Stokes State Forest

The breathtaking and panoramic view from Sunrise Mountain along the Appalachian Trail rewards the hiker who has trekked up the steep side of the mountain. The view encompasses the pastoral farmland of New Jersey to the east and undeveloped forests and mountain ridges to the west. For those who don’t relish the idea of climbing up the side of a mountain and following a sometimes rocky and steep trail for a few hours, there is a short drive to the pavilion at the top of the mountain.

Stokes is famous for its impressive beauty, whether it is at the top of a mountain ridge or in the cool and fragrant Tillman Ravine with its rushing stream and steep cliffs. Hikers, campers, fishermen and photographers are attracted to its wild setting.

Facilities & Activities:

Sunrise Mountain scenic overlook
Tillman Ravine Natural Area
Camping
Fishing (lakes,
ponds, and the Flatbrook)
Hunting
Interpretive Programs
Picnicking
Boating/canoeing:
cartop launch
Swimming: (Stony Lake), bathhouse
Winter sports: cross- country skiing, snowmobiling, ice fishing

Trails:

Hiking
Horseback riding
Mountain biking
Appalachian Trail

Camping

Campsites: 82 tent and trailer sites with fire rings and picnic tables. Some camping areas available all year. Fee: NJ Resident: $20 per night; Non Resident: $25 per night. Accommodates up to 6 people, including children.

Steam Mill Camping Area - 27 tent and pop-up camper sites with an artisan well for water and pit toilets. All sites have a picnic table, fire rings and lantern hooks. Fee: NJ Resident: $20 per night; Non-Resident: $25 per night.

Group campsites: Nine (Ten) group sites located at Haskins with fire rings and picnic tables. Open April 15 to October 31.  Campsites A, B, C, D, E, and F accommodate up to 30 people. Fee: NJ Resident $60 per night; Non Resident $120 per night. Campsite G accommodates up to 65 people. Fee: NJ Resident $130 per night; Non Resident $260 per night. Campsite H accommodates up to 10 people. Fee: NJ Resident $20 per night; Non Resident $40 per night. Campsite I accommodates up to 45 people. Fee: NJ Resident $90 per night; Non Resident $180 per night. Campsite Z, located at Lake Ashroe accommodates up to 40 people. Parking is not allowed on the campsite, but there is a designated park area.  Fee: NJ Residents $80 per night; Non Resident $160 per night.

Horseshoe pits have been added to the group campsites and one location at Lake Ocquittunk. Please bring your own horseshoes and spikes.

Lean-tos: Nine enclosed lean-tos located in Shotwell Camping Area with fire rings and picnic tables. Approximate dimensions are 10' x 12' and have a wood stove inside for heat. Open year round. Fee: NJ Resident $35 per night; Non Resident $40 per night. Lean-tos accommodates up to 6 people, including children

Group Lean-tos: Located at Lake Ashroe.  GL-X has 3 lean-tos and accommodates 5 people each for a total of 18 people. Fee: NJ Resident $105 per night: Non Resident $120 per night.
GL-Y has 5 lean-tos and accommodates 4 people each for a total of 20 people. Fee: NJ Resident $125 per night: Non Resident $150 per night. The site is hike in only. Parking is located at Group Site Z.
Each lean-to has a charcoal grill and each group site has 2 fire rings and multiple lantern hooks.
There is no wood stove for heat.

Fishing/Hunting

Stocked annually by the Division of Fish & Wildlife, the Big Flatbrook and its tributaries provide some of the best trout fishing in New Jersey. Lake Ocquittunk and Stony Lake also are stocked with trout. The majority of the forest is open to hunting. Both fishing and hunting at Stokes State Forest are subject to the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife regulations.

Picnicking

Stokes State Forest offers 2 picnic areas Stony Lake and Kittle Field. The Group Picnic Area at Kittle Field has a capacity of 100 people, provides shelter, playfields and playground equipment. It may be reserved for a fee.

Reserving the shelter at Kittle Field does not guarantee the exclusive use of all picnic tables, grills, parking spaces, playground, sports field and/or sanitary facilities at Kittle Field.

Rental of the shelter at Kittle Field gives you and your group exclusive use of the shelter, picnic tables within the shelter, two large steel pedestal charcoal grills outside the shelter and 4 picnic tables outside the shelter.

The Stony Lake picnic area has 45 tables with adjacent grills located next to the swimming area. This area is not reservable.

Boating

Small boats with electric motors are only permitted on the waters of Lake Ocquittunk and are subject to all applicable boating laws. There is no boat ramp.

Swimming

Swimming is permitted in Stony Lake while lifeguards are on duty. Visitors will find a beach complex containing changing area, restrooms a first-aid station and picnic facilities. Inner tubes, rafts and other flotation devices are not permitted in the swimming area. Only Coast Guard approved life jackets are permitted. Pets are prohibited on the beach.

Trails

Along Kittatinny Mountain are outstanding views of the surrounding landscape. Sunrise Mountain offers scenic vistas of the Kittatinny Valley to the east and the Delaware River Valley to the west.

In addition to the Applachian Trail, there are more than 33 miles of marked trails within Stokes State Forest. Trails vary in length from one half mile to four miles, and over terrains ranging from flat lowlands to rocky mountains. Many of the trails connect, offering the hiker a variety of trips from an hour to a full day.


Appalachian Trail

12.5 miles of the Appalachian Trail follows the Kittatinny Mountain Ridge through Stokes State Forest. This trail's designated use is restricted to hiking only for its entire length from Maine to Georgia. White blazes mark this narrow and sometimes very rocky trail.

There are 2 designated overnight shelters: Brink Road Shelter and Gren Anderson Shelter. These are the only overnight locations that allow you to stay overnight on the trail. Camping is limited to 1 night per shelter.

Each shelter has a bear box
No fires are permitted at the shelters or on State of NJ property
Pets must be leashed at all times
Carry out all trash
10 people maximum per shelter
Limited water sources can be found via a spring at both shelters.  You should plan to carry sufficient water for your hike as water along the trail may not be available. All water obtained along the trail should be chemically treated or boiled for 5 minutes.

No motor vehicles of any kind are permitted on AT.  The Appalachian Trail is for foot travel only.

Overnight parking is located at the Appalachian Trail Parking Lot on Route 23 just South of the Park Office. A permit is required and can be obtained during Park Office business hours. This is the only designated overnight parking for the AT in High Point State Park.