Basic Information
AllTrails link to Mount Tammany and Sunfish Pond Loop Hike
Date of trip: 12/03/2021
Difficulty level: hard
Distance: 10.9 mile loop
Elevation gain: 2,260 feet
Location: NJ side of the Delaware Water Gap, Knowlton Township, Warren County
Where we stayed overnight on our two-day trip: Motel in Stroudsburg, PA (stay tuned for Day 2 of our hiking adventure)
History
The Delaware Water Gap borders NJ and PA. It is the place where the Delaware River cuts through the Appalachian Mountains. The first town was founded in 1793 by Antoine Dutot. It was one of the largest US resorts, visited by the upper classes of Philadelphia and NY, until it was destroyed by a fire. Sadly, it was never restored. Today, it serves as a favorite destination for hikers, bikers, boaters, swimmers, and picnickers.
Mount Tammany is the southernmost peak of the Kittatiny Mountains. It was named after the Lenni Lenape chief Tamanend who is best known as a lover of piece and friendship. The Lenni Lenape are an indigenous people who historically lived in the region.
Sunfish Pond is a 44-acre glacial lake in Worthington State Forest near the summit of Mount Tammany. It is considered one of the seven natural wonders of New Jersey. Due to its naturally high acidic composition, only a few species of marine life can survive in the lake.
Our Impressions
After a first failed attempt a year and a half ago due to the holiday crowding, we finally made it to this hike. Although there are no crazy rock scrambles on this hike, its length made it quite challenging.
We did this hike in the winter, which had its pluses and minuses. On the plus side, there was barely any human traffic and the naked trees allowed us to enjoy gorgeous views throughout the hike, which would have been obstructed by leaves in the warmer seasons. On the minus side, it was quite cold and and the limited day-light hours prevented us from enjoying the hike and pond at a slower and more comfortable pace. Pick your poison or, better yet, try it in both cold and warmer seasons.
Happy hiking!
Post Script
If you have some extra time, make sure to check out the Village Farmer and Bakery. It has a lot of homemade deliciousness – jams, nut butters, chocolates, cookies, pastries, pies and much more!
We stayed overnight and hiked the PA side of the Delaware Water Gap the next day, which you will see in the coming post.
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