Sunfish Pond
This protected Kittatinny ridge pond rewards a substantial hike, not a roadside stop.
Artwork inspired by Asher B. Durand
Sunfish Pond is a glacial lake high above the Delaware Water Gap. Its clear water and rocky shore can feel sudden after the sustained climb from the river corridor, but the route is as important as the destination. Hikers usually reach it on established trails, including the Appalachian Trail and nearby loop options.
Choose a published route and allow for the descent, which can be harder on tired legs than the climb. Leave the protected shore undisturbed, carry drinking water, and stay on marked paths. A short day-hike plan should not be confused with the much longer Mount Tammany loop nearby; shared trailheads do not make the experiences identical.
- Type
- Glacial lake
- Setting
- Kittatinny ridge
- Access
- Hike only
Quick guide
- Choose a route
- Use NPS trail lengths and a real trailhead.
- Save the descent
- Keep water and energy for the return.
Know before you go
- Read glacial shape
- The basin and rock shore explain its origin.
- Stay on trail
- Fragile shore plants are easily damaged.
- Carry water
- Pond water is not ready-to-drink supply.
- Plan return
- Elevation matters as much as map distance.
Good to know
The map action opens the reviewed Douglas Trail parking lot, not the pond. Reaching Sunfish Pond still requires a substantial uphill hike; check the current NPS route before departure.
Notice these
- Rocky pond edge
- Ridge forest
- Glacial basin