Hi all-it's been three years since I moved north (Hunterdon County) and while I'm quite happy up here I still miss the pines. I made it down to wind my way from Burlington County to Atlantic City by taking the scenic route but haven't been back since. My wife and I will be visiting our friends in Mays Landing again soon over the summer, so that will be another good excuse. Anyway, knowing the NJPineBarrens is full of seasoned campers and explorers I figured I would troll around for any good information on Delaware Water Gap NRA, about an hour northwest of where I am. We are planning a little day trip there this weekend and were planning on driving Old Mine Road up to Blue Mountain Lake/Crater Lake. Any tips, things to see, etc...?
Back from the dead with a question...Anyone camp/explore Delaware Water Gap NRA?
- Thread starter Badfish740
- Start date
Check the NPS web site at the link. There is also Worthington SP. Lots of good stuff to explore up there on both sides of the river. What are your interests? I've included another link specific to Old Mine Road, the oldest road in continuous use in the country, at the second link. The history & culture section has tons of info.
http://www.nps.gov/dewa/planyourvisit/things2do.htm
http://www.nps.gov/dewa/historyculture/stories-old-mine-rd.htm
I posted some thought last year that might be of interest...
Thread: http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/general-discussion/8073-whitesbog-trust-rentals-2.html#post86169
Thread: http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/general-discussion/8073-whitesbog-trust-rentals-2.html#post86169
Well I love the pines, and they are right outside my door. But every now and then I need to climb a mountain (it reminds me of how out of shape I am)
There are others around here that know the area better than I do, but if you've never been there, you could start here: http://maps.njpinebarrens.com/#lat=41.03825432142264&lng=-75.02717971801758&z=16&type=topo&gpx=
Pull into the Copper Mine parking area and follow the Copper Mine trail along the stream up the mountain. It's spectacular. You might also want to read chapters one and two of Beck's "The Roads of Home" - they discuss this area. Chapter 2 is about his search for Sunfish Pond, somewhat reminiscent of his quest for Forked River Mountain in "More Forgotten Towns": http://maps.njpinebarrens.com/#lat=41.0025083440068&lng=-75.07155418395996&z=15&type=topo&gpx=
Welcome. Based on your location, you must live near Steve Earle... cool. Mt. Tammany is a great day hike, as is the trail to sunfish pond. Both are off the interstate right before Old Mine Rd. It's trout season up there, so if you enjoy fishing, the Big Flatbrook is probably the state's best trout fishery and most scenic rivers. If you are camping, there is High Point, Stokes, and a few other state parks in the vacinity. I personally like camping at Bear Creek Campground (the old Walpack Valley Family Campground). It backs up to the Flatbrook. One of my favorite stops is the rustic Walpack Inn for food or drink. Great for lunch, dinner, or a quick brew at the bar.. cheers.
Mike
Mike
Hike up to the top of mount tammany it is right off route 80. It is a really good hike/workout. Depending on which trail you take it is almost mild rock climbing. I hiked it with my lab and gf last summer and it was awesome.
Plenty to do up there it's just tough fitting into one day. The Old Mine Road is a great trip but the road is in poor condition in a lot of spots. The road had been blocked in Sandyston Twp due to a legal dispute but I believe this has been resolved and the gate taken down. The info that PINEY MIKE gave was excellent. For fishing you have the Big Flatbrook, Litlle Flatbrook or the Big D.
If your into history you can check out Millbrook Village which is in Pahaquarry Twp or visit the deserted Walpack Center. You may also visit Peters Valley (Bevans) which is an old village that is home to an art and crafts community.
http://www.njskylands.com/hsmillbrookvillage.htm
http://www.njskylands.com/pkwalpack.htm
http://www.njskylands.com/cl_petersvalley_094.htm
There are plenty of waterfalls up there: Buttermilk Falls, Hidden Falls, Tilman Ravine and Van Campens Glen to name a few. I personally like Van Campens Glen where the photo below was taken. Some of the bigger falls are located on the PA side.
There are so many trails that you can hike. To eat, Walpack Center was the place to go (along with McKeowans on Rt 206 which is gone). The Layton Inn was a nice spot to go for a cold beer but I haven't been there in a long time.
Prior to being the Walpack Valley Family Campground, Bear Creek Campground used to be Battelli's Campground. This was and I am sure still a great place to camp. Another place to stay if you were to camp is the Mohican Outdoor Center in Blairstown. I haven't stayed there but I have heard good things about it. I plan to stay there this fall when I go up for a weekend to take some pictures of the fall foilage.
Here are few more links that may be of help to you. Enjoy and let us see some pictures when you get back.
Tim
http://www.njskylands.com/odhikedwg.htm
http://www.njskylands.com/hsoldmine072.htm
http://www.njskylands.com/hsoldmine2.htm
http://www.njskylands.com/hs_forts_111.htm
If your into history you can check out Millbrook Village which is in Pahaquarry Twp or visit the deserted Walpack Center. You may also visit Peters Valley (Bevans) which is an old village that is home to an art and crafts community.
http://www.njskylands.com/hsmillbrookvillage.htm
http://www.njskylands.com/pkwalpack.htm
http://www.njskylands.com/cl_petersvalley_094.htm
There are plenty of waterfalls up there: Buttermilk Falls, Hidden Falls, Tilman Ravine and Van Campens Glen to name a few. I personally like Van Campens Glen where the photo below was taken. Some of the bigger falls are located on the PA side.
There are so many trails that you can hike. To eat, Walpack Center was the place to go (along with McKeowans on Rt 206 which is gone). The Layton Inn was a nice spot to go for a cold beer but I haven't been there in a long time.
Prior to being the Walpack Valley Family Campground, Bear Creek Campground used to be Battelli's Campground. This was and I am sure still a great place to camp. Another place to stay if you were to camp is the Mohican Outdoor Center in Blairstown. I haven't stayed there but I have heard good things about it. I plan to stay there this fall when I go up for a weekend to take some pictures of the fall foilage.
Here are few more links that may be of help to you. Enjoy and let us see some pictures when you get back.
Tim
http://www.njskylands.com/odhikedwg.htm
http://www.njskylands.com/hsoldmine072.htm
http://www.njskylands.com/hsoldmine2.htm
http://www.njskylands.com/hs_forts_111.htm
Thanks to all for the replies. I will definitely take pictures, but we probably won't be doing much hiking-we are expecting and my wife is almost 5 months along 
I called the park office and as of right now the road is open as far as Blue Mountain Lakes-the road to Crater lake is still closed. In any event, I can't wait to load up the wife, the dog, and the camera this weekend and go exploring.
I called the park office and as of right now the road is open as far as Blue Mountain Lakes-the road to Crater lake is still closed. In any event, I can't wait to load up the wife, the dog, and the camera this weekend and go exploring.One more thing if you are going to check out walpack.
http://goo.gl/maps/gPGf
park in the vicinity there is a pretty easy trail towards the east that has some very nice scenery and waterfall. The hiking is pretty easy so it will work for the wife.
If its nice out its fun to sit in the pool of water before the waterfall.
http://goo.gl/maps/gPGf
park in the vicinity there is a pretty easy trail towards the east that has some very nice scenery and waterfall. The hiking is pretty easy so it will work for the wife.
If its nice out its fun to sit in the pool of water before the waterfall.
Badfish740
Did they give any reason why the road to Crator Lake is closed ? I was planning on going up to the DWG in a couple of weeks. Thanks, Tim
Did they give any reason why the road to Crator Lake is closed ? I was planning on going up to the DWG in a couple of weeks. Thanks, Tim
They didn't give a reason but I didn't really ask either. I just asked if its usually open by summer and the guy said yes. I would imagine they're just still doing maintenance after the long winter we've had. They seemed perfectly happy to answer questions so I would just call the office before you plan to go.
Going up this weekend for some camping, hiking and fishing.
A favorite of mine in the Spring and Fall.
I love the Pines very much, but for me this area is the most spectacular forest in the State.
Anyone who has never spent time up that way is truly missing something.
Highly suggested.
A favorite of mine in the Spring and Fall.
I love the Pines very much, but for me this area is the most spectacular forest in the State.
Anyone who has never spent time up that way is truly missing something.
Highly suggested.
if you like your pines and your mountains why not have both?go see sams point preserve in the gunks just noprth of you over the ny line ,also minnewaska state park,awosting lake and bonitou crag.whip should have some pics he can throw your way or do a web search.it's barrens on the rocks.
Al
Al
So noted!
Thanks for the suggestions Al.
Have you or anyone here ever come across any sites similar to the awesome one Ben has here that touches on the history and discussion relating to the Gap and Northwestern corner of NJ?
I've looked around and found nothing. Then again I haven't found any other sites close to the detail and experiences shared here that would relate to NJ.
We have a real gift here. A good time to say thanks to all those who take the time to share and make it easier for we every so often wanderers that are able to quickly put together a nice day trip from all the info that is shared.
Bill
Thanks for the suggestions Al.
Have you or anyone here ever come across any sites similar to the awesome one Ben has here that touches on the history and discussion relating to the Gap and Northwestern corner of NJ?
I've looked around and found nothing. Then again I haven't found any other sites close to the detail and experiences shared here that would relate to NJ.
We have a real gift here. A good time to say thanks to all those who take the time to share and make it easier for we every so often wanderers that are able to quickly put together a nice day trip from all the info that is shared.
Bill
There are some sites, but not a ton of them. I have a bunch of picture galleries and some articles on my blog at http://www.markbetz.net. Click the 'Pictures' link at the top and browse from there, or check the places category (http://www.markbetz.net/category/places/) for some articles to go with the pics.
The gap has a lot to offer, and where you go depends on what you're looking for. I'm into the historic aspects, so I spend most of my time up there either following old roads, searching out abandoned houses and cemeteries, or following abandoned railroads. People have already mentioned Wallpack and Millbrook, and there are also the remains of Calno and Flatbrook to be seen, Ft. Shapanack, the Hull graves, the Depue and Vancampen cemeteries, etc. For the nature lover there are many, many trails, most of them following what used to be paved or unpaved roads before the Tock Island dam project.
Last year the NPS started bulldozing old structures, I guess because they can't keep them up, so next time I get up there I expect to find many of the historic houses I photographed are gone.
In case anyone's wondering, the gate is still up across Old Mine Road just north of the intersection with Kuhn. I don't know whether this is a dispute, as someone above indicated, or whether this piece isn't part of the park, and the township vacated the road. In any case it's a plenty stout gate, and plenty well-marked, and it's been there for a few years now at least.
You can get around this property by making a right on Kuhn, then making a left at Peter Valley on Walpack Rd. and taking the next left on Ennis. There's a very nice abandoned farm where Ennis rejoins Old Mine that I've photographed a few times.
You can get around this property by making a right on Kuhn, then making a left at Peter Valley on Walpack Rd. and taking the next left on Ennis. There's a very nice abandoned farm where Ennis rejoins Old Mine that I've photographed a few times.
Been going thru all my saved sites for spring cleanup and found these related to the area around the NW corner of NJ. Now is the time for waterfalls, as every stream coming down into the Delaware is rippin' right now. I'll be up there this Saturday.
The links;
http://www.localhikes.com/MSA/MSA_5602.asp
Excellent map set available from this org and they have a forum;
http://www.nynjtc.org/
http://www.njwildlifetrails.org/SkylandsTrails/Trails.aspx
http://www.delawareriverhighlands.com/
http://www.riversojourn.com/
My DWGNRA photo site;
http://www.pbase.com/46er/dwgnra&cmd=reset_hit_count
Enjoy
The links;
http://www.localhikes.com/MSA/MSA_5602.asp
Excellent map set available from this org and they have a forum;
http://www.nynjtc.org/
http://www.njwildlifetrails.org/SkylandsTrails/Trails.aspx
http://www.delawareriverhighlands.com/
http://www.riversojourn.com/
My DWGNRA photo site;
http://www.pbase.com/46er/dwgnra&cmd=reset_hit_count
Enjoy
The farm by the gate was once owned by Enos “Cy” Harker , who refused to sell his property to the government for the proposed Tocks Island Project. When he died in 2006 the property was bought by two locals, Matthew and Aaron Hull , whom had helped Cy with his farm. Once the Hull's purchased the property they placed the gate up. Sandyston Twp. had originally planned to deed the road to the federal government but because of some legal issues never did. As a result, there were questions as to who actually owned the road. The federal government eventaully sued the Hull's and I believe it was settled out of court. If the gate is still up then the interested parties have not signed the dotted line. Here's a link to a website that shows the farm.
http://www.outdoorphotographermag.com/lowepro/landscape_scenic_lg_gallery.asp?start=598
http://www.outdoorphotographermag.com/lowepro/landscape_scenic_lg_gallery.asp?start=598
46er
I checked out your photos at Pbase and they are great. The photo of the Judge's Shack in the IBSP gallery has been the backgound on my desktop for a couple of years now. My boss liked it and knowing that I have gotten into photography asked if I had taken it. I had to be honest and tell him no. Good spot to fish out in front of the shack as well.
I checked out your photos at Pbase and they are great. The photo of the Judge's Shack in the IBSP gallery has been the backgound on my desktop for a couple of years now. My boss liked it and knowing that I have gotten into photography asked if I had taken it. I had to be honest and tell him no. Good spot to fish out in front of the shack as well.