Could 1, 2021 – Blairstown, New Jersey
Issue: Average to Strenuous
Size: Roughly 6.2 miles
Max elevation: 1,580 ft.– complete elevation achieve roughly 805 ft.
Route sort: Out and again
Purchase Map: *New 2021* Delaware Water Hole & Kittatinny Trails Map
Avenza App Map: Delaware Water Hole & Kittatinny Mixed
Trailhead parking: 50 Camp Mohican Rd, Blairstown, NJ 07825
Restrooms open to hikers on the Lodge/Customer Middle
Overview:
Raccoon Ridge, formally named Mount Mohican, is a peak of the Kittatinny Mountains in Warren County, New Jersey. The mountain stands 1,580 toes above sea stage. It lies alongside the Appalachian Path in Worthington State Forest. On some maps and guidebooks it’s known as Raccoon Ridge due to the various bumps earlier than and after the summit. Mt. Mohican is located between Mt. Tammany and Catfish Mountain. It affords nice views to the East, West, and North, with restricted views to the South.
Raccoon Ridge
Raccoon Ridge is the premier spot to look at the migrating hawks that move via northern NJ on their means south. Hawk counting began on this ridge means again in 1935. Raccoon Ridge averages about 15,000 hawks per whole 12 months, which runs from the tip of August till early December. Raptors in addition to different birds use the thermals and updrafts on these mountain ridges and shoreline on their southern migration to preserve vitality. Early to mid October is one of the best time to look at essentially the most species of migrating raptors starting from the smallest Falcon, the Kestrel, to the biggest raptor, the Golden Eagle. About 14 completely different species of raptors are often noticed throughout a season.
Path Overview:
The Appalachian Nationwide Scenic Path (AT) extends alongside the backbone of the Appalachian Mountains from Springer Mountain, Georgia to Mt. Katahdin in Baxter State Park, Maine. Of the two,174 miles of path, 28 miles are throughout the Delaware Water Hole Nationwide Recreation Space.
Appalachian Path – Delaware Water Hole
The Appalachian Path enters the Delaware Water Hole at Totts Hole, crosses the Delaware River on the Route 80 Bridge, goes to Sunfish Pond and continues northeast to Stokes State Forest. The path crosses Route 206 and continues alongside the ridgeline of the Kittatinny Mountains to Excessive Level State Park and finally goes into New York State.
The part featured on this hike is extraordinarily rocky. The path is roofed with each sharp-pointed and spherical rocks, making it at occasions an ankle breaker sort path. The white blazes are pale and onerous to see at occasions throughout the early a part of this hike, however the path is properly outlined and straightforward to observe.
Appalachian Path – Mount Mohican
Hike Overview:
It is a simple out and again hike on a bit of the historic Appalachian Path south from the Mohican Out of doors Middle within the Delaware Water Hole. Get pleasure from nice ridge views in each instructions alongside the AT. There are many locations to cease for lunch or a brief break, together with the summit of Mount Mohican, which is marked with a big rock cairn.
Though this hike travels principally via a bit of the 70,000-acre Delaware Water Hole Nationwide Recreation Space, Raccoon Ridge itself lies throughout the 6,660-acre Worthington State Forest. The hike begins and ends on the AMC Mohican Out of doors Middle, which permits free parking of their sizable lot and public restrooms. The parking zone is situated simply previous the lodge. They do request that you just test in on the lodge/customer middle and register your car information. Parking on the Mohican Out of doors Middle provides about 0.6 mile to the hike.
AMC Mohican Out of doors Middle – Delaware Water Hole
There are restrooms and showers within the Lodge which might be open to hikers.
AMC Mohican Out of doors Middle – Delaware Water Hole
Together with lodging, maps, books, items and mountain climbing gear, they’ve a deli on web site and ice cream. Hikers are all the time welcome and their employees is pleasant in addition to useful. It is a good spot to start and finish a hike.
AMC Mohican Out of doors Middle – Delaware Water Hole
There may be roadside parking the place the Appalachian Path crosses Camp Mohican Street. The highway is slender so we determined to park a bit of farther up within the parking zone.
Camp Mohican Street – Delaware Water Hole
This out and again hike follows the white-blazed Appalachian Path for its entirety. Alongside some sections of the path, the painted blazes are pale or nonexistent, however the path is properly trodden and straightforward to observe. The path is extraordinarily rocky from begin to end, a form of ankle breaker sort path. Smaller dimension rocks which protrude via the bottom, which requires hikers to virtually regularly look right down to hold from tripping and falling. A top quality pair of mountain climbing boots with good ankle safety is strongly advisable for this hike.
Raccoon Ridge from Mohican Out of doors Middle
The ascent to the ridge is the steepest a part of the hike, however the quite a few ups and downs on the way in which to Raccoon Ridge can put on you down. Do not forget that you may be coming again the identical means.
elevation profile – Raccoon Ridge
Rocky path however, this hike affords a few of the greatest views round. There are many spots to cease and calm down alongside the way in which whereas having fun with the quite a few viewpoints. It’s also not as extremely trafficked as a few of the different trails close by.
Delaware River from Raccoon Ridge
The Hike:
From the parking space, flip proper onto Camp Mohican Street and head downhill for about 0.3 mile. Don’t neglect to cease on the lodge/customer middle to test in. Proceed down the hill to the place the Appalachian Path crosses the highway.
Camp Mohican Street – Delaware Water Hole
Camp Mohican Street – Delaware Water Hole
Flip proper onto the white-blazed Appalachian Path and cross the picket footbridge that spans Yards Creek.
Appalachian Path – Delaware Water Hole
Appalachian Path – Delaware Water Hole
Appalachian Path – Delaware Water Hole
In a brief distance, the Coppermines Path begins on the proper, however you must veer left at this junction, and climb steadily alongside the AT, steeply in locations, as much as the ridge of the Kittatinny Mountains.
Appalachian Path – Delaware Water Hole
Appalachian Path – Delaware Water Hole
Appalachian Path – Delaware Water Hole
Appalachian Path – Delaware Water Hole
Appalachian Path – Delaware Water Hole
Appalachian Path – Delaware Water Hole
Appalachian Path – Delaware Water Hole
In about half a mile, you’ll attain a restricted east-facing viewpoint to the left of the path at a camp web site. This makes a great spot to take a break from the steep climb.
1st viewpoint – Mount Mohican
Trying east throughout the Kittatinny Valley.
view east – 1st viewpoint
Trying southwest in the direction of the Decrease Yards Creek Reservoir.
view southwest – 1st viewpoint
To the left, Catfish Mountain protrudes above the timber.
view northeast – 1st viewpoint
The A.T. now ascends extra regularly, then ranges off. In one other mile, you’ll come to a collection of open grassy areas, with panoramic east-facing views. Decrease Yards Creek Reservoir is seen immediately under, and the northern finish of Mt. Tammany could also be seen to the south. The A.T. continues south alongside the ridge, with extra views to the left of the path.
Appalachian Path – Mount Mohican
Appalachian Path – Mount Mohican
Appalachian Path – Mount Mohican
Appalachian Path – Mount Mohican
Appalachian Path – Mount Mohican
Appalachian Path – Mount Mohican
Appalachian Path – Mount Mohican
Appalachian Path – Mount Mohican
In one other half a mile, the AT descends briefly, then ranges off. Right here, the blue-on-white-blazed Kaiser Path joins from the proper (the junction is marked with an indication). Proceed forward on the AT. When the Kaiser Path (additionally designated as Kaiser Street) leaves to the left in a 3rd of a mile, you must proceed to observe the AT, which climbs briefly, descends a bit of, then begins a gentle climb.
Proceed previous the junction with the Kaiser Path
Decrease Yards Creek Reservoir.
Appalachian Path – Mount Mohican
Appalachian Path – Mount Mohican
Appalachian Path – Mount Mohican
Appalachian Path – Mount Mohican
Appalachian Path – Mount Mohican
Appalachian Path – Mount Mohican
Quickly, you’ll attain an indication marking the boundary between the Delaware Water Hole Nationwide Recreation Space and Worthington State Forest. Simply past, you’ll come to a panoramic west-facing viewpoint over the Delaware River, with Poxono Island seen to the north, and Smithfield Seashore immediately throughout the river in Pennsylvania.
Appalachian Path – Mount Mohican – Worthington State Forest
Appalachian Path – Mount Mohican – Worthington State Forest
Appalachian Path – Mount Mohican – Worthington State Forest
Proceed forward on the A.T. to the wide-open summit of Mt. Mohican (also called Raccoon Ridge), marked by a big cairn. From right here, there are spectacular views to the west, east and north.
Appalachian Path – Mount Mohican – Worthington State Forest
That is the flip round spot on this hike. Take your pack off, have a seat and take within the attractive views from Raccoon Ridge.
Raccoon Ridge summit
Upon arriving on the summit, there have been a number of folks there, however they left. For greater than half-hour, we had all of it to ourselves.
Raccoon Ridge summit
Convey an American Flag to plant on the summit.
Raccoon Ridge summit
The Delaware River and Smithfield Seashore immediately throughout the river in Pennsylvania.
Delaware River from Raccoon Ridge
The Delaware River and Smithfield Seashore immediately throughout the river in Pennsylvania.
Delaware River from Raccoon Ridge
Trying west in the direction of Pennsylvania.
view west from Raccoon Ridge
Trying south.
view south from Raccoon Ridge
Decrease Yards Creek Reservoir from Raccoon Ridge.
Decrease Yards Creek Reservoir from Raccoon Ridge
Trying again over the route simply hiked, with the Delaware River on the left.
view northeast from Raccoon Ridge
If you find yourself able to proceed, retrace your steps on the AT, retaining your eyes open for Bald Eagles.
Bald Eagle – Appalachian Path – Delaware Water Hole
Bald Eagle – Appalachian Path – Delaware Water Hole
When the Appalachian Path reaches Camp Mohican Street, flip left and stroll up the highway for 0.3 mile, again to the parking space the place the hike started. Don’t neglect to cease on the camp retailer for some ice cream!
flip left on Camp Mohican Street
flip left on Camp Mohican Street
Evaluation:
A implausible hike alongside the Kittatinny Mountain vary on the historic Appalachian Path. Though rocky almost each step of the way in which, the views and the scenic panorama, together with seeing a Bald Eagle, makes this hike value each step. Throughout leaf-off season, there’s virtually a continuing view via the timber from the path alongside the ridge. The quite a few viewpoints provides one an excuse to cease and relaxation. A sturdy pair of mountain climbing boots with good ankle safety is very advisable. I will need to have tripped, stumbled or side-stepped a rock over a dozen occasions. The white blazes might use a contemporary coat of paint in some areas, however the AT is a crushed path and thus straightforward to observe. In contrast to a few of the extra in style mountain climbing locations, we bumped into comparatively few folks throughout this hike. I used to be stunned that there wasn’t a crowd on the summit, however probably due to the space and the considerably rugged nature of the path, much less folks appear to wish to enterprise out this far for an Instagram pic. General an incredible hike. Don’t neglect to cease in on the camp retailer for some chilly refreshments. They’ve Good Humor Chocolate Eclairs, they’ll hit the spot after your hike.
Execs:
Excellent views, Appalachian Path, Raccoon Ridge, straightforward to observe path, ice cream.
Cons:
The summit wants a flagpole.
Take a hike!
Raccoon Ridge from Mohican Out of doors Middle
Sources:
