get some caffeine in me before the hike! The parking lots were medium-full and a few hiking parties were getting started as I slowly got set up. I dilly-dallied a bit on purpose to let them get some distance so we hopefully wouldn't have to interact.

Temps were in the low 80s with delightfully low humidity - this might be the first time in like a decade that I would be climbing this mountain in nice weather! I walked to the Mt. Tammany Trail (red dot) trailhead and noticed they had a "Wasps Ahead" sign - thankfully I never encountered the said wasps! Once in the woods I nearly immediately caught up to a group that was comprised of a couple that would NOT stop holding hands, a man in jeans and no shirt, and a fourth guy who just seemed happy to be there.

Phase 1 of the climb had a lot of people going in either direction, and the climb proper wasn't as awful as I had remembered (blah blah blah I'm in good hiking shape now blah blah). I passed a few people at the first viewpoint and enjoyed seeing paddlers down on the river from the cliffs. Sadly, I did not see a bear in the next flat stretch like I had a couple of summers ago - just many more people. 

I enjoyed the bone-dry trail, specifically the spot that is usually wet just before the second climb, and mentally was comparing this hike to any of the hikes in Franconia Notch - steep, rugged, and near a loud highway!

Climb #2 had me zig-zagging up a rugged rock pile with steep grades, past a few more hiking duos that did not appear to be having a great time. It was, as always, a bit of an ass-kicker, but the trail rewards afterwards with a mellower grade and eventually another walking break. 

Climb #3 was easier, but longer. I passed and crossed paths with many more people, with one dad in particular who simply refused to pull over as I was hiking directly behind him. There was one more walking break and one more (easy) final push, and then, voila! I had arrived!

The viewpoint was delightfully empty. I took a moment to wring out my shirt while a phenomeninal breeze brought me back to life. I was feeling surprisingly good, as this mountain usually beats the life out of me. I think this in part due to hiking in nice weather, but I should also give myself credit for being super consistent this year in my fitness hikes. 

Continuing onto the blue-blazed Pahaquarry Trail, I was flirting with the idea of extending the hike. I've always wanted to follow the fire road out to Sunfish Pond, but that would have added MANY miles and time - something I wasn't overly interested in. Another option would be to turn right onto the Dunnfield Creek trail and follow Holly Spring back to the Appalachian Trail... a decision for later.

The ridge walk was delightful and at the junction with the Mt. Tammany Fire Road, the trail turns left and begins to descent on a wide, dreadfully rocky trail. At least the woods were pretty! I eventually passed a group of 13ish 20-somethings clogging the entire wide trail and sharing a cigarette, which was... a choice! As per usual, the heat and humidity increased the further I descended and I began to mentally prepare for bugs.

Near Dunnfield Creek, I passed a wonderfully unbothered deer about 30 feet off trail simply munching on some vegetation. I could hear people jumping into the creek, and soon enough I was at the green-blazed Dunnfield Creek Trail!

For the first time ever, I turned right! I was feeling great, it was a wonderful day, and I was excited to hike for a bit longer. I hiked on this stretch of trail once a very long time ago, and it was... tumultuous. Tumultuous meaning VERY wet, and I fell into the creek. I was hoping for better hiking today!

The trail immedaitely felt more wild, less traveled, and paralleled the creek which was gently flowering over some mossy slabs. There were endless wine berry bushes along the trail and... the bugs were back, but I was just grateful for an bug-free climb! The canopy above was surprisngly open as the trail gained elevation so gently that I hardly noticed.

Later, the trail veered right onto a relocated section, ascending rock stairs into a old burned area that was hardly noticeable. The Dunnfield Creek Trail traveled high above the creek for a while, occasionally traversing some over grown-in stretches and soon gently descended to rejoin the old trail. I passed a little garter snake that was too quick for a photo. 

Continuing on the old trail cooridoor, I enjoyed walking on what felt like an old road through some beautiful woods. I got excited and nervous as the trail neared the crossing I fell into many, many years ago, and was delighted to see that the water level was literally at least two feet lower than that day! The crossing rocks were fully submerged the day I fell in, and they were exceptionally exposed this round - yay!

The Dunnfield Creek Trail continued to follow Dunnfield Creek, which was now on the right. I saw a human, too! This was the first and only human I'd see outside of the traditional Mt. Tammany loop. There was another easy creek crossing, a big blowdown, and then I was at the junction with the Holly Spring Trail! It was buggier here, but nowhere near as bad as my last few adventures at the Tourne. My heart wanted to continue along the Dunnfield Creek Trail to Sunfish Pond, but it still would add too many miles and minutes.

The Holly Spring Trail turned left, ascended moderately, and the continued to ascend on a wider trail that felt like another old road. The woods here were lovely and open, similar to the woods of Harriman State Park. The trail dipped gently to cross a trickle of a stream and then easily ascended to the trail's height-of-land in more lovely, open woods.

This final "push" led to the terminus and junction with the Appalachian Trail! I was delighted with how lovely that stretch of trail was from the end of Pahaquarry to here. The AT descended easily at first and then a bit more moderately with eroded footing, but soon mellowed out on a lovely fern-lined trail. This was followed by another moderate descent with better footing and then flattened yet again. This easy descent would continue for the rest of the trail!

I passed another wonderfully unbothered deer that was munching away on some plants. My shorts were soaked and saran wrapped with sweat, but I was still grateful for the weather! A very little breeze came through the woods and knocked a limb off of a tree, which felt dramatic, and later on I began to be able to hear swimmers in Dunnfield Creek!

Soon after the trail gently wound around a corner, I turned my head, and realized that I was no more than 10 feet away from a bear! My fight or flight kicked in and I went to run, but I remember every bear safety assembly I went to as a kid said to not do that! I calmed out, walked away, and then began to admire. The bear, who I believe was a female, was super chill. We looked at each other, she munched on some plants, I took some photos, and she eventually followed the AT north as I continued south. A wonderful encounter!

Just afterwards as my adrenaline began to settle I made my way to the terminus of the Dunnfield Creek Trail and I continued my easy descent, now with the creek running down below on the left. There were many folks swimming off of the many herd paths, which is clearly posted as not allowed. I crossed the footbridge near the parking lot and noticed an enormous blowdown on the AT proper, but thankfully it could be bypassed with the parking lot spur path.

Soon enough I was back at the parking lot and taking a "victory lap" around the lot to get my hike's mileage to a solid 6 (it was at 5.94 miles when I got to the parking lot). I loved this hike and how lovely my extension was! I will definitely be repeating this in the future.

A small epilogue...

I decided to take the scenic route home via Old Mine Road and the National Recreation Area. Last time I drove Old Mine Road, the traffic light was out and I had to back up a long distance to allow an RV to pass, but thankfully the light was up and running! I was listening to the "Death Becomes Her" soundtrack as I fought for my car's life while dodging massive potholes. The road condition improved once I entered the National Recreation Area, but only for a few miles. There was one particularly bad washout area after the new pavement ended, and when I passed the abandoned buildings I explored as a teenager I noticed some were beginning to collapse, which was expected but a little sad to see!

Step-by-Step

- Park at Dunnfield Creek parking area.

- Start hike on red-dot/Mt. Tammany Trail.

- At terminus, turn left on blue-blazed Pahaquarry Trail.

- At terminus, turn right onto green-blazed Dunnfield Creek trail.

- At jct., turn left onto red-blazed Holly Spring Trail.

- At terminus, turn left onto white-blazed Appalachian Trail.

- Follow Appalachian Trail back to car.

Map of Worthington State Forest

Photo Album