This out-and-back includes a beautiful 3-mile stretch of the 72-mile Appalachian trail in New Jersey. We parked at Crater Lake, at the end of the
2+-mile unmarked gravel road (denoted Skyline Drive on NYNJTC Trail map #16, South Kittatinny Trails). We took the unblazed road at the eastern
side of the large parking area north to the orange-blazed Crater Lake trail and then made a right on the AT, taking it north to the peak of
Rattlesnake Mountain, at which point we turned around and retraced our steps back to the car.
The total distance covered was 7 miles, and took approximately 3.5 hours. There are a few climbs, but nothing very strenuous. (Click on the thumbnail to bring up a bigger image in a pop-up window)
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Rocks on shore of Crater Lake |
Southern shore of Crater Lake |
Wildflowers abound |
Wildflowers on road to Crater Lake trail |
Mourning doves |
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Path is a wide road here |
Ferns on Crater Lake trail |
Lilacs high above |
AT narrows after being a wide dirt road |
AT is rocky on entire stretch |
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Blueberry bushes all over |
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View east |
Rock outcrop just west of AT |
View north from outcrop |
Laura on outcrop |
We returned here for lunch |
View west |
Pennsylvania mountains |
Bridge over stream |
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View west from near the peak |
Somewhat steep climb here |
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Peak of Rattlesnake Mountain |
View west from peak |
Looking north |
Swamp down below |
[photo by Laura] |
High Point Monument in distance |
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View west |
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Pitch pine |
Radio tower to the south |
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Woodpecker work |
Caterpillars are hatching |
Our lunch spot |
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Spider |
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Birch |
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Ferns |
West bank of Crater Lake |
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Kayaker |
Viewpoint on Skyline Drive |
View east |
Lake Kathryn |
Lake Kathryn |
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[photo by Laura] |
Lilacs |
Photographs and content copyright © Dan Balogh Web design by Dan Balogh |