Paulinskill River Wildlife Management Area
Thomas Rich Lake via Paulinskill Valley Trail
13.1 mi · ▲ 194 ft · 4 hr 28 min
Thomas Rich Lake via Paulinskill Valley Trail is a 13.1-mile out-and-back in Paulinskill River Wildlife Management Area near Lafayette, NJ. The route reaches Thomas Rich Lake at the turnaround, 6.5 miles in. It is mostly level, with 194 ft of elevation gain. It scores 16/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Thomas Rich Lake via Paulinskill Valley Trail
13.1 mi · ▲ 194 ft · 4 hr 28 min
Elevation 507–649 ft
Out & Back · Paulinskill River Wildlife Management Area
Trailhead: Sussex Branch Trail · 41.09231, -74.68930
Weather Sep 7: sunrise 6:32 AM · sunset 7:23 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Sussex Branch Trail, heading SW.
- 0.7 miTurn right onto Paulinskill Valley Trail, heading NW.
- 5.3 miContinue straight onto Great Valley Trail, heading SW.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Paulinskill Valley Trail, heading SW.
- 0.4 miReach Thomas Rich Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto Great Valley Trail, heading NE.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Paulinskill Valley Trail, heading NE.
- 5.3 miTurn left onto Sussex Branch Trail, heading SE.
- 0.7 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 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 surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.2 mi in (~80 min). Leave by 5:43 PM for the 7:23 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:56 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Sussex Branch Trail Trailhead
- Sussex Branch Trail 2.4 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Sussex Branch Trail 5.8 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Sussex Branch Trail 6.3 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Sussex Branch Trail 6.9 mi · ▲ 55 ft
- Drakes Pond via Sussex Branch Trail 10 mi · ▲ 27 ft
- Paulinskill Valley Trail 12.2 mi · ▲ 194 ft
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