New Jersey is the most densely populated and most urbanized state in America, yet it has some surprisingly wild out-of-the-way places. Sunfish Pond is a pristine mountaintop natural lake which was carved out by glaciers during the last ice age, 10,000 years ago. The Sunfish Pond Natural Area is a 258 acre protected section of the 6,421 acre Worthington State Forest, spread over the Kittatinny Mountains in the northwestern corner of the state.
I fell in love with Sunfish Pond at first sight when I hiked the 3.5 miles up the Kittinany Ridge to the site via the Appalachian Trail, from the trail crossing in the Delaware Water Gap, on the New Jersey/Pennsylvania border. This is a very popular hike, but you should be aware that there is an elevation gain of 1,150 feet and and parts of the trail are rough. Allow at least 3 to 4 hours for the round trip. No fishing is allow in the pond, and camping is not permitted on its shores, however a very pretty 1/2 mile trail circles the lake and a backcountry camping area is just 1/4 mile south along the trail. I was surprised to learn that this corner of northwest New Jersey is a habitat for Black Bears also bobcat are occasionally seen. When I was there in spring the wildflowers were glorious.
