Appalachian Trail to Wawayanda State Park

Appalachian Trail National Scenic Area /
Wawayanda State Park
Sussex and Passaic Counties.,
New Jersey

Hiking Trails:
Appalachian Trail (AT): White blaze
William Hoeferlin Trail: Blue blaze

Total Time: 2:05 hour
Estimated Distance: 4.4 Miles

Pros: Very quiet and remote area
Cons: No good mountain views
Hike Type: In and out same route with slight lollipop
Level of Difficulty: Easy

Google Maps of Parking:
https://goo.gl/maps/ecAQv48ybEx3Po9d9

Now on my westernmost portion of the Appalachian Trail in my region, this hike connected the Bearfort Mountain area with Wawayanda State Park on the Appalachian. It had just rained hard on the morning, and was cloudy, windy, and unseasonably cold. However, despite the prediction of rain until later in the day, the rain pulled out in the morning and my hike was entirely dry, so I couldn't really complain about the weather.

The first part of the hike connected Longhouse Road, near Upper Greenwood Lake, to Warwick Turnpike. This is a very sparsely traversed trail, and full of boardwalks crossing swampy areas and streams. With the very wet terrain and sprouting greens, it felt a bit like I was hiking through the rainforest. I captured many of the short boardwalk hikes in the pictures below.

I parked on Longhouse Road, and took the Appalachian Train westward, and then crossed Warwick Turnpike. After crossing the road, I passed the outlet of Parker Lake, a small, natural, beaver-dammed lake that is very scenic. I then took the William Hoeferlin Trail for a short distance, then bushwacked briefly to the shelter. I then took the short Shelter Connector Trail back to the Appalachian Trail, and then took the William Hoeferlin Trail south to the park entrance area. I then turned back around on the William Hoeferlin Trail, took the short connector trail to the Appalachian Trail, and then took that trail back along the same route that I came from.

Map of the Route

Longhouse Road at the Roadside Trail Parking

AT at the beginning of the hike

The First Boardwalk and Stream Crossing

Next Pair of Boardwalks Through a Wet Marshy Area

Crossing the Stream

Trail Bridge on the AT

Another View of the Bridge with the Vivid Greenery

Another Boardwalk

AT with Sprouting Greenery

The Longest Boardwalk, Approaching Warwick Turnpike

Through the Swamp Approaching Warwick Turnpike

AT after Warwick Turnpike Crossing

Blooming Forsythias on the AT

Another Forsythia

Dam at Parker Lake

Parker Lake from the AT

Another View of Parker Lake

Trail Bridge at the Outlet of Parker Lake

Me at Parker Lake

Beaver Dam at Parker Lake

Me at the Parker Lake Outlet

Intersection of the AT and Hoeferlin Trail

Hoeferlin Trail Marker

Hiking Shelter

A Single Daffodil Near the Shelter

Sign on the Outhouse Near the Shelter

Hoeferlin Trail Trailhead Sign

Canopus Lake North and AT Spring Hike

Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park
Putnam Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Pelton Pond Trail: Yellow blaze
Blue Snowshoe Trail: Blue blaze
Appalachian Way Trail: Red blaze
Appalachian Trail: White blaze

Total Time: 2:10 hour
Estimated Distance: 4.1 Miles

Pros: Quiet area with scenic lakes, pretty scenery, and great views
Cons: Lake crossing is difficult

Hike Type: Loop
Level of Difficulty: Slightly difficult

Hiking Partner:
Shimmy Rosenberg

Google Maps of Parking:
https://goo.gl/maps/tYM7tWhZvpUGyCfm9

It's been a long time since I hiked with Shimmy Rosenberg. He was stuck overseas for a good amount of time during the Corona period, and it was great having him back and hiking again with him. This hike was in the northernmost stretch of Fahnestock State Park, and was my northern-most extension of the Appalachian Trail in the area. The weather was a bit chilly for spring, but it warmed up nicely with a bright sunny sky. I started off the hike with a jacket, but shed it for short sleeves in the middle of the hike.

We tried parking in the Winter Park area, near the Canopus Lake Beach. However, the gate to enter was closed, so we parked at Pelton Pond instead. We walked north for a short distance on the Pelton Pond Trail, and then took the Blue Snowshoe Trail, crossing over route 301, and then took the Appalachian Way Trail (another snowshoe trail.) We then joined the Appalachian Trail, heading back south but climbing the ridge. We reached the first view which faces north towards the Catskill Mountains (which were quite viewable on this clear day.) A short distance later, we reached the second view, overlooking the Lake and beach. This view is quite memorable and very scenic.

We then bent around and descended the mountain on the Appalachian Trail, and then continued on the Appalachian on the the ridge above the western side of Canopus Lake. Towards the middle of the lake, we bushwacked down to the causeway above the lake and crossed the lake at it's midsection. We then too the unmarked wide trail up the hill to Route 301 at Pelton Pond, where our car was parked.

Map of the Route

Pelton Pond Overlook at the Beginning of the Hike

Me at the Pelton Pond Overlook

Large Solar Farm at the Snowshoe Area

Bridge Crossing a Brook 

Lush Greenery and Flowers at the Brook

View from the Small Bridge

Terminus of the Blue Trail at the Appalachian Trail

Trail Markers at the Appalachian Trail Intersection with the Blue Trail

More Informational Markings at the Trail Intersection

A Large Black Rat Snake at the Above Intersection

First View on the Appalachian Trail, Facing North

Zoomed in at the Above Viewpoint, with the Catskill Mountains in the Distance

Me at the Above Viewpoint

Shimmy Rosenberg at the Above Viewpoint

Canopus Lake Viewpoint at the Appalachian Trail

Another View at the Canopus Lake Viewpoint

Canopus Lake Beach from the Canopus Lake Viewpoint

Budding Trees at the Canopus Lake Viewpoint

Me at the Canopus Lake Viewpoint, Overlooking the Beach

Me at Canopus Lake Viewpoint

Shimmy at the Canopus Lake Viewpoint

View Descending the Canopus Lake Viewpoint

Shimmy Descending the Canopus Lake Viewpoint

Our Second Black Rat Snake of the Day, Near the Canopus Lake Viewpoint

Shimmy Descending the Mountain from the Canopus Lake Viewpoint

Hollowed Tree along the Appalachian Trail

Appalachian Trail Trail Intersection

View of Lake Canopus from the Middle of the Lake

Lake Canopus from the Causeway

Fisherman in Boats at the Canopus Lake Causeway

View from the  Canopus Lake Causeway, Facing South

 Island at the Canopus Lake Causeway, Facing North

Boaters at Canopus Lake

View of the Canopus Lake View and Beach from the Causeway