CRATER LAKE
Kittatinnies, Sussex County, NJ

Directions:

There is parking at Crater Lake located at the end of Skyline Drive. From US 80 at the Delaware Water Gap, follow Old Mine Road north; pass by Millbrook Village; turn right on to Route 624 (Blue Mountain Lakes Road); follow to the intersection with Skyline Drive and park.

If you want to park at Crater Lake itself, when on Skyline Drive, drive for 2.3 miles to a parking area at the end of the road.

Geology:

Crater Lakes is a natural lake high atop the Kittatinny Ridge. It may have been formed the impact of a large meteor in 1853.

Topography:

Hemlock ---------------------- Crater
Pond -------------------------- Lake
---------------------------------
--------------------------------- Long Pine
--------------------------------- Pond
--------------------------------
Blue Mountain
Lakes

History:

Earlier in the 20th century, Crater Lake was a popular summer-cottage colony. In the 1960s and 1970s the federal government bought the area and tore down the cottages. Old roads in the area were part of the Lake Success (Crater Lake) second-home subdivision. It was just being developed when the federal government acquired the land for a dam at Tocks Island. This dam project was stopped and the subdivision never really got off the ground.

After the flood of 1955, the area north of the Delaware Water Gap was almost destroyed by the proposed building of the Tocks Island Dam Project by the Army Corps of Engineers. The successful fight against the project was one of the nation's most strongly fought paper battles.

Trails:

AT to Crater Lake

There is a parking area on Skyline Drive, just north of its intersection with the Flatbrookville/ Stillwater Road (now Blue Mountain Lakes Road). The AT goes northeast parallel to Skyline Drive from Blue Mountain Lakes Road; it then heads northwest, northeast, northwest to go around Crater Lake on the western side of the lake. The AT then heads to an intersection with the Hemlock Pond Trail and next heads to an intersection with the Buttermilk Falls Trail (to Buttermilk Falls).

Circular Walk:

There is a two mile trail made of old roads that leads around the lake.

Aug. 18, 01 Crater Lake & vicinity, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Sussex Co., N.J. Torrey Botanical Society trip. With Gerry Moore (leader). Plant list compiled by Dr. William F. Standaert .

Nomenclature follows Gleason & Cronquist (1991). Common names from various sources. Various manuals used for cultivated plants. Bailey (1949) often useful.

var. ... = unspecified variety. (Vars. listed in Gleason & Cronquist do not match Kartesz's interpretation.)
F Flowering specimen(s) found. [C.] Cultivated.
Fr Fruiting specimen(s) found. [E.] Escaped from cultivation.

List I
Overlook, Skyline Drive
R = roadsides and forest edge near Overlook)

Trees
Acer rubrum (red maple) few
Ailanthus altissima (tree of heaven) few
Betula lenta Black Birch (Reported by Patrick Cooney)
Betula populifolia Gray Birch few
Carya glabra Pignut Hickory (Seen by Gerry Moore & Patrick) 1 (R?)
Nyssa sylvatica var. sylvatica Sour Gum (Reported by Patrick) (R)
Pinus rigida Pitch Pine few
Populus grandidentata Bigtooth Aspen (Reported by Patrick) 1 (R)
Prunus serotina Black Cherry 2; Fr
Pyrus calleryana [C./E.] Callery Pear 1
Quercus prinus Chestnut Oak some
Quercus rubra Red Oak some
Sassafras albidum Sassafras some

Shrubs
Berberis thunbergii [E.] Japanese Barberry (Reported by Patrick)
Comptonia peregrina Sweet-fern (Reported by Patrick) (R?)
Gaylussacia baccata Black Huckleberry some
Hamamelis virginiana Witch Hazel few
Kalmia angustifolia var. angustifolia Sheep Laurel few; im Fr
Kalmia latifolia Mountain Laurel few; im Fr
Quercus ilicifolia Scrub Oak 1
Rubus allegheniensis var. allegheniensis Allegheny Blackberry (ID by Gerry Moore) few
Rubus flagellaris Northern Dewberry (ID by Gerry) few
Rubus occidentalis Black Raspberry 1
Rubus sp. Blackberry common
Spiraea alba var. latifolia Meadowsweet (Reported by Patrick) (R)
Spiraea tomentosa var. tomentosa Steeplebush few
Syringa vulgaris [C./E.] Lilac 1
Vaccinium angustifolium Late Lowbush Blueberry (Seen by Steve Glenn)
Vaccinium pallidum Early Lowbush Blueberry few

Vines
Amphicarpaea bracteata Hog Peanut few
Parthenocissus quinquefolia Virginia Creeper (Reported by Patrick)
Polygonum scandens (var. ?) Climbing False Buckwheat some; near F

Herbs
Alliaria petiolata Garlic Mustard (Reported by Patrick)
Ambrosia artemisiifolia Common Ragweed few; F
Anaphalis margaritacea Pearly Everlasting few; F
Apocynum sp. Dogbane, Indian hemp (Reported by Patrick)
Arctium minus Common Burdock 1; F
Barbarea vulgaris Winter Cress few
Centaurea maculosa Spotted Knapweed common; F
Chimaphila maculata Spotted Wintergreen (Reported by Patrick) (R)
Chrysanthemum leucanthemum Oxeye Daisy (Reported by Patrick) (R); F
Cichorium intybus Chicory (Reported by Patrick) (R); F
Cirsium vulgare Bull Thistle few; F
Conyza canadensis var. canadensis Horseweed (Reported by Patrick); F
Cynoglossum officinale Hound's-tongue few, roadside; Fr
Daucus carota Wild Carrot some; F
Dianthus armeria Deptford Pink few; F, Fr
Erechtites hieraciifolia Pilewort few; F
Erigeron strigosus var. strigosus Lesser Daisy Fleabane few; F
Eupatorium rugosum var. rugosum White Snakeroot common; F (few)
Euphorbia cyparissias Cypress Spurge common; Fr(?)
Euphorbia maculata Spotted Spurge (Reported by Patrick)
Hedeoma pulegioides American Pennyroyal few; F
Hieracium venosum Rattlesnake-weed (Seen by Steve Glenn) 1
Lepidium virginicum var. virginicum Peppergrass some; im Fr
Lespedeza procumbens Trailing Lespedeza 1 large patch; im Fr
Lespedeza repens Creeping Lespedeza few; F
Linaria vulgaris Butter and Eggs (Reported by Patrick); F
Lobelia inflata Indian-tobacco few; F
Medicago lupulina Black Medick (Reported by Patrick); F
Melilotus officinalis Yellow Sweetclover (Reported by Patrick); F
Monotropa uniflora Indian Pipe (Seen by Steve Glenn)
Nepeta cataria Catnip 1; F
Oxalis stricta Common Yellow Wood-sorrel few; F
Plantago lanceolata English Plantain few; F, Fr
Plantago major Common Plantain (Reported by Patrick)
Polygonum arenastrum Dooryard Knotweed few; F, Fr
Polygonum cespitosum var. longisetum Cespitose Smartweed (Reported by Patrick) (R); F, Fr
Prunella vulgaris var. lanceolata Selfheal (Reported by Patrick) (R); F
Solanum nigrum Black Nightshade (Reported by Patrick) (R)
Verbascum thapsus Common Mullein some; F, Fr
Veronica officinalis Common Speedwell (Reported by Patrick)

Rushes
Juncus tenuis var. tenuis Path Rush some; Fr

Sedges
Carex vulpinoidea var. vulpinoidea Fox Sedge 1; Fr

Grasses
Bromus inermis Smooth Brome few clumps; Fr
Elytrigia repens Quackgrass few; Fr
Microstegium vimineum Japanese Stilt Grass (Reported by Patrick) (R)
Panicum capillare Witchgrass few; F
Phleum pratense Timothy 1; Fr
Poa compressa Canada Bluegrass some; Fr
Schizachyrium scoparium var. scoparium Little Bluestem some
Setaria glauca Yellow Foxtail few; Fr
Tridens flavus var. flavus Purpletop (Reported by Patrick) (R)

Ferns & fern allies
Dennstaedtia punctilobula Hay-scented Fern (Reported by Patrick)
Pteridium aquilinum var. latiusculum Bracken (Reported by Patrick) (R)

List II
Crater Lake area
Parking area, nearby forest, southeastern lakeshore, abandoned building & garden, and marsh south of lake (M = marsh only)

Trees
Acer rubrum Red Maple some
Ailanthus altissima Tree of Heaven few
Betula lenta Black Birch few
Betula populifolia Gray Birch some
Juniperus virginiana var. ... Eastern Red-cedar few; Fr
Morus alba [C./E.] White Mulberry 1
Nyssa sylvatica var. sylvatica Sour Gum few
Picea abies [C.] Norway Spruce few; Fr
Pinus rigida Pitch Pine some
Prunus persica [C./E.] Peach 1
Prunus serotina Black Cherry few
Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii [C.] Douglas-fir 1
Quercus palustris Pin Oak common
Quercus rubra Red Oak some
Tsuga canadensis Eastern Hemlock few

Shrubs
Alnus serrulata Smooth Alder (Reported by Patrick Cooney)
Aronia arbutifolia Red Chokeberry 1
Berberis thunbergii [E.] Japanese Barberry few
Chamaedaphne calyculata Leatherleaf common; Fr
Clethra alnifolia Sweet Pepperbush some; F
Comptonia peregrina Sweet-fern some large patches
Eubotrys racemosa Fetterbush (Reported by Patrick)
Gaultheria procumbens Eastern Teaberry few
Gaylussacia baccata Black Huckleberry some
Gaylussacia frondosa Dangleberry few; im Fr
Hamamelis virginiana Witch Hazel some
Kalmia angustifolia var. angustifolia Sheep Laurel fewl; im Fr
Kalmia latifolia Mountain Laurel some; im Fr
Ligustrum vulgare [C./E.] Common Privet (Seen by Steve Glenn)
Lonicera morrowii [E.] Morrow's Honeysuckle few patches; Fr
Lyonia ligustrina Maleberry (Reported by Patrick)
Mitchella repens Partridge-berry 1 small patch
Myrica gale Sweet Gale few, 1 site
Philadelphus inodorus [C./E.] Scentless Mock Orange 1; im Fr
Rhododendron viscosum Swamp Azalea few; Fr
Rhus typhina Staghorn Sumac 1
Rosa multiflora [E.] Multiflora Rose few; im Fr
Rubus hispidus Swamp Dewberry 1 patch
Rubus phoenicolasius [E.] Wine Raspberry 1
Rubus sp. Blackberry few
Sambucus canadensis var. ... Common Elderberry (Reported by Patrick)
Spiraea tomentosa var. tomentosa Steeplebush some; F, Fr
Taxus baccata [C.] English Yew 1
Vaccinium corymbosum Highbush Blueberry some; Fr
Vaccinium pallidum Early Lowbush Blueberry some
Viburnum dentatum var. dentatum Southern Arrowwood (Reported by Patrick)

Vines
Amphicarpaea bracteata Hog Peanut some; F
Cuscuta compacta Compact Dodder 1 small patch (M); F
Parthenocissus quinquefolia Virginia Creeper few
Smilax rotundifolia Common Greenbrier 2
Toxicodendron radicans var. radicans Poison Ivy 2 small patches
Vitis aestivalis var. aestivalis Summer Grape some
Vitis labrusca Fox Grape 1

Herbs
Achillea millefolium ssp. lanulosa Yarrow few; F
Ajuga reptans [C./E.] Carpet Bugleweed (Seen by Gerry Moore & others) few
Alliaria petiolata Garlic Mustard few; Fr
Anaphalis margaritacea Pearly Everlasting some; F, im Fr
Antennaria neglecta var. neglecta Field Pussytoes few patches
Apocynum sp. (androsaemifolium?) Spreading Dogbane? few
Aquilegia canadensis Columbine few
Aquilegia sp. (vulgaris?) [C.] European Columbine? 1, old garden
Aralia nudicaulis Wild Sarsaparilla 1
Asclepias syriaca Common Milkweed some; im Fr
Aster acuminatus Whorled Aster 2 small patches; near F
Aster spp. Aster (No flowers) few
Barbarea vulgaris Winter Cress few
Bidens discoidea Small Beggarticks common; F, im Fr
Centaurea maculosa Spotted Knapweed some; F
Chimaphila maculata Spotted Wintergreen few; im Fr
Chrysanthemum leucanthemum Oxeye Daisy some; F
Cirsium discolor Field Thistle 1; F
Commelina communis Asiatic Dayflower 1; F
Convallaria majalis [C./E.] Lily of the Valley 1 patch
Conyza canadensis var. canadensis Horseweed few; near F
Daucus carota Wild Carrot some; F
Desmodium paniculatum Panicled Tick-trefoil (Reported by Patrick); F
Epilobium coloratum Purple-leaved Willowherb 2; F
Epipactis helleborine Helleborine 1
Erechtites hieraciifolia Pilewort common; Fr
Erigeron annuus Daisy Fleabane few; Fr
Erigeron strigosus var. strigosus Lesser Daisy Fleabane few; F
Eriocaulon aquaticum Seven-angled Pipewort some patches; F
Eupatorium perfoliatum var. perfoliatum Boneset (Reported by Patrick); F
Eupatorium rugosum var. rugosum White Snakeroot common; F (few)
Euphorbia cyparissias Cypress Spurge some; Fr
Euthamia graminifolia var. nuttallii Grass-leaved Goldenrod some; F (few)
Fragaria virginiana Virginia Strawberry 2 patches
Galium tinctorium var. tinctorium Stiff Marsh Bedstraw some (M); F, im Fr
Hieracium piloselloides Glaucous King-devil few large patches
Hypericum boreale Northern St. Johnswort common, lakeshore; F, im Fr
Hypericum punctatum Spotted St. Johnswort (Reported by Patrick); F
Impatiens sp. Jewelweed few
Iris sp. Iris (Reported by Patrick)
Isotria verticillata Whorled Pogonia 5, one site
Lespedeza hirta var. hirta Hairy Lespedeza 1; F
Lobelia inflata Indian-tobacco some; F, Fr
Lycopus virginicus Virginia Water Horehound some; F, im Fr
Lysimachia quadrifolia Whorled Loosestrife few; F
Lythrum salicaria Purple Loosestrife few; F
Maianthemum canadense var. ... Canada Mayflower (Seen by Steve Glenn)
Medicago lupulina Black Medick few; F
Melampyrum lineare var. americanum Cow-wheat 1; F
Melilotus alba White Sweetclover few; F, Fr
Melilotus officinalis Yellow Sweetclover (Reported by Patrick); F
Mentha x piperita [aquatica x spicata] E.?]Peppermint 1; F
Monotropa uniflora Indian Pipe 3 clumps; F
Nuphar advena Southern Pond-lily 1 small patch (M); F
Nymphaea odorata var. ... White Waterlily few
Penstemon digitalis Foxglove Beardtongue few; im Fr
Phytolacca americana Pokeweed 1; im Fr
Plantago lanceolata English Plantain some; F, Fr
Plantago major Common Plantain few
Polygonatum pubescens Hairy Solomon's Seal 3
Polygonum arenastrum Dooryard Knotweed few; F, Fr
Polygonum cespitosum var. longisetum Cespitose Smartweed few; F, Fr
Polygonum punctatum var. punctatum Dotted Smartweed some (M); F, Fr
Polygonum sagittatum Arrow-leaved Tearthumb few; F
Potentilla simplex Common Cinquefoil few patches
Prunella vulgaris var. lanceolata Selfheal few; F
Rumex acetosella Sheep Sorrel 1
Rumex sp. Dock (Reported by Patrick)
Satureja vulgaris Wild Basil some; F, im Fr
Sedum sarmentosum [C./E.] Stringy Stonecrop few patches
Silene vulgaris Bladder-campion (Reported by Patrick); F
Solidago bicolor Silverrod (Reported by Patrick)
Solidago caesia Blue-stemmed Goldenrod common; F
Solidago rugosa ssp. r. var. rugosa Rough Goldenrod few
Sparganium sp. (androcladum?) Branched Bur-reed (Check mature fruits) some (M); im Fr
Symplocarpus foetidus Skunk Cabbage few
Taraxacum officinale Dandelion few; Fr
Tragopogon dubius Yellow Goat's-beard (Reported by Patrick)
Triadenum virginicum Marsh St. Johnswort some; Fr
Trifolium aureum Yellow Hop-clover (Seen by Steve Glenn) 1
Trifolium repens White Clover few; F
Verbascum lychnitis White Mullein 1; F, Fr
Verbascum thapsus Common Mullein some; Fr
Verbena hastata BlueVervain 1 (M); F
Verbena urticifolia var. urticifolia White Vervain 2; F, Fr
Veronica officinalis Common Speedwell few
Viola sagittata Arrow-leaved Violet 1

Rushes
Juncus acuminatus Sharp-fruited Rush common; F, Fr
Juncus canadensis Canadian Rush some, lakeshore & marsh; im Fr
Juncus effusus var. solutus Common Rush some; Fr
Juncus tenuis var. tenuis Path Rush common; Fr

Sedges
Carex lurida Shallow Sedge (Reported by Patrick)
Carex pensylvanica var. pensylvanica Pennsylvanian Sedge 1 patch
Carex scoparia Broom Sedge few, 1 site; Fr
Carex stricta Tussock Sedge few clumps (M)
Carex swanii Swan's Sedge 1 clump; Fr
Carex vulpinoidea var. vulpinoidea Fox Sedge 1; Fr
Cyperus strigosus Straw-colored Flatsedge some, lakeshore; F, Fr
Dulichium arundinaceum Threeway Sedge few patches (M); near F
Eleocharis ovata Blunt Spikerush few patches; F, Fr
Scirpus atrovirens var. atrovirens Dark Green Bulrush 1; Fr
Scirpus cyperinus Woolgrass (lakeshore?)common in M; im Fr

Grasses
Agrostis gigantea Redtop some; im Fr
Agrostis hyemalis var. hyemalis Ticklegrass 1; im Fr
Agrostis perennans var. Autumn Bentgrass few, trail near marsh; near F
Andropogon virginicus var. virginicus Broomsedge few; old Fr
Anthoxanthum odoratum Sweet Vernal Grass few; past Fr
Dactylis glomerata Orchard Grass some; Fr
Danthonia spicata Poverty Oatgrass common, trail near marsh; past Fr
Deschampsia flexuosa Wavy Hairgrass(Reported by Patrick)
Glyceria canadensis Rattlesnake Mannagrass (Reported by Patrick) (M)
Glyceria striata Fowl Mannagrass few patches (M); Fr
Leersia oryzoides Rice Cutgrass 1 small patch (M); F
Microstegium vimineum Japanese Stilt Grass common
Panicum clandestinum Deertongue (Reported by Patrick)
Phalaris arundinacea Reed Canary grass few small patches; past Fr
Phleum pratense Timothy few; Fr
Phragmites australis common Reed 1 small patch (M)
Poa compressa Canada Bluegrass some; Fr
Schizachyrium scoparium var. scoparium Little Bluestem few small patches
Setaria faberi Nodding Foxtail 2; Fr?
Tridens flavus var. flavus Purpletop few; near F

Ferns & allies
Equisetum arvense Field Horsetail (Reported by Patrick)
Asplenium platyneuron Ebony Spleenwort 1
Dennstaedtia punctilobula Hay-scented some
Dryopteris carthusiana [C.?] Spinulose Wood 1, at building
Onoclea sensibilis Sensitive few
Osmunda cinnamomea Cinnamon few
Thelypteris palustris var. pubescens Marsh (Reported by Patrick)

Pyrus calleryana - The overlook area. ID seems pretty certain, based on leaf features and spines. Remnant of plantings, along with Lilac.

Anaphalis margaritacea - Checked flower heads carefully. Found a male plant. Dioecious, and no doubt this species rather than Gnaphalium obtusifolium.

Cynoglossum officinale - Nice weed. Good illustration of fruits in ald (50), p. 1203. Yes, fruits had the "firm, beak-like style" we were supposed to see. Cheating, but glad Patrick had his big picture-book handy for this puzzler. (Have seen C. virginianum in woods 25 mi. NW of Philadelphia.)

Lespedeza procumbens and L. repens - The big patch on top of the overlook was procumbens: Low, sprawling, with spreading hairs on stems. The few plants that Sarah found a little ways down the slope checked out as L. repens--not violacea as first thought.

Jumped to the conclusion of "violacea" based on racemes that overtopped the subtending leaves, but should have gone through the key more carefully in the field. Both have such racemes. Not really evident that those plants were creeping types, but: hairs on stem appressed, not the spreading hairs of violacea, and keel petal was only slightly longer than wing petals.

Panicum capillare - My ID of the conspicuously flowering panic-grass at the edge of the overlook.

Poa compressa - The Agrostis-like grass we were looking at the roadside across from the overlook checked out as just some poor-condition specimens of this species.

Picea abies, Pseudotsuga menziezii, Taxus baccata, Lonicera morrowii, Philadelphus inodorus, Ajuga reptans, Sedum sarmentosum - Interesting "ghosts" persisting around old house. The Douglas-fir seemed to be var. menziesii, based on yellowish-green foliage. Check another time, when cones are available? My notes on the Philadelphus: two fruits per branchlet; calyx glabrous, with ovate sepals; leaves almost glabrous, acuminate at tip, broadly wedge-shaped to rounded at base, and leaf edges almost entire; and bark on older twigs was brown but exfoliating.

Myrica gale - Very nice. Ditto for Eriocaulon aquaticum, Verbascum lychnitis, and Isotria verticillata.

Anaphalis margaritacea - Large patch on trail to marsh. Just checked one plant. Flower heads not fully formed, but found papillose achenes--confirming Anaphalis rather than Gnaphalium.

Aster acuminatus - A few close to old house. Another small patch along trail to marsh. Knew this from many years ago, but first time I have seen this on our Torrey trips. Very low plants--8 inches tall, with a distinctive whorl of large, toothed leaves that look like Solidago rugosa. Just a few, half-opened flower heads with white rays. Achenes very glandular.

Hypericum boreale - Common along lakeshore. Not H. mutilum: The bracts below flowers were wide and leaf-like, not subulate; sepals with rounded tips; sepals not extending to the top of (immature) fruits.

Juncus acuminatus - Common along lakeshore. J. canadensis also present both on lakeshore and marsh.

Carex swanii - Gerry: Checked perigynia, etc., confirming your field ID.

Agrostis gigantea - Various sites. A. hyemalis var. hyemalis - Robert: The thin "Ticklegrass" found on the dry spot in the marsh area. A perennans - The grass near the Carex swanii. Tridens flavus - Robert: Confirmation of our field identification of that last grass we were studying.