Hike through some of the prettiest forest in New Jersey to a glacial lake 1,000 feet above the surrounding area.
7.8 miles. Other routes listed in the chart below. Very rocky, multiple rock-hop stream crossings that can be tricky to negotiate after heavy rain.
| 7.8 miles | This hike guide: Detailed instructions, photos, and video follow below. |
| Challenging, same lot | Check out Mt. Tammany and Sunfish Pond or our “Mind The Gap“ hike. |
| Same lot | Same lot, but doesn’t go to Sunfish Pond –1.2 mile scenic hike to water cascades. Noted below. –Mt Tammany. |
| Nearby; alternate | Shorter but steeper routes to Sunfish Pond, from Old Mine Road: Sunfish Pond to Raccoon Ridge; Sunfish Pond – Garvey Springs and Douglas Loop. |
| Nearby | Laurel Falls; Mt. Minsi; Jenny Jump – Ghost Lake; Jenny Jump Trail. |
Our two cents:
Sunfish Pond is a popular destination, but rightly so. For newer hikers, this is hike is manageable, but… It’s also not a “walk in the park” and 7.6+ miles may be longer than you realize or can comfortably do.
While on our way back, we’ve passed many weary hikers asking “how much farther to the pond?”
Please bring water, have appropriate footwear, and honestly assess your fitness level. This is not a good choice for your first hike.
The Gap is notorious for rocks and will give feet and joints a good pounding. It can be hiked in sneakers… but we wouldn’t recommend it. The Appalachian Trail is rockier than the Dunnfield Creek Trail, in our opinion.
Updated: 5/2021 – Description changed to reflect that TURQUOISE is now called Buckwood (BLUE); not re-hiked. Older change log at page bottom.
Routes to Sunfish Pond
| There are several ways to Sunfish Pond from the Rt 80 Dunnfield lot: | MILES |
| Appalachian Trail (WHITE) – Sunfish Pond – Appalachian Trail (WHITE) | 7.6 |
| Appalachian Trail (WHITE) .5 miles – Dunnfield Creek Trail (GREEN) – Sunfish Pond – Appalachian Trail (WHITE) [directions below] | 7.9 |
| Appalachian Trail (WHITE) .5 miles – Dunnfield Creek Trail (GREEN) – Sunfish Pond – Dunnfield Creek Trail (GREEN) | 8.2 |
| Appalachian Trail (WHITE) .5 miles – Dunnfield Creek Trail (GREEN) – Sunfish Pond – Around the pond: Fire Road, Buckwood (BLUE) – Appalachian Trail (WHITE) | 9.5 |
| Red Dot – Mt. Tammany Summit – Fire Road – Buckwood (BLUE) – Sunfish Pond – Dunnfield Creek Trail (GREEN) – [Challenging] [Directions: Mt. Tammany and Sunfish Pond] | 11.3 |
| Appalachian Trail (WHITE) .5 miles – Dunnfield Creek Trail (GREEN) – Sunfish Pond – Around the pond: Fire Road, Buckwood (BLUE) – Appalachian Trail North (WHITE) to park boundary sign – turnaround and take AT back to the lot [Challenging] | 13.2 |
Map/Books:
Map# 121 of the Kittatinny Trails map set.
The longer Mt. Tammany to Sunfish route description and map diagram can be found in Hiking New Jersey (2023).
For a long backpack route on the Appalachian Trail that includes Sunfish Pond, see the description and map diagrams in 50 Hikes in New Jersey.
Details on all the trails in the area can be found in Kittatinny Trails and The New Jersey Walk Book.
Parking: N40.97213° W75.12592°
Dunnfield Creek Natural Area, I-80, Columbia, NJ 07832. Route 80 West to just before the last exit in New Jersey (exit 1). On the right is a brown sign for Dunnfield Creek Natural Area.
There’s the first parking lot, then a larger main lot. The exit road is one way so you can’t backtrack to a passed lot unless you get back onto Rt 80 and come around.
If both the first and main lots are full, try the parking area at the Kittatinny Point visitor center and walk back to the trailhead in the main lot (~about a 10 min walk).
Kittatinny Point Visitor Center: Head back out onto Rt. 80 from the Dunnfield lot and take the very next exit right, Exit 1 towards Millbrook/Flatbrookville. Then make a sharp left like you are going to go around to 80 E, but instead of merging onto 80, immediately head to the right into the visitor center on River Road.
Overview of the parking lots as it’s just easier to show it than explain it:
Parking may fill EARLY on nice weekends. If those three lots are full you may be able to wait a moment for a spot to open up, use the Hiker Shuttle if running, or switch to a nearby hike listed above. Do not park on roadsides, including Rt. 80.
Seasonal Hiker Shuttle (Free): Runs Saturdays ONLY, from Memorial Day through August 31, between Kittatinny Point Visitors Center and the DWG Park and Ride just over the bridge in Pennsylvania. Check www.gomcta.com for schedules and routes.
Restrooms:
Portable toilet in the far side of the main lot (there as of 10/2024). Toilets should be available at the Kittatinny Point Visitor Center (the center itself is closed). There is a rest area, Delaware Water Gap Travel Plaza, on Rt. 80 W. about 5 mins before the trailhead.
NOTE: The video is for the longer Mt. Tammany to Sunfish Route; so it also shows Mt. Tammany, the Fire Road, Buckwood (BLUE)to Sunfish Pond, with Dunnfield Creek as the return trail.
Hike Directions:
Overview: Appalachian Trail (WHITE) – Dunnfield Creek (GREEN) to Sunfish Pond – Appalachian Trail (WHITE).
0.0 – At the far end of the main lot, look for a trail sign for the Appalachian Trail (WHITE). Cross the bridge over Dunnfield Creek.
0.4 – A large trail sign is at a V-intersection. Bear RIGHT to start following Dunnfield Creek (GREEN).
[The Appalachian Trail bears left and also leads to Sunfish Pond – and is the return route.]
Cross Dunnfield Creek on a large wooden bridge.
Dunnfield Falls and a few nice water cascades are nearby. A wider view of the falls area during lower water flow, and the falls with more flow:
/// Shorter 1.2 mile hike: Turn around here and retrace the route. ///
0.7 – Continue following Dunnfield Creek (GREEN). Pass the start of the BLUE DOT trail on the right.
1.0 – Continue following Dunnfield Creek (GREEN) where it veers right up a series of stone steps.
1.8 – Pass Holly Springs trail on the left.
Keep an eye out for the GREEN markers which can be sometimes hard to spot. They will also indicate where to cross Dunnfield Creek multiple times.
Just a few of the crossings are shown here. They may appear different depending on water level and the amount of rocks or logs. Crossing at high water may be tricky.
3.3 – Dunnfield Creek (GREEN) starts to turn away from the creek.
3.7 – Dunnfield Creek (GREEN) starts heading uphill, a little steeply and over some rock slabs, then heads downhill as it nears the pond.
4.0 – Dunnfield Creek (GREEN) meets up with the Sunfish Fire Road.
Veer LEFT to continue on Dunnfield Creek (GREEN) where it ends at the Appalachian Trail (WHITE) in an area with a plaque and sign.
Turn RIGHT towards Sunfish Pond where there is small open area with a view of the pond and a wooden bench.
If this is crowded (good possibility) try heading around the left/north side of the pond a bit on the very rocky Appalachian Trail (WHITE) to find a spot.
The Sunfish Fire Road around the right/south side veers away from the pond so it doesn’t offer any break spots at the water’s edge unless you go up to Buckwood (BLUE).
**See below for an optional add-on loop from this point that uses Buckwood (BLUE) to go around Sunfish Pond.**
When ready to head back from Sunfish Pond head south on the Appalachian Trail (WHITE), away from the pond.
4.7 – Continue following Appalachian Trail (WHITE) as it veers left past Douglas (BLUE) near a trail kiosk. [An outhouse may be available at the backpacker campsite.]
The Appalachian Trail is very rocky and for one brief point becomes a sheer rock face.
6.3 – Continue following Appalachian Trail (WHITE). [Holly Springs (RED) and Beulahland (YELLOW) cross the trail].
7.4 – Continue following the Appalachian Trail (WHITE) as it passes the start of Dunnfield Creek (GREEN) on the left.
Retrace the route from earlier on the Appalachian Trail (WHITE) back to the parking lot.
**Optional add-on loop**
Sunfish Fire Road/Buckwood (BLUE)/Appalachian Trail: Adding a loop around the pond will make the hike 9.5 miles total.
Return back to the Sunfish Fire Road that was passed on Dunnfield Creek (Green) just before the pond.
Follow the Sunfish Fire Road north for about .6 miles until Buckwood (BLUE) starts on the left (there is a small pile of rocks).
Sunfish Pond from Buckwood (BLUE):
Follow Buckwood (BLUE) to the edge of Sunfish Pond, where there are large rock slabs to sit on and enjoy views over the pond.
Continue on Buckwood (BLUE) around the pond until it meets the Appalachian Trail (WHITE). Turn LEFT to now follow the Appalachian Trail and meet-up with the main directions above.
—
Hiked: 8/31/20. Dunnfield + AT loop.
Hiked: 6/7/15. Dunnfield + AT loop.
Hiked: 5/9/11. Trail Blog: “Dunnfield Creek – Sunfish Pond – AT”
Hiked: 8/31/08. Trail Blog: “Gap – Garvey Springs to AT North – out and back“
Hiked: 5/11/08. Dunnfield + AT loop.
Hiked: 5/12/07. Trail Blog: “Gap – Sunfish and Beyond“.
Hiked: 9/3/06. Trail Blog: “Garvey Springs to Sunfish then out-and-back north on AT“.
Hiked: 6/11/06. No GPX, trail log entry only Gap – Sunfish Pond.
Updated: 9/2020 – Re-hiked, description adjustments, photos added. 7/2020 – Page refreshed, not re-hiked. 8/2016 – Added GPX file for the Dunnfield – AT route.