Mt. Tammany Red Dot Trail: A Challenging Climb with Rewarding Views

The Mt. Tammany Red Dot Trail is a classic New Jersey hike that draws crowds with its challenging climb and rewarding views. Located in Worthington State Forest, the trail ascends the western slopes of Mt. Tammany, the southernmost peak of the Kittatinny Mountains. The 1.2-mile Red Dot Trail is marked with red blazes and gains over 1,200 feet in elevation, making for a steep and rocky ascent. The trail involves some rock scrambling, requiring hikers to use both hands and feet to navigate certain sections. Proper footwear and plenty of water are essential. As hikers climb, they are rewarded with increasingly expansive views of the Delaware Water Gap, a dramatic break in the Kittatinny Ridge carved by the Delaware River. About halfway up, a marked viewpoint offers a stunning panorama of the river and surrounding landscape. The summit provides even more impressive views, with Mount Minsi visible across the river in Pennsylvania. Many hikers choose to descend via the Blue Dot Trail (also known as the Pahaquarry Trail) for a 3.5-mile loop. This trail descends more gradually through a hemlock forest and passes by Dunnfield Creek, a stream with small waterfalls and swimming holes. The loop concludes with a short walk along the Appalachian Trail back to the parking area. Mt. Tammany is named after Tamanend, a Lenape chief who negotiated a peace treaty with William Penn. The area where the trail begins was once the town of Dunnfield, which had a post office, train station, and slate business.