Charlie Fineran’s Photo of the Week is a view of Sunfish Pond, looking south, from the Appalachian Trail, as the trail winds its way through the shrubs adjacent to the west shoreline.

Sunfish Pond is a beautiful, 41 acre glacial pond, atop Mount Tammany in Worthington State Forest, which is all within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.  Notice the familiar WHITE, horizontal blaze on the tree, advising visitors this is the Appalachian Trail and guiding hikers through this beautiful rugged rocky terrain.  The Pond has a natural acidic composition, only a few hardy species of fish, such as pumpkinseed Sunfish and Yellow Perch can survive in it.

This Site is one of the most popular hiking destinations in New Jersey and the entire region!  It may be accessed by many different trails, including the world famous, Appalachian Trail, which all converging at the pond, thus a visitor, may make many visits, BUT, always covering new territory going to and fro.

‘Hike through some of the prettiest forest in New Jersey to a glacial lake 1,000 feet above the surrounding area’, this description was taken from a popular hiking book and take it from me, this says it all!  Keep one thing in mind, this is a pretty long hike, no matter how you go, it is an uphill hike and it is a rocky hike!!  The Appalachian Trail is probably the rockiest!!  Definitely not a beginners hike!!  Have good hiking boots or walking shoes!!

At the southeast corner of the pond along the AT there is a plaque that reads:

‘Sunfish Pond has been designated a registered Natural Landmark.  This site possesses exceptional value in illustrating the Natural History of the United States.  U.S. Department of the Interior – National Park Service – 1970’

Did you know – Sunfish Pond is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of New Jersey.  Did a little research and here are the others: Great Falls of the Passaic in Paterson – Delaware Water Gap – Tripod Rock in Boonton – Sandy Hook at the Jersey Shore – The Palisades along the Hudson River & The Pine Barrens of south Jersey.

Our photo visit is a trip around the pond beginning where Garvey Springs Trail meets the Appalachian Trail near the NW corner of the pond.  We will follow the Appalachian Trail south along the ponds west and southern shores and then head back up along the eastern side of the pond following a fire road then go across the north side of the pond on the blue trail.

Please visit my Flickr Site for photo tour – https://www.flickr.com/photos/charliefineran/albums/72157649030627036

Enjoy Your Open Space, Charlie Fineran