Buckwood Trail, NJ

The Buckwood Trail is a short trail that connects the Appalachian Trail to the Tammany Fire Road, and as such, it can be used to create a longer loop that offers much more solitude than is normally encountered on the AT or on trails closer to Mount Tammany. Alternatively, access can be had using parts of the Dunnfield Creek Trail.


The Buckwood trail is marked with light blue or turquoise paint rectangles for its entire length and has signs identifying both ends at the trail junctions with the Fire Road and Appalachian Trail.Starting at the Fire Road after hiking here from Mount Tammany, you will descend on a narrow single-track through ridge-top forest towards upper Dunnfield Creek. Along with the area around Sunfish Pond, Upper Dunnfield Creek may be the most scenic section of the trail, with a rocky creek crossing and the sound of bubbling water flowing under the rocks, giving the hike a much different feel from what is normally encountered in New Jersey.

After the creek crossing, you hike up a slight hill to meet the Sunfish Fire Road, a wide path that is maintained for fire access and probably official use to access Sunfish Pond. Turn left here and follow the road or trail for about 1/3 of a mile, where the Buckwood Trail leaves the fire road and once again becomes a single track.

The last 1/3 of a mile is along the eastern side of Sunfish Pond. There are enjoyable views of the pond or lake, and what appear to be a few nice camping areas, although they may not strictly be legal to utilize as such. You meet the Appalachian Trail at the northern end of the trail. Turn left and continue on the Appalachian Trail if completing a counterclockwise loop.

2025-11-04 Jim