Photographing Stokes State Forest

Photographing Stokes State Park was not on my bucket list, but as you'll see, it's a great travel destination with plenty of opportunities for taking some magnificent  photos. I got some nice photos during my day hikes and so can you.

There are close to two dozen trails within Stokes State Forest, each with its own personality to explore. Like most photography of the natural world, the time of day, the weather conditions, and the time of year are big factors on how your images will come out.

This section of roadway is one way and takes you from the north end of the Swenson trail to the Steam Mill camping area where we stayed for this excursion.

You'll come across many areas during your hikes where the ferns have created a carpet-like layer like the scene below.

Also great choices for enjoying the great outdoors and photo ops in Northwest New Jersey are Jenny Jump, Delaware Water Gap, and Lakota Wolf Preserve.

At an elevation of over1,600 feet above sea level, the top of Sunrise Mountain gives you the scenic view below It is the  2nd highest mountain in the state. High Point is the highest point in New Jersey, coming in at 1803 feet. It's just a short walk and a few steps from the parking lot.

Take the spur-it's well marked-off of sunrise Mountain Rd. in the northeast section of the park to get to this great view to photograph above.

Remember to look for close-up photo opportunities as you travel the forest. Be sure to observe the various plant and insect life. During our hike we came across several clumps of Partridgeberry, surprisingly growing directly on the hiking trail.

The photo below of the Purple Loosestrife was taken right near a small bridge over Big Flat Brook on Crigger Road, near the entrance to the Steam Mill camping area.

Every photo taken in this collection of images was taken while walking a hiking trail or just a few feet away from the paved roads within the forest. You can talk to the friendly staff at the park's visitors center and get a two sided printed map or, ror a free PDF Stokes Forest Trail map click here: Trail Map PDF.

Stokes State Forest Artesian Well

One of the pleasant surprises we came across on the final section of our hike on Criggers Rd, a chance to splash off some trail dust and quench our thirsts.

Not far from the bridge over Big Flat Brook is a unique feature of nature. Are you thirsty for a refreshing drink of cool, clean water? At the entrance to Steam Mill Campsite is a genuine artesian well. Dive into this quick, but refreshing  video of the artesian well in Stokes State Forest.

The artesian well at Stokes Forest is a well that brings groundwater to the surface without pumping because it is under pressure within a body of rock or sediment known as an aquifer.

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FAQ: Questions And Answers About Stokes Forest

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Close-ups

As is almost always the case with travel photography, you have the opportunity to get up close and personal with your subjects too.

In the composition above I had a moving target, but was very pleased to capture the the patch of lighter background in a way that framed in and emphasized the main subject.

Thank God for super fast shutter speeds and focusing capabilities of my Canon R6 Mark II.

Thanks for coming along with me on  a photographic visit of Stokes State Forest. It doesn't have the epic grandeur of the heavily traveled national parks, but its charm is undeniable.

Nestled in the Kittatinny Mountains, Stokes State Forest is a sanctuary for nature lovers and photographers alike. We spent just two days exploring its trails, and we were blown away by the incredible photo ops.

I hope these photos inspire you to get outside and explore this beautiful corner of New Jersey.

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