Mt. Tammany and Sunfish Pond Hike - August 31, 2006

I am currently in New Jersey on business. Due to a change in my client's schedule, I had an unexpected day off on August 31st, so I went for a hike. I drove to Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and parked at the Kittatinny Point Visitor Center. From there I hiked parallel to eastbound I-80, through the underpass, then to the right to the rest area where I took the red dot trail to the top of Mt. Tammany. From the top of Mt. Tammany I took the blue dot trail to the Dunnfield Creek trail (green dot), then southwest about a quarter mile to the Appalachian trail. I took the Appalachian trail northeast to Backpacker Site 2 and Sunfish Pond. I then hiked around Sunfish Pond, then took the Dunnfield Creek trail southwest, paralleling and finally joining the Appalachian trail, then to the Dunnfield parking lot, back under I-80, and back to Kittatinny Point. Total about 12 miles in about 8 hours including breaks. Go here for a map of my route and surrounding trails. The weather was overcast, which makes for good hiking but less than perfect pictures.

Update June 2007 - I found some links to trail descriptions and maps as PDFs:


Trailhead for the red dot trail to Mt. Tammany (photo taken 4 weeks earlier).


Trailhead for the red dot trail to Mt. Tammany (photo taken 4 weeks earlier).


The red dot trail is very rocky...


There are occasional outcroppings close to the trail which provide views of the Delaware River valley.


Looking back from half-way up Mt. Tammany to Kittatinny Point.


More rocks. Note that despite the rocks this trail is not as difficult as some websites would lead you to believe. Yes, it's a steep hike, but it is a hike, not a climb.


Another look back towards Kittatinny Point.


Kittatinny Point, where I started my hike.


The red dot blazes mark the trail.


View towards the town of Delaware Water Gap, Pennsylvania.


Mt. Minsi as seen from Mt. Tammany. I hiked there four weeks ago. Go here for that hike report.


The end of the red dot trail at the top of Mt. Tammany.


There is a beautiful grove at the top of Mt. Tammany. I knelt in the grove and offered a prayer of thanksgiving.


The end of the blue dot trail at the top of Mt. Tammany -- it's the start of the blue dot trail for me as I descend the backside of the mountain.


Nice vistas.


The blue dot trail ends at the Dunnfield Creek trail (marked by green blazes.) This is on the Dunnfield Creek trail between the Appalachian trail and the blue dot trail.


I couldn't resist...I had to swim! It's 8 feet deep at its deepest point.


It's so cool to be here!


There are many small falls like this along Dunnfield creek.


This sign is about a half mile from the Dunnfield parking lot, where the Dunnfield trail splits from the Appalachian trail.


Some parts of the AT are very nice. Others are not so. There are a lot of rocky areas on this route, which equates to reduced speed and a lot of "heads down" hiking.


This is at the backpacking campsite cleverly named "Backpacker 2". The horizontal pole has large hooks on it to suspend food and trash bags. There is an aluminum pole on the ground to lift items up to the hooks. The trees are wrapped in sheet metal so bears can't climb the trees.


Signs of the above mentioned bears.


Signs of another dissatisfied bear.


Sign at Sunfish Pond.


Monument at Sunfish Pond.


Sunfish Pond on the Appalachian trail.


The trail (and I use the term loosely here!) follows the western shore of Sunfish Pond.


Yes, that's the Appalachian Trail. Slow going. Too easy to twist an ankle!


Sunfish Pond. I'm told the rocks here are glacial talus.


Yours truly at Sunfish Pond.


Northernmost cove on Sunfish Pond.


View from campsite on the north end of Sunfish Pond.


Headed south now...country club walking compared to the boulder fields.


The trail to Dunnfield creek goes first up, then down to the creek. I met two flyfishermen here. They told me that between the two of them they had caught about 40 fish so far that day! The creek has some special designation as a habitat for brook trout.


There's a lot of blowdown on the green dot trail -- portions of the trail were difficult to get past. But you can't get lost, as the creek goes right to I-80.


Finally, I was back at the same hole again. Time for another swim!


Beautiful.


More cascades on Dunnfield creek as I return to Kittatinny Point.

Copyright © 2006 by Bill Qualls. Visit my home page at http://www.billqualls.com.