Looking for a new relationship? Well, how about you and Northwest New Jersey; Perfect Together? The landscape is frigid and quiet, yet stunningly attractive. Somebody's got to take some action here. If you don't do it, somebody else will!
Paulinskill Vallley Trail vets like to hike the entire 30-mile length of the trail in one day, in the wintertime. The Paulinskill Valley Trail Committee lobbied for its creation, and promotes the use of that 30-mile stretch of former railroad bed running from Stillwater, in Sussex County, to the Delaware River at Columbia, in Warren County. Long hikes along the 20-mile Sussex Branch Trail offer a more modest yet equally rewarding adventure for intrepid hikers.
The Paulinskill Valley Trail and the Sussex Branch Trail are relatively
easy walking mostly flat, and mostly cinder and dirt, because
they lie along old railroad rights of way. The trails are administered
by Kittatinny Valley State Park. Because the rail trails pass over
many roads and go through many towns, a hiker on a rail trail is never
too far from civilization. Check here for information from the Paulinskill Valley Trail Committee.
There are many shorter hikes available, of course, for all levels of skill and endurance, and for most of them there's no need to make an appointment. The Farney Highlands runs from the Rockaway Valley, over Wildcat Ridge, and finishes near Newfoundland in Morris County. The Appalachian Trail enters New Jersey at the Delaware Water Gap, near Columbia in Warren County, runs north along the Kittatinny Ridge to High Point in the northwest corner of Sussex County, and then runs parallel to the New York border to Greenwood Lake in Passaic County before crossing the line into New York for good. Such hikes are wilderness hikes, and require careful preparation and some specialized clothing and equipment, even if the hiker is just out for a day.
In the end, the lure of the Skylands in winter is the promise of a new view of the world.
The area's state and federal parks and forests are full of relatively unexplored trails. Consider the Cushetunk, Pine Tree, and Hike-and-Bike trails in the Round Valley Recreation Area, near Clinton in Hunterdon County. The Cushetunk Trail runs around the Round Valley Reservoir and, while not as wild or challenging as the Appalachian Trail, is more challenging than the rail trails. It's a beautiful trail about nine miles long around the reservoir, used for hiking, mountain-biking and horseback riding most of the year, but less frequently the winter. Cross-country skiers and snowshoers usually use the Pine Tree and Hike-and-Bike trails, which are flatter and shorter, nice for the younger kids. Local people often come to the trails to walk their dogs.
At Worthington State Forest, along the Delaware River in Warren County, there is an easy roadway walk along the river that starts near the ranger station and follows the river south toward the forest's boundary with the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Somewhat more challenging hiking is available at the northern end of the forest, where several trails lead up toward the Appalachian Trail.
In the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, under the stewardship of the National Park Service, the Dunnfield Creek Trail and the Appalachian Trail remain accessible to day hikers in winter. The Mt. Tammany Trail, however, challenging even in fair weather, is considered too risky for casual winter hikers.
If you're interested in going out with a tent and a sleeping bag, the trails in the state and federal parks have sites available for the hardy and determined camper. If you're just looking for a quiet spell in the woods with some modern amenities, some state parks and private campgrounds are alternatives to consider.
Jenny Jump State Forest, in Warren County, also permits winter camping in what the New Jersey Division of Forestry describes as "shelters". These are structures with four walls and a roof, but no heat, no water, and no showers. They do have wood stoves, and campers can purchase firewood at the ranger station.
Along the Appalachian Trail, in federal territory (the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area), camping is permitted year-round within 100 feet of the trail. But it's catch-as-catch can camping, with little or nothing in the way of facilities. Worthington State Forest has a single backpacking campsite intended for AT hikers.
There's plenty of wildlife to be seen in the Northwest Jersey winter. Come down off the ridge in the Delaware National Recreation Area, and linger along the river in where bald eagles winter along the Delaware River. Hikers in the area may also encounter a bear or two. Females stay denned up, because they often have young, but males come out of their dens and walk around if there's a warm spell."
Fox and bobcat are still busy in the wintertime; cardinals can be seen easily against snow. Coyotes are as elusive as ever, but easier to see in winter's diminished vegetation.
In the end, the lure of the Skylands in winter is the promise of a new view of the world. The reward (of winter hiking and camping) is seeing a world that a lot of people don't see. Seeing that in the middle of winter there are a lot of animals moving around in the woods. Seeing that the pine trees are glazed. It's not a big adrenaline rush, but it's very rewarding. A lot of people are turned off because they think they're going to be cold all the time. A pleasure is being out there and not being cold all the time, realizing that you can be perfectly comfortable if it's 10 degrees below zero.
