Click on the star for corresponding walk

"I looked out for many miles in all directions over country that appeared as unspoiled as in Maine. I was just flabbergasted."

"Sunfish Pond is a rare jewel indeed. You can count on the fingers of one hand the mountain lakes that have those qualities which make Sunfish Pond beloved of everyone who knows it."

"Dunnfield Creek-it was a mountain stream of unmatched beauty in a wilderness setting of rocks, trees, mosses, and rushing waters."

Are these comments excerpts from the journal of a colonial explorer? Diary recordings of an 18th Century settler? Gleanings from early surveyors' notes? No, none of these.

These comments and more like them were written recently about Appalachian Trail country in New Jersey's Warren and Sussex Counties by some extremely sophisticated and worldly explorers: full distance hikers on the 2000-mile Appalachian Trail. This trail extends through-or more accurately on top of- -the Appalachian Mountains from Georgia to Maine; about 42 miles of it cut through western New Jersey. The trail hikers, quoted above, when they made their comments, had climbed through such well-known Eden's as the Blue Ridge, Berkshire, and White Mountains, even the fabled Great Smokies. This trail in New Jersey gives a view and a feeling of what this area was like 200 years ago. The views are beautiful, the surrounding countryside mostly undeveloped, and the few towns visible in the valleys are still country villages. It's obvious that the beauty of our New Jersey Appalachian Trail can hold its own-and often surpass-any other trail area in the Eastern United States.

Through Hikers at Mohican Outdoor
Center in Blairstown

For those of us who have neither the time nor the inclination for a six-month ridge run from Georgia to Maine, this 42-mile New Jersey stretch offers some very exciting possibilities. The entire stretch in Jersey is intersected by country lanes or Park roads every 5 to 10 miles. This means that, with a little planning and a map or two, the Jersey section can be conquered one day at a time in seven modest day-hikes.

The equipment required for an Appalachian Trail day hike is minimal. There is one essential, however, and that is good hiking boots. They should have thick soles, preferably the Vibram, and the shoes should be high enough to give ankle support. They should also be large enough for both heavy socks and swollen feet. Bad fitting or flimsy boots will ruin the hiking experience, so a good shoe is a must. If they are new they should be broken-in ahead of time with a little local walking. The rest of the clothing need only match the day's weather.

The AT looks out from Catfish fire tower.
Photo: Kent Johnson

A light pack and a canteen should complete the necessary equipment. The pack will hold lunch and a snack or two. After lunch when the pack is empty, use it to carry out any litter you may find along the way. Carrying out only what you carry in is no longer enough. Carry out any litter you find. Each hiker should start out with a full canteen. Some sections of the trail are dry, others have an occasional spring.

But most of the trail is on mountain tops and most of the water you will see will be far away in a stream or pond in the valley. A canteen doesn't due the thirst much good if it's empty and you are on a mountain top. Fill it whenever possible.

Finally, bring binoculars and a camera if you own them.

Our trail follows the highest ridges of the Kittatinny Mountains and the views are breathtaking. Wildlife is abundant, too. If you are interested in birds, bring along a bird recognition booklet. You will see plenty of hawks and eagles and those denizens of the trail, the little Towhee.

Just where do you get on our Appalachian Trail? There is easy access all along the section that runs from High Point State Park at Route 23 in the very northern-most corner of the state down to the Delaware Water Gap where it enters Pennsylvania. The ridges of the Kittatinny Mountains run parallel to the Delaware River to the west. Any good road map of New Jersey will show the trail, usually as a dotted line. The forest ranger offices at High Point on Route 23 in Sussex County, Stokes Forest on Route 206 in Sussex County, and the National Park Service on Route 80 at the Water Gap in Warren County, will have maps showing the trail.

The Trail itself is marked generously with white painted blazes, 2 by 6 inches, on trees and rocks along the way. Two blazes, one above the other, indicate a change in direction of the trail. Be alert for this; the trail won't always go where the hiker expects it to. Once the hiker gets on our Jersey trail it is reasonably well marked and exciting to follow. The attached chart and map help lay out the hiking routes beginning at the northern most end of the trail in New Jersey at High Point on Route 23. Some of the planned day trips are short but this gives the beginner a chance to get broken in. Combining two of the routes into one day's hiking would work out fine in most cases.

The first day's hiking goes from north to south. It begins at High Point on Route 23 in Sussex County and goes south to Deckertown Road over a mountain trail. The day's trip ends here with a 4.45 mile length. To locate the beginning point of the first day's hike the hiker should drive north on Route 23 in Sussex County until he comes to High Point State Park. He'll see an Appalachian Trail sign pointing left. Pick up a map at the ranger station and then park the car. You'll see white blazes painted on trees. This is the trail. Follow it, heading south, and you're on your way.

If you wish to park a car at the day's finishing spot, the auto route from High Point to the day's finishing line on Deckertown Road is as follows: go west on Route 23 in Sussex County through the town of Sussex to Colesville where Route 519 comes in from the left. Turn left on 519 and go to the intersection of Deckertown Road-there is a sign here. Go right on Deckertown Road, ascend, and after a couple of miles look for the small parking area on the right. There is a yellow pitcher pump here and this is where the first day's hike will end and where your pickup car should be waiting. Your second day's hike will begin here, too, of course.

To drive to the termination point of the second hike go on Route 206 north, past Culver's Lake. Turn right on Route 636 (North Shore Rd.) at the Sunrise Mountain sign, opposite Worthington's Bakery. Make a quick left on a paved road, go up the mountain for several miles and make a right turn to the Sunrise Mountain parking area. The second hike will end here and the third hike will begin here. Now return to the beginning spot for your second hike and enjoy yourself.

The third hike will start at Sunrise Mountain and will end at a small area opposite that bakery on Route 206.

The fourth hike will start here at Route 206 but again you must go to the ending first to park your vehicle-or meet that friend that's transporting you. To do this go to the little town of Stillwater in Sussex County, off Route 94 between Newton and Blairstown. Opposite the Stillwater school, turn west onto Route 617 which will become Route 624. Proceed 5 miles up the mountain. At the top of the mountain there is a parking area on the right. This is the end of the longest hike, 10.72 miles.

The fifth hike ends at Millbrook Road outside of Blairstown. Take Route 94 west to Blairstown. Turn right at the blinker light onto Bridge Street. Bridge Street becomes Millbrook Road. Continue out Millbrook and just 4.5 miles from that blinker light the hiking trail is on the right. You can park here or nearby. The sixth hike picks up on the other side of Millbrook Road about 500 feet down the road at the foot of the hill closer to Blairstown.

This sixth hike is a short one. This hike ends on Camp Mohican Road, Blairstown. To drive to the end of #6, go west on Route 94 about a mile past the blinker light. Turn right on Mohican Road and go as far as you can to Gaisler Road. Turn left here and go about half a mile. Turn right on Camp Mohican Road, a dirt road. Camp Mohican has a large mailbox here. Go about a mile uphill and you'll see where the Appalachian Trail crosses the road. This is the end of the sixth hike and the beginning of the final hike.

The termination of the final hike is on Interstate 80 at the Delaware Water Gap. To locate this by auto, go west from Blairstown on Route 94 to Interstate 80 West. Go west on Route 80 into the Water Gap. The Delaware River will be on your left. Pull off Route 80 at the rest area sign but go to the second parking lot, not the first. This second area is for Appalachian Trail hikers and is so marked. You've finished your hike.

Author Frank Dale and his wife Diana take a
break before the next leg.

Some of the more ambitious hikers on our New Jersey Appalachian Trail might be thinking of combining a couple of the shorter hikes, and this can certainly be done. I would suggest, however, that the neophyte take the first few hikes individually. The Trail is rugged and if the hiker is out of condition, too big a bite at the beginning might prove exhausting to the point of spoiling the experience. However, when the neophyte hiker has completed the day hikes, one at a time, the next challenge will be to repeat the whole performance as one 42-mile overnight hike. By all means, do it! Right now is the time to prepare for a fall hike of about 3-days and 2-nights duration. Some additional equipment will be needed but there is enough time before the fall to acquire what is needed. It's worth it. The trail in the fall is especially beautiful and secluded and the hiking temperature will be ideal.

There is little on the New Jersey section that can be considered dangerous if some common sense is utilized. Snakes are rare. I've never seen a poisonous one on the trail in New Jersey but some hikers have. Treating them with respect is certainly sensible. Bears are around but they're skittish and are seen occasionally. Some years ago I did a little hiking on the trail in Maine, confident that in Maine, at least, I'd spot a bear. No luck. I talked to a young girl on the verge of completing her entire hike that had begun in Georgia; she was hiking alone. She said she'd seen her only bear while hiking on the trail--in New Jersey, just off Stillwater Road. With any overnight hiking it is a good idea to bring along a light tent in case of rain. Without it the sleeping bag will probably get soaked and if the weather turns chilly this could be a serious problem. Trail shelters are not always-indeed rarely are--dependable. The shelters are often not where you need them; usually they are located near roads and get used for beer parties, not shelters. Besides, they are frequently damp and dirty. The trail, in New Jersey at least, is not enhanced one whit by their existence.

For additional information about the trail, by all means read From Katahdin to Springer Mountain, a collection of first- person accounts by Georgia-to-Maine trail hikers. In this book, too, you'll read about Grandma Gatewood who hiked the entire 2000-mile trail three times-alone. She was in her 70's. Appalachian Hiker by Edward Garvey tells us his trail experience and gives the reader some valuable information about equipment. Garvey tells of his meeting with Casey Kays, a Hackettstown, Warren County, native and savior of Sunfish Pond on the New Jersey trail. And there are other good hiker books about the Appalachian Trail, new ones come out each year. And, of course, get a copy of Guide to the Appalachian Trail in New York and New Jersey. This official book should become part of every hiker's library.

Finally, let's say a word about trail courtesy and especially the litter situation. Considering its proximity to the Metropolitan area, the trail is relatively free of litter. But even one beer can shining among the leaves or one candy wrapper in the middle of the trail, is too much. Don't leave a trace behind. Carry out everything you carried in, including cigarette butts. Also, pick up other peoples' litter. Hopefully, you won't find much. Trail housekeeping seems much improved lately, all the more reason to pick up and carry out any trash you find. Rarely, I've come across neatly tied trash bags loaded with garbage and left by the side of the trail, miles from any road. My only explanation for this is that some city hikers anticipated a garbage pickup along the trail. Well, it doesn't happen: each of us must be his own garbage man. Also, keep in mind that, in New Jersey, brush and wood cutting are not allowed along the trail. Neither is fire building. So don't do it.

Set a leisurely pace. Don't try to break any speed records. Relax and enjoy this delightful experience. Keep in mind the words of Myron Avery, the first person to hike the entire trail:

Remote for detachment, Narrow for chosen company, Winding for leisure, Lonely for contemplation, It beckons not merely north and south But upward-- to the body, mind, and soul of man.

Enjoy it.