Tillman Ravine Trail Hiking Guide
Tillman Ravine is a small, deeply shaded gorge on the western edge of Stokes State Forest, where Tillman Brook cuts through red shale and sandstone beneath tall hemlocks on its way off the Kittatinny Mountains. The white-blazed Tillman Ravine Trail is short enough for young kids, crosses the brook on wooden footbridges, and ends at the Teacup, a round pothole the water has scoured into the bedrock below the lower falls.
Two Lots, One Ravine
Signs on Dimon Road (mapped by some apps as Tillman Road) point to an upper and a lower parking area, linked by the trail. Get there from Route 206 via Struble Road. The state forest's trail guide lists the Tillman Ravine Trail at 1.5 miles, while describing the core loop as about 1 mile; mapping apps show a 1.6-mile out-and-back with about 280 feet of gain. NJHiking.com offers a 0.9-mile round trip that skips the cemetery, or 2.0 miles if you continue to old Walpack Cemetery. Either way, it is about an hour on foot.
The Teacup and the Gorge
The gorge is narrow and lined with hemlock and tulip poplar, with rhododendron and ferns on the slopes. Near the lower end, water slides down a tilted rock face and swirls into the Teacup, a bowl ground into the stone by sand and gravel spinning in one spot. Some of the old hemlocks have died from the hemlock woolly adelgid, an invasive insect, so expect some downed trunks. Flow at the Teacup varies a lot with the season.
Footing
The trail is dirt, roots and rock, with several plank bridges and a long run of wooden steps down to the water. The climb back up is short but steep. Roots and rocks get slick when wet, so shoes with grip help, and the stream banks are fragile. This is a designated natural area, so stay on the trail and leave the rocks and plants where they are.
Seasonal Gate and Fees
Stokes State Forest restricts vehicle access to Tillman Ravine from December 15 to April 15, or whenever weather makes the road hazardous. In those months, park at the pull-off next to the 4-H camp and walk in, which adds distance. Hiking guides describe parking at the ravine as free, and the forest's Memorial Day to Labor Day vehicle fee applies at the Stony Lake day-use area; confirm with the forest office at (973) 948-3820 if you are unsure.
Dogs and Wildlife
Stokes welcomes leashed dogs; the lead can be at most six feet, and you are expected to bag their waste. Black bears roam all of Stokes, and the forest's guide also warns of rattlesnakes and copperheads in rocky spots. Ticks are active from spring into fall. Hunting seasons run in parts of the forest through much of the year, so a bright layer is a good idea in autumn.
Hiking tips for Tillman Ravine Trail
- Use either the upper or lower lot; the trail links the two.
- Wear grippy shoes for wet roots, rock and the long wooden staircase.
- From mid-December to mid-April, park by the 4-H camp and walk in past the gate.
- Add the walk to Walpack Cemetery for a 2-mile outing.
- Hold dogs close on the stairs and off the fragile stream banks.
Nearby trails to explore
- Buttermilk Falls Trail (Walpack, NJ)
- Sunrise Mountain Loop (Stokes State Forest)
- High Point Monument Trail
Hike this trail with TrailMates
Tillman Ravine is a quick, shady gorge walk that's easy to pair with Buttermilk Falls. Use TrailMates to find hikers heading to Tillman Ravine in the Delaware Water Gap. Download the TrailMates app to connect.