Wallkill Puncheon Restoration Project Complete on the Appalachian Trail

The West Jersey Trail Crew replaced 107 deteriorated planks identified as in need of replacement along the 1,600 foot-long puncheon walkway on the Appalachian Trail between Lake Wallkill Road and the Wallkill Wildlife Refuge near Vernon, N.J. Approximately 90 sleepers (the foundation on which the tread planks rest) also were replaced using sections of donated utility poles.

While not a highly technical or complex project, this extensive work has added many years of additional life to this important trail stretch, directly adjacent to the section of Wallkill National Wildlife Refuge slated for a new bridge and boardwalk sometime in the years to come, pending final engineering and approvals.

This Appalachian Trail project has been made possible by a grant from the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) through funding from L.L. Bean. Without the support of L.L. Bean and ATC, this important work would not have been possible.