Great Waters Hike: Stokes State Forest

Join us for an exciting and feature-packed hike at Stokes State Forest on Saturday, March 18, 2023. We will be hiking a moderate 7.5-mile section of the upper Blue Mountain Loop, Appalachian Trail, and trails at the New Jersey School of Conservation (NJSOC). Most of the trail is level and flat, but there are some rocky and steeper sections. There may be mud and slippery rocks depending on the recent weather. This hike highlights the stunning beauty and diversity of New Jersey’s native forests in the Ridge-and-Valley region of the Appalachian Mountains, and the outstanding scenic quality of the Great Waters region. For much of our hike we will follow the Blue Mountain Loop as it winds its way along the lush, moss-covered rocky banks and wetlands of the renowned Big Flat Brook and deep, dark stands of hemlock forest. We will take a detour off the Blue Mountain Loop to visit one of New Jersey's most iconic vistas at Sunrise Mountain, where we will eat lunch. The hike finishes with a traverse of the boulder-strewn spine of the easternmost ridge of the Appalachian Mountains, where we will walk through unique pitch pine forests filled with remnants of the last glacial age. Prior to our hike, Tanya Sulikowksi, Director of Education at the New Jersey School of Conservation will be giving a short program on the School’s work, and on the water quality and ecology of the Big Flat Brook. We will meet at 10:00am in the parking area at the New Jersey School of Conservation, located at 1 Wapalanne Rd, Sandyston, NJ 07826. The GPS coordinates for the lot itself is:  41.228130, -74.752178. NOTE: The only way to get to the New Jersey School of Conservation from Route 206 is via Flatbrook Road. Access via Deckertown Turnpike/Route 650 is closed during the winter. Please be prepared for this longer hike by bringing a lunch, water and The 10 Hiking Essentials (more info at https://www.nynjtc.org/content/first-aid-kits). Space is limited and registration is required. When filling out the form, please only register one person at a time. Learn more about the Great Waters NJ initiative: www.greatwatersnj.org For questions or to be placed on the wait list for this hike please message dylan@njhighlandscoalition.org.