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