Kittatinny Valley State Park is located near Andover, New Jersey and is known for its glacial lakes and limestone outcroppings amongst the Kittatinny Mountains. The area is also known as the Great Valley and outside of the park is largely agricultural land. The park itself has varied terrain, including fields, lakes, swamps and mountains.
Kittatinny Valley State Park contains four lakes that offer great boating and fishing. The largest of the lakes is the 119-acre Lake Aeroflex, which is 110 feet deep and the deepest glacial lake in the state. Also within the park are 39-acre Gardner’s Pond, 29-acre Twin Lakes and White's Pond. Brown trout and rainbow trout are among the fish that make the lakes their home.
The Paulinskill Valley Trail and the Sussex Branch Trail are multi-use trails that have been converted from railroad beds. The wide, flat trails are popular for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding and cross-country skiing. The former railroads had been an important method of transportation during the late 1800’s and early 1900’s and remnants of the railroad history can been seen along the trails.
Within the park is an airport that is operated by the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. It operates as a general aviation airport year round and a base for forest fire suppression during fire season.
The park is home to a wide variety of wildlife. Birding is a popular family activity and over 220 bird species have been identified within the park. Large raptors like osprey and bald eagle are among the species that can be spotted. There are also a number of mammal species living within the park, including beaver, red fox and black bear.
