{{Short description|State forest in New Jersey}} {{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox park | name = Worthington State Forest | image = {{#property:image}} | image_size = | image_alt = | image_caption = View of Worthington State Forest from a campsite in June 2004 | map = USA New Jersey#USA | map_label = Worthington State Forest | map_caption = Location in [[New Jersey]]##Location in [[United States]] | type = | location = [[Warren County, New Jersey|Warren County]] | nearest_city = | coordinates = {{Coord|format=dms|display=title,inline}} | coords_ref = <ref>{{Official website}}</ref> | area = {{convert|6660|acre|km2|adj=on}} | created = | operator = [[{{#property:operator}}]] | visitation_num = | status = | designation = | opened = {{#property:inception}} | website = {{Official website}} }}
'''Worthington State Forest''' is a [[state forest]] located in [[Warren County, New Jersey|Warren County]], [[New Jersey]] within the [[Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area]], just north of the [[Delaware Water Gap|water gap]] in the [[Skylands Region]] of the state. It covers an area of {{convert|6660|acres|km2}} and stretches for more than {{convert|7|mile|km}} along the [[Kittatinny Ridge]] near [[Columbia, New Jersey|Columbia]].
The park offers [[hiking]], [[camping]] (including a hike-in, primitive area) and [[canoeing]] and [[kayaking]] on the [[Delaware River]]. There are nearly {{Convert|20|mi|km}} of [[hiking trail]]s within the park, including {{Convert|7|mi|km}} of the [[Appalachian Trail]], which passes through the park. The park is operated and maintained by the [[New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry]].
== History == The forest is named after [[Charles Campbell Worthington]], who, throughout the late 1800s, purchased {{convert|6,000|acre|km2}} of land of both sides of the river, including parts of [[Mount Tammany]]. His intent was to create one of the premier deer hunting preserves in the county. He would name this estate Buckwood Park.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nynjctbotany.org/njkttofc/sunfish.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030430235559/http://nynjctbotany.org/njkttofc/sunfish.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=April 30, 2003 |last=Moldenke|first=H. N. |title=Sunfish Pond|year=2013|access-date=2013-10-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Worthington State Forest |url=https://njskylands.com/parks-worthington-state-forest |access-date=2022-06-29 |website=njskylands.com}}</ref>
He built Buckwood Lodge, a small mansion on the side of Kittatinny Ridge, between the river and [[Sunfish Pond]], a small lake higher up the ridge covering {{convert|258|acre|km2}}. Worthington gave Sunfish Pond the name of Buckwood Lake, and used it as a water supply for his lodge.
The [[Old Mine Road]], one of the earliest roads in the area, runs along the Delaware; it was used for transporting copper and slate from nearby mines and quarries, and is believed to have originally been a Native American trail that saw use by [[fur trade]]rs and [[Dutch people|Dutch]] settlers.
== Area == The forest includes the {{convert|1085|acre|km2}} Dunnfield Creek Natural Area; the creek is designated a wild [[trout]] stream. The {{convert|258|acre|km2}} Sunfish Pond Natural Area consists of a [[glacial lake]] and the surrounding [[Quercus montana|chestnut oak]] forest, and can be reached by a steep and rocky climb along the [[Appalachian Trail]]. At {{convert|1527|feet|m}}, Mount Tammany offers a view of the Delaware Water Gap.<ref>Caldwell, David. [https://njmonthly.com/articles/jersey-living/falling-literally-for-mount-tammany/ "Falling (Literally) For Mount Tammany"], ''[[New Jersey Monthly]]'', September 11, 2012. Accessed June 30, 2022. "To really enjoy Mount Tammany—the rocky hump on the New Jersey side of the Delaware Water Gap—you have to climb it.... Although you are a mere 1,527 feet above it all, you feel on top of the world."</ref>
==See also== {{portal|New Jersey}} * [[Appalachian Trail by state]] * [[Mount Tammany Fire Road]] * [[Pahaquarry Copper Mine]]
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.njskylands.com/pkdwgnra.htm New Jersey Skylands - area history] * [http://www.nynjtc.org/park/worthington-state-forest NY-NJTC: Worthington State Forest]
{{Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area}} {{New Jersey Parks}}
{{commons category}}
[[Category:Delaware Water Gap]] [[Category:New Jersey state forests]] [[Category:Protected areas of Warren County, New Jersey]] [[Category:State forests of the Appalachians]]