Hiking: Worthington State Forest

HIKING: Worthington State Forest

FEATURES: This loop hike follows the cascading Dunnfield Creek and returns on the Appalachian Trail.

LENGTH: About 3.6 miles

DIFFICULTY: Moderate

TIME: About two and one-half hours

MAP: New York-New Jersey Trail Conference Kittatinny Trails Map #120

DOGS: Permitted on leash

HOW TO GET THERE: Take I-80 west toward the Delaware Water Gap. Immediately beyond milepost 1, take the exit for "Dunnfield Creek/Appalachian Trail" and bear left at the fork. Continue past the underpass on the left and turn right into a parking area at signs with "P" and "hiker" symbols. (If you miss the exit from Route 80, take Exit 1, turn left at the end of the ramp, and continue on the service road parallel to Route 80 past the visitor center. Turn left at the underpass, go under Route 80, turn left again, and turn right at signs with "P" and "hiker" symbols.)

At the northwest corner of the parking area, you'll notice a sign for the Appalachian Trail. Proceed into the woods on this white-blazed trail, which soon crosses Dunnfield Creek on a steel bridge with a wooden deck. The trail bears right and begins to ascend parallel to the creek on a wide path, with the cascading creek, studded with rhododendrons, below on the right.

In about half a mile, you'll reach a fork. The white-blazed Appalachian Trail bears left, but you should take the right fork, now following the green-blazed Dunnfield Creek Trail and the blue-blazed Blue Dot Trail along the creek. A short distance ahead, the trails cross the creek on a wooden footbridge. On the other side of the creek, a short unmarked path leads along the creek to the base of Dunnfield Falls – an attractive waterfall. You may wish to take a short detour to these falls, a good place for a break.