Stokes State Forest
Encyclopedia
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
located in Sandyston Township
Sandyston Township, New Jersey
- Local government :Sandyston Township is governed under the Township form of government with a three-member Township Committee. The Township Committee is elected directly by the voters in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one seat coming up for...
, Montague and Frankford Twp. in Sussex County
Sussex County, New Jersey
The County of Sussex is the northernmost county in the State of New Jersey. It is part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 Federal decennial census, 149,265 persons resided in Sussex County...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Stokes comprises 16025 acres (64.9 km²) of mountainous woods. The park is operated and maintained by the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry
New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry
The New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry is responsible for the management and operation of New Jersey's 42 parks, 11 forests and 3 recreation areas, as well as for the more than 50 historic sites and districts...
.
History
Stokes State Forest was created in 1907 when Governor Edward StokesEdward C. Stokes
Edward Casper Stokes was an American Republican Party politician, who served as the 32nd Governor of New Jersey, from 1905 to 1908.-Biography:...
donated 500 acres (2 km²) of land on Kittatinny Mountain and the State of New Jersey purchased 5432 acres (22 km²) of land. Due to the governor's generous donation, the forest was named Stokes State forest. The forest started with 5932 acres (24 km²) of land and through the years, additional purchases were made to bring the forest to over 16000 acres (64.7 km²). Trails though the forest were made in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps
Civilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D...
as well as white pine trees being planted.
During the 1800s the forests in New Jersey were cut down for farming and for lumber. Stokes was created to preserve the forests on Kittatinny Mountain.
Geology
Around five hundred million years ago, an arcuate chain of volcanic islands collided with proto North America. The North American plate was subducted under the chain of islands. The islands went on top of the edge of North America, creating the Highlands and Kitattinny Valley which is of the Ordovician Martinsburg Shale. Quartz and the sedimentary conglomerate was transported to an inland sea, which was over part of the Martinsburg shale. The quartzQuartz
Quartz is the second-most-abundant mineral in the Earth's continental crust, after feldspar. It is made up of a continuous framework of SiO4 silicon–oxygen tetrahedra, with each oxygen being shared between two tetrahedra, giving an overall formula SiO2. There are many different varieties of quartz,...
was deposited over the Martinsburg shale.
Then around four hundred million years ago a small continent, long and thin, collided with proto North America. This created compression of the bed rock. The Kittatinny Mountain was created due to folding and faulting of the Silurian Shawangunk conglomerate which is made of quartz. This stone was in a shallow sea above the Martinsburg shale when folding occurred, this produced heat in which the quartz bent. Then the quartz was cemented together with other small stones from silica. Due to the hardness of the stone, this makes the mountain highly resistant to weathering.
Over millions of years, the mountain weathered from wind, rain, snow and ice.
The Wisconsin Glacier covered Stokes State Forest and the Kittatinny Mountain from 21,000 B.C. to 13,000 B.C. The glacier left end moraines, kettle holes and periglacial rock fields.
The Big Flat Brook is a shallow stream which starts in the mountain swamp of Steam Mill and travels in a southwesterly direction. It empties into the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
near Flatbrookville. This stream is stocked by the New Jersey Fish and Game with Rainbow and Brown trout. This stream is considered as one of the premier fishing streams in the state of New Jersey.
In the 1880s, John Snook dug a mine and extracted silver ore. He was paid well for the ore and the silver quickly ran out. This mine which is filled with water today is not far from the Kittle Field picnic area or about a mile and a half north of the forest office.
Flora and fauna
Stokes forest is a northern deciduous forest in the north eastern Appalachians composed of various oaks, hickories, maples, as well as birch, chestnuts, beech, sycamore, cherry, walnut, ash, elm, and other hardwood tree species.Rhododendrom, Mountain Laurel, high and low bush blueberries, grow in the forest as well as various mosses and ferns.
Big game animals such as white tailed deer and bear inhabit the forest. Also there is beaver, mink, raccoons, possums, skunks, chipmunks, gray and red squirrels, gray fox, as well as the Adirondack fisher. There is also eastern coyote and bobcat.
Sunrise Mountain
Sunrise Mountain is a mountain peak that is on Kittatinny Mountain where one can view both the sunrise and sunset from one location. Sunrise Mountain is part of the Kittatinny Mountain which goes from the New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
State Line to Delaware Water Gap. This mountain is formed during the Silurian era and made of the Shawangunk conglomerate which is made of quartz. Bedrock exposure of the Shawangunk conglomerate can be seen along the trail.
The pavilion at the top of the peak makes a great place to picnic. To make traveling to Sunrise more interesting, one can look for the New Jersey shaped rock. The mountain is the second highest point in New Jersey, being 1653 feet (503.8 m) above sea level. Hikers are amazed with the view. There is a USGS marker at the top of the mountain which gives the elevation. To get there, the hiking stretch is a quarter of a mile from a parking lot. Much of Sussex County can be seen from the summit of the mountain. From the eastern side of the mountain, one can view the Kittatinny Valley and the Highlands. From the western side, the Delaware Valley
Delaware Valley
The Delaware Valley is a term used to refer to the valley where the Delaware River flows, along with the surrounding communities. This includes the metropolitan area centered on the city of Philadelphia. Such educational institutions as Delaware Valley Regional High School in Alexandria Township...
and the Port Jervis trough can be seen. From the top of Sunrise Mountain you can see three states, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.
The Appalachian Trail follows the top of the entire Kittatinny Mountain. It is marked with white rectangles on trees.
Stony Lake
Stony Lake is a twelve acre lake that has a beach surrounded by picnic tables, pavilions, showers, dressing rooms, a new bathroom with flushing toilets. The beach is host to many swimmers during the months of July and August. The lake has life guards during swimming hours. The lake also offers many spots to fish. One can explore the forest around the lake. There are admission prices to the lake. There are also many playgrounds such as Kittle Field to take young children to.Lake Ocquittunk
Lake Ocquittunk is a 6 acres (24,281.2 m²) lake shape like a U, located in Stokes State Forest. There are ten cabins around the lake that can be rented. The N.J. Fish and game stocks the lake with rainbow and brown trout three times a year. There is a small section of the lake on the other side of the road, that runs next to the lake. Perch, bass, and pickerel also inhabit the lake. A small stream runs into the lake and exits the lake.Tillman Ravine
Tillman Ravine Natural Area is a 525 acres (212.5 ha) section of coniferous and deciduous forest surrounding Tillman Brook. Tillman brook starts as a spring, which flows year round. An old-growth forest of 25 acres (10.1 ha) containing Eastern HemlockEastern Hemlock
Tsuga canadensis, also known as eastern or Canadian hemlock, and in the French-speaking regions of Canada as pruche du Canada, is a coniferous tree native to eastern North America. It ranges from northeastern Minnesota eastward through southern Quebec to Nova Scotia, and south in the Appalachian...
and hardwoods follows part of the ravine. Several trails run through this area, providing views of waterfalls, pools, and rock formations. Tillman Ravine is a habitat for the Barred Owl
Barred Owl
The Barred Owl is a large typical owl. It goes by many other names, including eight hooter, rain owl, wood owl, and striped owl, but is probably best known as the hoot owl.-Description:...
and other endangered species.
The ravine was created when the Wisconsin glacier melted and the melt water created a stream by traveling through the weaknesses of the bedrock of the Kittatinny Mountain. Tillman Creek descends over Butter Milk Falls and the flows a short distance and empties into the Delaware River.
School of Conservation
The New Jersey School of ConservationNew Jersey School of Conservation
The New Jersey School of Conservation is the Environmental Education Field Campus of Montclair State University. It is the oldest university-operated environmental education center in the US. It is located from the Montclair campus on a tract located in Stokes State Forest in Sussex County, New...
is one of the largest university run camps in the state of New Jersey, operated by and part of Montclair State University
Montclair State University
Montclair State University is a public research university located in the Upper Montclair section of Montclair, the Great Notch area of Little Falls, and Clifton, New Jersey. As of October 2009, there were 18,171 total enrolled students: 14,139 undergraduate students and 4,032 graduate students...
, in Montclair
Montclair, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 38,977 people, 15,020 households, and 9,687 families residing in the township. The population density was 6,183.6 people per square mile . There were 15,531 housing units at an average density of 2,464.0 per square mile...
as its Environmental Education Field Campus. The "school" is host to music and environmental awareness camps. It is the largest and oldest university-operated environmental education center in the nation. It is located 57 miles (91.7 km) from the Montclair campus on a 240 acres (97.1 ha) tract in the center of Stokes State Forest.
Each academic year the School of Conservation provides environmental education programs for nearly 9,000 elementary/secondary school students, and nearly 1,000 teachers from approximately 100 schools. There are also field courses for graduate students and weekend workshops designed to train pre-service and in-service teachers and youth leaders in environmental education curriculum development and field techniques. The school has become the focus of intense environmental research in recent years, with the establishment of MSU's Doctoral program in Environmental Management and the Passaic River Institute, among other major research initiatives.