Glacial lakes, limestone
outcroppings, former railroads, and a small airport are features
of Kittatinny Valley State Park. Lake Aerof lex and Gardner’s
Pond form part of the headwaters of the Pequest River and
are excellent for fishing and boating. This scenic property
is home to a variety of wildlife such as whitetail deer, wild
turkey, a variety of songbirds, beaver, muskrats, and squirrels.
Hunting, hiking, mountain biking, birding, and horseback riding
are popular activities. The four lakes offer fishing, boating,
and kayaking opportunities.
The Paulinskill Valley Trail and the Sussex Branch Trail are
former railroads that have been converted for use as multiple
use trails. Both railroads were critical to the development
of Sussex County through the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.
The wide cinder surface is ideal for walking, running, mountain
biking, and horseback riding. When snow conditions are abundant,
these trails provide and excellent opportunity for cross-country
skiing, and snowshoeing. You might even see a musher and his
dogsled team running down the trail!
Through the Carry-In/Carry-Out Program you can help us keep the parks clean and beautiful by carrying out the trash you carry in. Please bring a biodegradable bag with you when visiting to take your trash home. Thank you for your cooperation and remember to recycle.
Access for Persons with Disabilities |
The recreational facilities at Kittatinny Valley State Park are partially accessible for persons with disabilities. Please contact the park office for further information regarding disability access. Text telephone (TT) users, call the New Jersey Relay Service at (800) 852-7899.

Due to COVID-19, camping is closed for the 2020 season.
Visit https://njparksandforests.org/sps_covid.html and follow www.facebook.com/newjerseystateparks for the most recent information on park operations — some amenities may not be available due to COVID-19.
COVID-19 Guidelines for Andover-Aeroflex Airport
Open daily sunrise to sunset
Park Office: Daily 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Note: The
Lake Aeroflex boat ramp is open 24 hours for fishing from
boats.

Trails in the park vary in difficulty and
terrain from the gravel roads that are walked and biked by
many to the technical terrain enjoyed by hard-core mountain
bikers. Single track trails and gravel roads are suitable
for hiking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing,
and horseback riding. A 2-mile self-guided nature trail provides
a brief introduction to the park’s natural and cultural
resources. Motorized vehicles are not permitted on any park
trails.
|

|
|

|
Paulinskill
Valley Trail
For most of its 27 miles, the trail passes through
rural landscapes, northern deciduous forests and wetlands,
and small towns in Warren and Sussex Counties. The trail cuts
under the majestic Hainseburg viaduct, once part of the Erie
Lackawanna Railroad. The trail has a wide, firm cinder base
suitable for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and cross-country
skiing. Over 100 different species of birds are identified
in and along the trail corridor in an annual bird census conducted
by members of the Paulinskill Valley Trail Committee. Six
bridge crossings of the Paulinskill River provide scenic views
of the river and some fishing access. Monthly hikes on the
Paulinskill Valley Trail are sponsored by the Paulinskill
Valley Trail Committee, (973) 786-5768.
Sussex Branch
Trail
This 20-mile trail skirts swamps,
lakes, fields and several small communities. The trail corridor
exhibits many features of the trail’s former existence
as a railroad. Among them are graded fill areas, cuts through
bedrock, underpasses that allow the passage of farm equipment
and dairy cattle from one side of the tracks to the other,
and bridges crossing the Pequest or Paulinskill Rivers.
The flat cinder base of the trail permits
multiple uses including hiking, horseback riding, biking,
cross-country skiing and dog sledding. The trail provides
access for fishing and for wheelchairs in certain areas. The
Sussex Branch Trail also crosses through Allamuchy Mountain
State Park.
back
Waterloo Village grounds are open to the public for walking. Parking is permitted outside the gates.
Waterloo Village takes the visitor through
time from a 400-year old Lenape (Delaware) Indian village
to a bustling port along the once prosperous Morris Canal.
This early 19th-century restored village contains a working
mill complex with gristmills and sawmills, a general store,
blacksmith shop and several historic houses.
Waterloo Village Historic Site Special Use Guidelines and Application
The park offers a variety of interpretive
and educational programs on a year-round basis. Nature hikes,
mountain bike rides and talks are conducted by the park naturalist
or an invited guest speaker and are scheduled each weekend
during the Spring and Summer seasons. Programs are also scheduled
during the Fall and Winter, but with less frequency. Please contact the park for current programs and to register. Program fees may apply. View Calendar of Events
Bursting with vibrant colors, Kittatinny Valley State Park is home to an award winning Butterfly and Hummingbird garden.
back
Geocaching (pronounced “geo-cashing”) is an outdoor treasure hunting game enjoyed by adventure seekers of all ages around the world. Participants use a hand-held GPS (Global Positioning System)-enabled device to navigate to a specific set of coordinates and then attempt to find the "cache" hidden at that location. Geocaches come in a variety of sizes, though they are tradtionally metal or plastic water-tight containers containing trade items and a logbook to sign. In your daily travels, you probably pass dozens of geocaches just waiting to be found. They're hidden all around us in shopping centers, street signs, and picnic areas, as well as along scenic hiking trails throughout state, county, and local parks. Geocaching will take you to interesting and historic locations that perhaps you never knew existed. It helps you get back to nature, discover special places, and create stories along the way. Geocaching is also a great teaching tool for families who want to add a little excitement and education to their vacations by exploring and learning about new destinations. To participate in the adventure, a geocacher must login to the official geocaching website at www.geocaching.com and create a free basic account. To learn more about geocaching in New Jersey, visit the Northern New Jersey Cachers website at www.nnjc.org, or attend the monthly "Geocaching for Beginners" workshops at KVSP. Kittatinny Valley State Park is home to over 200 geocaches - there is an adventure out there for everyone, so grab your GPS and join in the quest to re-discover the Great Outoors!
Junior Naturalist Workbook and Program Series |
Calling all kids ages 7 through 12! Do you like to be outdoors? Do you like to have fun? Then stop by the park visitor center to find out how you can become a Kittatinny Valley State Park Junior Naturalist! Find out more!
General Rail
Trail Information |
On rail trails, grades are minimal and there
is access for people with disabilities in some areas. Motorized
vehicles are not permitted on either trail. These trail corridors
are narrow and lands beyond the trail corridor are generally
privately owned. Please stay on the trail. Be aware of hunting
seasons during the Fall and Winter as adjacent private or
public lands may be open for hunting. As a courtesy, hikers/walkers
should yield to bikers and all should yield to horses. Bikers
should also give a verbal or bell warning to hikers or horses
before overtaking them on the trails.
Due to COVID-19, camping is closed for the 2020 season.
Alcohol is prohibited. Pets are prohibited in overnight facilities.
Group campsites: Three group
campsites containing picnic tables, grill, fire ring, drinking water, and composting toilets. Each campsite accommodates up to 21 people. Open April 1 to October 31. Fee: NJ Resident $42 per night; Non Resident $84 per night.
Special Use Permit Application |
Special Use Permit Application Package
A Special Use Permit is utilized to accommodate a specific activity or event being conducted over a short duration. There are two types of special use permits: Non-Commercial and Commercial and fees are based on NJ residency and Non-residents. A completed application must be submitted to the park/forest area where the activity or event is being held at least 90 days prior to the event. If the special use or event is extremely large or complex, at least one-year’s prior notice is recommended.
Beginning May 17, 2006, the NJ
Division of Fish and Wildlife introduced landlocked salmon
to Lake Aeroflex to provide anglers with an opportunity to
fish for this unique coldwater sport fish close to home. Only
a handful of deep lakes in New Jersey have suitable year round
habitat for coldwater fish like trout and salmon. Lake Wawayanda
in Wawayanda State Park also
received the landlocked salmon.
Kittatinny Valley State Park contains 4 lakes to provide
fishing and boating opportunities. Lake Aeroflex (119 Acres)
is accessible by shoreline and via the boat launch ramp. Gardner’s
Pond (39 Acres) may be reached on foot through the small plane
parking area at Aeroflex-Andover Airport. Small boats may
be transported by hand or small cart and launched from shore.
Vehicular access is not available. Access for both lakes is
from Limecrest Road in Andover Township.
There are also kayaks, row boats and paddle boards for rent on Lake Areoflex. They are located next to the boat launch and are available from May to October.
Twin Lakes is a 29-acre lake located off of Goodale Road in
Andover Township. Anglers may access the lake via the car-top
boat launch or from the shoreline.
White’s Pond is reachable from the Sussex Branch Trail
or from Goodale Road and is open for shoreline fishing only.
All lakes are open for ice-fishing during the winter as conditions
allow.
The New Jersey
Division of Fish and Wildlife stocks Lake Aeroflex annually
with brown and rainbow trout. The lake is designated a “holdover
trout lake.”
Did I catch Trout or Salmon?
Refer
to the NJ
Division of Fish and Wildlife's guide to help you distinguish
between a trout and a salmon. You will need Adobe
Acrobat Reader to view this file.
back
State Park Service areas open to hunting
Tree Stands and Blinds Policy

Kittatinny Valley State Park Hunting Map
Hunting is permitted within Kittatinny Valley
State Park, however hunting is not permitted on or from either
rail trail. The core area of the park, west of Limecrest Road
and east of Goodale Road, is also closed to all hunting.
Areas of the park to the west of Goodale Road and to the east
of Limecrest Road are open for all hunting seasons as described
in the Fish and Wildlife Digest.
Please contact the park office for a copy of the hunting flyer
which details the open seasons and specifies the dates.
Hunting is permitted in designated areas within the park and is subject to Division of Fish and Wildlife regulations.
back
A small number of picnic tables and grills
are available near the parking area adjacent to Limecrest
Road. Other picnic tables are scattered through the park.
With over 8 miles of rugged mountain bike
trails available, Kittatinny Valley State Park is a favorite
of many hard-core mountain bikers. Volunteers from the Bulldog
Mountain Bike Team regularly maintain trails in preparation
for mountain bike races held in the park each year. The terrain
is varied enough to be challenging to both novice and expert
riders.
The airport located within the boundaries
of Kittatinny Valley State Park is owned by the State of New
Jersey and operated by the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.
It is used as a general aviation airport. Airplane watching
is a popular pastime. During fire seasons, the airport serves
as an air attack base to facilitate aerial attacks on forest
fires using helicopters and commercial spray planes for water
drops on forest fires. Aeroflex-Andover Airport is operated
by the NJ Forest Fire Service as a general aviation airport
and as a base for aerial forest fire suppression. (973) 786-5100.
Please be aware that in an effort to
comply with the NJDOT, Division of Aeronautics regulations at
the Aeroflex-Andover Airport and to enhance the safety of visitors
to Kittatinny Valley State Park, gates have been installed at
the north end of the airport. Visitors will no longer be permitted
to cross the runway along the southern shore of Lake Aeroflex.
The gates are closed to all pedestrians, cyclists and horseback
riders. Visitors may still enjoy the use of the Lake Aeroflex
boat ramp and the adjacent picnic area via the Limecrest Road
entrance. The park’s trails, office and other facilities
are accessible via the main park entrance on Goodale Road. Call
the park office with any questions at (973) 786-6445.
Paulinskill Valley Trail Committee |
The Paulinskill Valley Trail Committee (PVTC) is the Officially Recognized Friends Group of the Kittatinny Valley State Park. They are a not-for-profit 501c(3) organization of volunteers dedicated to promoting the public interest, appreciation and conservation of the resources of Kittatinny Valley State Park (KVSP) with emphasis on its rail trails. The Paulinskill Valley Trail (27 miles), the Sussex Branch Trail (20 miles), and the Great Valley Rail Trail (14 miles) are part of Kittatinny Valley State Park. All trails are multi-use. However, no motorized vehicles are allowed. Hiking, bicycle riding, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, snow shoeing jogging and dog sledding are allowed. All dogs must be on a leash. The tracks have been removed from these rail trails, leaving a pleasant cinder bed path. Except at a few road crossings, the trails are level and offer easy walking, cycling, and horseback riding. Anyone interested in nature or railroad history will enjoy using these three rail trails.
PAULINSKILL VALLEY TRAIL COMMITTEE 2021 HIKING SCHEDULE
• Rails to Trails
Conservancy
• Trail Links
• Bulldog Mountain
Bike Team
• NJ
Forest Fire Service
back
FAQ's
(Frequently Asked Questions) |
How deep
is Lake Aeroflex? |
At over 110’
in depth, Lake Aeroflex is the deepest glacial lake in
the state. |
Do you allow hunting in the park? |
Hunting is permitted in the park
and park users are urged to consult the hunting flyer
available in the park office for season dates and locations. |
What kind of fish
are in the lake? |
Brown trout, rainbow trout, largemouth
bass, bluegills, landlocked salmon, and assorted panfish. |
How many trout or Salmon am I allowed to keep each day? |
Check out the Holdover Trout and Salmon Regulations. Provided by NJ Fish and Wildlife |
Can I camp at Kittatinny Valley State Park? |
Three group campsites are open April 1 through October 31. Each site can accommodate up to 20 people. Amenities include picnic tables, grill, fire ring, and composting toilets. For forms and information on booking a campsite visit our: reservations page. |
Can I rent a boat/canoe/kayak, bike or horse at the park? |
No rentals are available in the park. |
Why can’t I go swimming in the lake? |
State park regulations prohibit swimming except at designated beaches with lifeguards on duty. None of the lakes at Kittatinny Valley State Park have designated beach areas. |
back to top
|