Stony Lake Trail

Stony Lake is the recreational heart of Stokes State Forest, a 56-acre glacial lake at 1,050 feet elevation ringed by mixed hardwood and hemlock forest in the Kittatinny Mountains of northwestern New Jersey. The 3.5-mile loop circles the lake on a wide forest path before extending through upland terrain to a secondary viewpoint, providing a gentle outing accessible to hikers of all fitness levels. The lake's public boat launch accommodates non-motorized watercraft including kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards, and the shoreline is lined with glacially deposited boulders and sandy coves. A swimming beach on the lake's south shore operates with lifeguard supervision during summer months. The trail passes through forest recovering from a series of prescribed burns conducted by the New Jersey Forest Service since 2010 to restore the oak-dominated fire-dependent ecosystem characteristic of Kittatinny Ridge prior to European settlement. Stokes State Forest encompasses 16,052 acres stretching from the Delaware River to High Point State Park, and the Stony Lake Trail connects to longer routes including the Appalachian Trail on the adjacent ridge. Wildlife sightings are common on the lake loop; great blue herons, wood ducks, osprey, and beaver are regularly observed from the shoreline path, particularly during early morning hours before recreational activity begins.