A thru-hiker logging nearly 30 miles in a single day around Worthington State Forest has delivered a glowing verdict on a stretch of the Appalachian Trail most people write off: New Jersey. The Trek writer, who is attempting to hike the trail twice in one year, woke before dawn on 3 November 2026 to a deer snorting at his tent at 4AM, then watched a cloud layer ignite into flame-orange as the sun rose over the Kittatinny Ridge — all without leaving his sleeping bag.
The standout moment came at Raccoon Ridge, an open peak with full 360-degree panoramas. From the summit, the trail looks east toward the Hudson Valley and west over the Delaware River into Pennsylvania, with the slopes below glowing brick red and mustard yellow in autumn colour. As the sun broke through, fog rolled up out of the valley below. The hiker admits spectacular Jersey views weren't on his bingo card, and now names New Jersey the state that most exceeded his expectations on the entire trail.
The route also delivered quieter pleasures. Smooth, highland-style miles passed the Yards Creek Reservoir and the eastern end of Mount Tammany, where a white-tailed deer bounded down the path ahead of him like a runaway trail blaze. At Dunnfield Creek, day hikers were out in force despite it being election day, and a lunchtime detour along the southern shore of Sunfish Pond offered a fresh angle and a viewpoint across the water.
Further north, he passed the Mohican Outdoor Center, run by the Appalachian Mountain Club — a useful base for anyone exploring the area — and found potable water right on the trail, welcome after nearly 20 miles. The parallel Rattlesnake Swamp Trail, which he took back toward Millbrook Road, hosted a youth expedition group from Philadelphia on their first-ever backpacking trip. His day closed with a beaver pond, fading daylight (a hard 5PM cutoff in early November), and a well-earned dinner across the Delaware in Pennsylvania.
For holidaymakers, the takeaway is simple: this section punches well above its weight. It's an easy weekend trip from New York or Philadelphia, with a mix of ridge-top vistas, lake scenery and creek walks that suits both day hikers and backpackers. Late October into early November brings peak foliage, crisp nights around the low 40s Fahrenheit, and thin crowds — just plan around the short days. If a long-distance hiker can be won over by New Jersey's trail miles, a weekend visitor almost certainly will be.
