Worthington State Forest stretches across 6,421 acres along the New Jersey side of the Delaware Water Gap, straddling Hardwick and Knowlton Townships in Warren County. Established in 1954, this rugged preserve occupies some of the most dramatic terrain in the Garden State — where the Kittatinny Ridge drops sharply to meet the Delaware River far below.

The marquee experience here is the Appalachian Trail, which crosses directly through the forest and delivers the famous Sunfish Pond, a glacial lake perched at 1,380 feet elevation. The 10-mile round-trip hike to Sunfish Pond ranks among the most rewarding day hikes in the mid-Atlantic, offering rocky scrambles, hemlock groves, and a pristine mountain lake with no development in sight. Beyond the AT, a network of trails — including Dunnfield Creek Trail and Holly Springs Trail — wind through old-growth hemlock ravines and hardwood forests rich with mountain laurel.

Fishing along the Delaware River draws anglers for smallmouth bass and shad runs in spring. Hunting is permitted in season across much of the forest. The terrain suits experienced hikers best, though Dunnfield Creek Trail offers a gentler, family-friendly option along a cascading stream.

Fall foliage season, typically mid-October, transforms the Kittatinny Ridge into one of New Jersey’s most spectacular color displays. Spring wildflower blooms along the creek trails are equally worth the trip.

Worthington delivers a surprisingly wild experience for a state just minutes from Interstate 80 — real backcountry character without crossing state lines.

Explore Nearby

• New Jersey State Highway Routes — Scenic Byway in New Jersey
• Marble Mountain Rock Collecting Area (Trilobite) — Public Land
• Little Gap Covered Bridge — Covered Bridge in Pennsylvania
• Kreidersville Covered Bridge — Covered Bridge in Pennsylvania
• US Highway 278 — Scenic Byway in South Carolina