AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
2014-08-26 17 04 30 View southwest along the Appalachian Trail about 2.1 miles northeast of the Delaware Water Gap in Worthington State Forest, New Jersey.JPG
Famartin · CC BY-SA 4.0

Laurel Falls–Upper Yards Creek Reservior, 10 sights

13.3 mi · ▲ 2,187 ft · 5 hr 32 min

Laurel Falls–Upper Yards Creek Reservior, 10 sights is a 13.3-mile out-and-back near Mount Vernon, NJ. The route passes Upper Yards Creek Reservior, Sunfish Pond, Buckwood Viewpoint and 3 more. It climbs 2,187 ft, with sections as steep as 31% grade. It scores 61/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi367 – 1,601 ft · steepest grade: 31%14.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Yards Creek Road 41.00011, -75.05408
Nearest town Mount Vernon, NJ
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Laurel Falls–Upper Yards Creek Reservior, 10 sights

13.3 mi · ▲ 2,187 ft · 5 hr 32 min

Elevation 368–1,602 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Yards Creek Road · 41.00011, -75.05408

Weather Sep 7: sunrise 6:34 AM · sunset 7:25 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 50 ftPass Upper Yards Creek Reservior.
  3. 50 ftBear left, heading SE.
  4. 50 ftContinue straight onto Yards Creek Road, heading E.
  5. 50 ftBear left, heading E.
  6. 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
  7. 150 ftBear left, heading SE.
  8. 0.1 miSharp right onto Mount Tammany Fire Road, heading NE.
  9. 0.9 miSharp right onto Buckwood Trail, heading SW.
  10. 0.6 miBear left onto Sunfish Pond Fire Road/Buckwood Trail, heading N.
  11. 0.3 miTurn right onto Buckwood Trail, heading NW.
  12. 0.3 miTurn left onto Appalachian Trail, heading N.
  13. 50 ftPass Sunfish Pond.
  14. 150 ftPass Buckwood Viewpoint.
  15. 0.3 miPass Sunfish Pond.
  16. 250 ftBear right, heading W.
  17. 0.4 miTurn left onto Rockcores Trail, heading NW.
  18. 250 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  19. 0.3 miPass Laurel Falls.
  20. 50 ftSharp left onto Douglas Trail, heading NW.
  21. 1.6 miSharp right onto Appalachian Trail, heading SW.
  22. 1.6 miSharp left onto Holly Springs Trail, heading W.
  23. 0.4 miTurn right onto Dunnfield Creek Trail, heading E.
  24. 0.5 miBear right, heading SW.
  25. 0.5 miPass Dunnfield Creek Falls Swimming Hole.
  26. 50 ftSharp left onto Pahaquarry Trail, heading SW.
  27. 1.2 miTurn left onto Mount Tammany Fire Road, heading SW.
  28. 4 miSharp left onto Yards Creek Road, heading NE.
  29. 0.1 miBear left, heading NE.
  30. 250 ftBear right, heading N.
  31. 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/laurel-falls-upper-yards-creek-reservior-out-back-12-sights

Trail surface

46% dirt3% gravel51% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:34 AMSunset 7:25 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 7:04 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 7:25 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 7:53 PM.

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