Not far off US Route 206 in Branchville, you’ll find Sunrise Mountain on the Kittatinny Mountain range; a part of Stokes State Forest, the mountain is also a central point on the Appalachian Trail. Sure, you can drive straight up to the viewpoint and then head back home. But what fun is that? Instead, you can enjoy one of The Best NJ Hiking Trails to get there.
In fact, Stokes State Forest offers a number of hiking trails leading towards Sunrise Mountain. Excluding the lot right on Sunrise Mountain, there are at least another dozen parking lots you can start from. For example, there is one lot farther south on the Appalachian Trail, just north of Kittatinny Lake off 206. This is one of the easier paths to follow, simply head north; whenever you come to a fork, just avoid turning left and you’ll be fine.
More from Best of NJ
One Sunrise Mountain. Many Ways To Get There
There are also several places to park off the Blue Mountain Trail. The southern-most portion of this trail nearly touches 206; it is across the highway from Kittatinny Lake. This trail is a 17-mile loop that passes the Shotwell, Haskin’s Group, and Steam Mill camping areas; as well as the NJ School of Conservation near Lake Wapalanne. It also leads you to the Deck Howell Dam and Sawmill Site at the northern-most point of the trail. To reach Sunrise Mountain, however, you’ll need to take the very short Blue Mountain Connector trail. Follow this path south (turn right on the trail), and you’ll come up to Sunrise Mountain rather quickly.
But of all the options, the most popular place to start is the Stony Lake Day Use Area. Stony Lake is one of two picnic areas at Stokes State Forest. (The other is Kittle Field.) There is ample parking in Stony Lake lot off Coursen Road, albeit with fees from Memorial Weekend through Labor Day. If you park in this lot, you’ll be sitting just north of Stony Lake, a fun day trip by itself. From here, you have a number of general hiking options; farthest northwest is the Stony Brook Trail (brown), and farthest east is the Coursen Trail (dark blue).
But to get to Sunrise Mountain, you can ignore these two trails and instead follow the Tower Trail (green); though it is not a direct route to Sunrise Mountain, it does lead to the Appalachian Trail. (Which is where you want to be.) This is one of the longer routes to Sunrise Mountain, but also includes a bonus stop at Culvers Lookout Tower.
A Tale of Two Trails
There are two particularly great hiking trails leading from Stony Lake. One is the Blue Mountain Trail, as mentioned earlier. The other is Swenson Trail (red). Swenson Trail follows along the west side of the Blue Mountain Trail. After a few miles, it branches out away from Sunrise Mountain. At this point, you can either follow the Blue Mountain Trail right or take the Swenson Trail.
If you choose the latter, you’ll be led out to Crigger Road. While I don’t advise hiking roads actively trekked by motorized vehicles, this one is a viable option; you can safely hike along the side of the road underneath the lush forest; but stay vigilant of passing cars. Follow Crigger Road east (right) until you link up with the Blue Mountain Connector. Then follow the Blue Mountain Trail to your right; turn left onto the next Blue Mountain Connector, and then a quick right onto the Appalachian Trail. Sunrise Mountain will be a quick hike down this trail.
Things to Keep in Mind
If you’re coming to Stokes State Forest just to hike Sunrise Mountain, you should try to stay north of 206. There are some lengthy trails with lovely scenic views south of 206; however, only the Appalachian Trail will take you towards the overlook, and that’s a long journey.
Most of these hiking trails are flat and fit for beginners. But as always, you must watch your step; look out for small rocks, and step carefully when crossing over any streams. As you approach Sunrise Mountain and its parking lot, there is also a bit of an incline. These trails will not require hiking shoes, though of course they make hiking easier. No matter which trail you take, you’ll end up with a stunning view and a sense of satisfaction.
Click here for more of The Best NJ Hiking Trails.
All Photos: © Patrick Lombardi / Best of NJ
