I dare say Blacks Pond is the closest body of water to the Appalachian Trail along its entire route.  My thinking is this, the A.T. passes along a low earthen dam which is literally on the trail.  This is an interesting physical area.  You have a dam holding back the pond not for a better water amount, BUT, to keep water off the trail, otherwise, this natural spillway area would always be really wet!!  The dam literally tries to keep the trail somewhat dry (NOTE: if it is a dry spell the trail is okay BUT, in normal conditions, even with the dam, you sometimes have to jump onto the dry spots.  You ask, “Why not just go further away from the dam?”  In most places that would be a solution, HOWEVER, at this spillway area, the spillway is extremely steep and drops about 70 feet down!! 

OBSERVATION:  I guess a hiker on the Appalachian Trail here would be safe in saying I walked on water by Blacks Pond! 

CHARLIE SAYS, “KEEP THIS TRIP IN MIND!!!”  This is really quite a nice visit!!   A short visit with some beautiful panoramas looking off to the east and some really nice views of the ROCKS. I know that sounds a little unusual, but trust me, your views of the rock ridges and shelves along with a deep glacier gouged pond, all atop a high ridge … well it is special!!  Who knows, you might see some through hikers!!  Just a fun hike. 

The entire length of the Kittatinny Mountain Range here is rocky!!  This short and level hike (a little less than a mile round trip if you just go to the pond’s dam) will give even a non-hiker a close-up view of this rugged terrain!  You will be traveling through Rhododendrons, so there is always some color on your trip.  Parking areas’ off Millbrook Road, where the A.T. crosses provide an easy access. 

REMEMBER, if you take this trip, you can say you hiked the World Famous Appalachian Trail!!!

Please visit my Flickr site for more trips and photos to Blacks Pond

Enjoy Your Open Space

Charlie Fineran

Director Open Space
Allamuchy Township Environmental Commission – Chairman
Allamuchy Historical Society – President