Worthington State Forest

By America's State Parks Editorial TeamFebruary 5, 2026 · Updated October 8, 2026

Worthington State Forest is a state forest in New Jersey near Columbia in Warren County. It is the New Jersey side of the Delaware Water Gap, stacked along seven miles of the Kittatinny Ridge.

Quick Facts

Location & Getting There

Worthington State Forest is located near Columbia, New Jersey. The park’s coordinates are 41.0833, -75.0667.

Things to Do

Worthington is the New Jersey side of the Delaware Water Gap, 6,660 acres stacked along seven miles of the Kittatinny Ridge, and its two headline hikes leave from the same trailhead at the Dunnfield Creek Natural Area. Mount Tammany is the short, steep one: the state’s Mount Tammany Trail (red and white blazes) gains 1,200 feet in 1.5 miles to the 1,527-foot summit and its 360-degree view over the Gap; most people climb it and descend the moderate 1.4-mile Pahaquarry Trail (light blue, formerly the Blue Dot) for a roughly 3-mile loop. Sunfish Pond is the long one: 3.4 miles up the Dunnfield Creek Trail through hemlock and birch alongside a wild brook-trout stream to a 41-acre glacial lake on the ridgetop — one of New Jersey’s “Seven Natural Wonders” since 1978, ringed by a 1.5-mile loop, and off-limits to swimming like every water in the forest.

The Appalachian Trail runs 6.6 miles through the forest along the ridge, with exactly one backpacker site (at the Douglas Trail junction, one night, first come, bear boxes provided). Down on the river, a boat launch at the forest office opens a 5-mile canoe and kayak trail, rentals run when available, and the spring shad run is the event of the year — campsites 1–4 are set aside for anglers’ parking during it. Ten blazed trails total about 26 miles; mountain bikes are banned from all of them, and bikes are allowed only on Old Mine Road.

Best Time to Visit

The campground season runs April 1 through December 15, which makes fall the sweet spot — foliage on the ridge, cool climbing weather on Tammany, and shad season long past. Summer weekends come with one firm warning from the National Park Service: the Dunnfield Creek trailhead lot “fills quickly,” so arrive early or hike midweek. One quirk to plan for: the forest’s remote location means frequent power outages, during which the flush toilets and showers close and composting toilets take over — the office notifies campers with reservations.

Visitor Tips

Entry is free, and the campground is basic on purpose: 78 tent and trailer sites along two miles of Delaware River frontage (sites 1–23 tents only), with showers and flush toilets but no hookups of any kind. Rates are New Jersey’s statewide $20 a night for residents and $25 for non-residents ($2 off for seniors 62+); three group sites hold 35 people each. Reservations are online only at camping.nj.gov, up to 11 months ahead, $5 transaction fee. Two rules catch people out: no pets in the campground (service animals excepted — dogs are fine on the trails on a 6-foot leash), and no alcohol anywhere in the forest — as of September 2026.

Take I-80 West to Exit 1 and Old Mine Road; the forest office is 3 miles north at 2 Old Mine Road, Columbia (908-841-9575). The forest sits at the southern end of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, which is a separate National Park Service unit — the Pennsylvania side of the Gap and the river corridor north of here run on NPS rules, not New Jersey’s.

Fees, seasons and trail details verified against dep.nj.gov (page dated July 15, 2026) on September 2, 2026. Conditions change — confirm before you travel.

Explore More New Jersey State Parks

Looking for state parks in New Jersey? Discover them in our Best State Parks in New Jersey guide, or use our Park Finder to search by activity, location, or features.

Wildlife & Nature

Worthington SF — 6,574 acres along the Delaware Water Gap — includes the Appalachian Trail’s most spectacular section in New Jersey, climbing Sunfish Pond — a glacial lake at 1,382 feet (one of the southernmost glacial lakes on the Appalachian Trail). Black bears, timber rattlesnakes, and porcupines inhabit the ridgeline. Bald eagles soar over the Delaware River below.

Nearby Attractions

Delaware Water Gap NRA — surrounding. Stokes SF — 20 miles north. Columbia — adjacent. Pocono Mountains, PA — across the river.

Nearby parks: If you have extra time, Swartswood State Park is a short drive away, and Jenny Jump State Forest is a short drive away.

About the Author

America's State Parks Editorial Team

America's State Parks is an independent online guide to state parks and other public lands in the United States. Our editorial team compiles park profiles from official agency and operator sources and other identified references, and follows our published editorial policy and review methodology. Where a profile shows a source-check date, that date applies to the detail it names. We correct errors when we find them or when readers report them.

View All Articles by America's State Parks Editorial Team →