Ha Ha Tonka State Park

About Ha Ha Tonka State Park

Tonka State Park is an ideal place for adventurers, and is just a short drive from New York City and New Jersey. A 15 km long hiking trail crosses the park and leads visitors to the famous castle ruins. The rugged, rocky path through the historic town of Tonka in the National Park offers a picturesque view of the city and its historic buildings, as well as a variety of animal species.

The turn-of-the-century stone castle built by a wealthy businessman is everything in Tonka, New York City.

The Tonka savanna is an excellent example of a settlement landscape, and the savanna mosaic is made up of scattered oaks, pines, grasses and other vegetation.

This makes it easy for visitors to explore the savannah, and boaters can reach the park from the Tonka River on the west side of the river by boat. Bring a camera with you as Tonka State Park offers a wide range of cameras for purchase at the visitor center and on its website.

There are berths at the ruins in the headwaters of the bay, and the boat lengths from the berths to the park are up to 24 feet. Fishing is allowed at the lake, but not in the sources of Tonka and fishing is only allowed near the shore and in a small stretch of water in front of a boat ramp.

There are over 20 picnic spots scattered throughout the park, and there are also a number of picnic tables and picnic chairs as well as picnic benches. The accommodations are available free of charge and are ideal for family celebrations and special excursions. They are not reserved, but can be reserved for up to 40 days or $40 per day.

A 15 km long hiking trail crosses the park and leads visitors to the famous castle ruins. The trail ranges from walkable asphalt paths to rugged, rocky trails that offer hikers a varied experience.

A wooden promenade starts at the water tower and leads up a series of steps to the view of Whispering Dell and Sinkhole. The view from the castle offers a view of the Tonka Springs and Lake Ozarken and leads up to a steep hill with spectacular views over the lake and the Great Smoky Mountains.

The steps lead up to the springs below, but the steps and the path are demanding and even for the most experienced hikers and runners.

Start is at the Naturbruckenparkplatz, and the trail winds around a natural bridge over a large sinkhole and past the Coliseum.

The distance to the spring is about one kilometer, mostly asphalted, and the start is at the parking lot for the springs and the lake. Wooden stairs lead from the old post office to a spring stone and then up a series of wooden stairs to an outdoor footpath.

The tour starts at the mill spring on the way and leads to an island of balanced rocks, but the steps and the path are strenuous.

The trail leads to the top of the mountain, where a small waterfall flows into the river and then back down the hill to a waterfall.

The mandatory incineration helps to preserve the open forest and there is a barrier-free path with four stops. The trail follows the same path as the other trails in the National Park, but with a few more stops on the way up and down.

Visits to unique geological features, including the Devil's Promenade, can be arranged in advance with a naturalist during the park season. The park offers an interpretative programme on Saturdays from June to the beginning of August. A brochure at each of the eight interpretation stations tells more about the savannah landscape.