Mount Tammany Red Dot and Blue Dot Loop Hiking Guide
Mount Tammany is the New Jersey wall of the Delaware Water Gap, and its summit ledges look straight across the river at Mount Minsi in Pennsylvania. The standard hike climbs the Red Dot (officially the Mount Tammany Trail) and descends the Blue Dot (now the Pahaquarry Trail), a short loop that packs in roughly 1,200 feet of steep, rocky climbing. It starts at the Dunnfield Creek Natural Area, right off Interstate 80, which is why it is one of the busiest hikes in the state.
Up the Red Dot, Down the Blue
From the Dunnfield Creek lot, the Red Dot leaves near the river and heads southeast straight up the ridge; blazes are white rectangles with a red dot in the center. Worthington State Forest describes it as a tough, rocky 1,200-foot climb to the 1,527-foot top of Mount Tammany. At the summit, pick up the light-blue Pahaquarry Trail, the former Blue Dot, which drops off the north side of the mountain to Dunnfield Creek and rejoins the Appalachian Trail back to the parking area. Both the park service and the state forest recommend this direction, up the Red Dot and down the Blue, because most people find the descent easier on the gentler side.
How Long and How Steep
Agency figures differ a little. The National Park Service calls the loop three miles, with the Red Dot at 1.2 miles one-way and the Blue Blaze at 1.7, and lists about 1,201 feet of climbing on each. The state forest brochure gives 1.5 miles for the Red Dot and 1.4 for the Pahaquarry Trail. Mapping apps measure the full loop at about 3.7 miles with roughly 1,220 feet of gain. Budget a half day: the distance is short but the Red Dot is a hands-on scramble over boulders and ledges in several places, and the park rates it among its most challenging trails.
Parking at Dunnfield Creek
The trailhead is the Dunnfield Creek Natural Area, reached from Interstate 80 westbound near Exit 1 in Columbia. There is no entrance or parking fee here; the park's amenity fees apply only at a handful of beaches and river accesses, none of them on this hike. The catch is space. The Park Service warns that the lot fills quickly on summer weekends, and on clear fall Saturdays it can be full early in the morning. Arrive soon after dawn or come on a weekday. A restroom is at the trailhead. Worthington's trails are open dawn to dusk only.
Dogs, Bears and Ticks
Leashed dogs are allowed; the state forest caps leashes at six feet and asks owners to keep pets under control and pick up after them. Think hard before bringing a dog up the Red Dot, though, because several ledges require a boost. Black bears live on this ridge. Do not approach one, and report sightings to the State Park Police at 1-877-927-6337. Ticks are common in the brush along the lower trail, so use repellent and check yourself after the hike.
Seasons and Footing
Spring and fall are the best seasons: cool air for the climb and clear views from the top. Summer afternoons on the open rock are hot and the summit is crowded. In winter, ice on the Red Dot ledges makes the ascent genuinely hazardous, so carry traction devices and be ready to turn around. After rain, the angled slabs stay slick, and the descent on loose rock is where most people slip. Sturdy boots with good tread matter more here than on almost any other hike in the region.
Hiking tips for Mount Tammany Red Dot and Blue Dot Loop
- Climb the Red Dot and descend the Pahaquarry (Blue Dot) Trail, as both agencies recommend.
- Be parked at Dunnfield Creek early on weekends; the lot fills fast in good weather.
- Leave trail-running shoes at home; the Red Dot is a boulder scramble with slick ledges.
- Pack microspikes from late fall through early spring for icy rock on the ascent.
- Keep dogs on a six-foot leash and plan to help them over the steepest ledges.
Nearby trails to explore
- Sunfish Pond Loop
- Rattlesnake Swamp and Catfish Fire Tower Loop
- Van Campens Glen Trail
Hike this trail with TrailMates
Tammany is a short, steep classic that's more fun with company on the scramble. Use TrailMates to find hikers heading to Mount Tammany in the Delaware Water Gap. Download the TrailMates app to connect.