Hello Yelp World! This is my first review, not for a restaurant, but for this spectacular hike up…read moreMount Tammany at Worthington State Forest. So I've picked up hiking the last few years because not only is it great exercise and you get to enjoy awesome views but it's free, unless you count the cost of getting there.
My first attempt at hiking here was denied several weeks ago when I came on a Sunday at 10am, huge mistake! Because of the pandemic, only the Kittatinny Point Visitor Center lot is open, and by this time on a weekend the parking lot was packed to the gills. So do yourself a favor and either avoid coming here late, or not come at all on a weekend, otherwise the park ranger will turn you away if the lot is full.
Today I got here at 9am. Score!!! Only a half-dozen cars were parked here on this Monday morning. Follow the signs to the beginning of the red dot trail, which is located on the west side of Route 80, to begin this challenging hike. There are other trails at Mount Tammany but the red-blue trail seems to most popular. Be warned, the trail is quite steep and will involve a lot of rock scrambles. I will admit my teenage son was flying up the mountain while I was taking it slow and gasping for air, haha!
So if you haven't twisted an ankle or got bit by a rattlesnake or copperhead - yes, there is a signpost warning about the snakes, but I didn't see any - you will come upon two overlooks with beautiful views of Mt. Minsi and the Delaware Water Gap. The first viewpoint is about three-quarters of the way up the red trail and the other one is at the summit. You should definitely scramble down the rocks a bit if you're comfortable with it to get much better vistas.
After taking in the views and catching your breath you will continue along the red dot trail which will connect you with the blue dot trail. Follow the blue trail to descend the mountain. While not as steep coming down, there are still lots of loose rocks that you need to be wary of.
As you near the end of your hike on the blue dot trail, you are rewarded once again with a beautiful little waterfall. Hikers were wading in the stream here to cool off, but I took a pass. Once you've finished taking your pictures here, cross the bridge and continue on the white trail, which is actually part of the Appalachian Trail, and you will end up back at the beginning of the red dot trail where you began. You can now go back under the underpass to head back to your car at the visitor center.