<<<Best Hikes in NJ

Bearfort Ridge - Surprise Lake

Summary: This very pretty and scenic trail follows the ridge of Bearfort Mountain, located in Abram S. Hewitt State Forest in West Milford, NJ (near Greenwood Lake).

 

It features a little bit of everything you find hiking in Jersey: a mix of rugged and easy trail surface, including long patches of exposed rock, some short scrambling sections, nice views from the ridge, a rhododendron tunnel, and several wet areas/streams. Surprise Lake makes for a pleasant break spot, and the return is on a woods road.

 

Mileage: 5.9 miles, challenging. While this trail is not long, it is a challenge due to the rapid up and down of the ridge trail and some rock scramble sections throughout. The return is easier on a woods road, but that is very wet in spots and the blazes are spaced out and easy to miss in a few places.

 

Other options:

• A longer loop that also goes past West Pond by using the Ernest Walter, AT, and State line trails. Should be about 8 miles.

• A shorter route to Surprise Lake is from a parking lot on 511 across from Greenwood Lake, using the State Line and Ernest Walter Trails. Unsure of the mileage, likely in the 3-4 mile roundtrip range.

Map: Best to purchase the North Jersey Trails Map Set by NYNJTC. This park is managed by Wawayanda, so there should be maps at that park office. UPDATE: We now have a scan of the Abram S. Hewitt park map, which has the trails in this area. (Thanks to Joe K.)

 

Books: This hike appears in "Hiking the Jersey Highlands" as “Bearfort Ridge Loop” and includes a small map diagram. A slightly longer variation (8 miles, mentioned above) can be found in "50 Hikes in New Jersey", there is a map in there as well.

 

Bears: Make noise as you hike… talk, occasionally clap hands, etc. We’ve ran into a bear right in the beginning of this trail before, apparently there are 3 that like to hang out by the houses to raid garbage cans.

 

Snakes: Watch for them on the exposed rocks and crevices, sunning themselves. We saw one black snake, and heard another - not sure what kind.

 

Parking: Rt 287 to exit 55, follow 511 North. Follow 511 through Wanaque. Bear left at the Y-intersection of Skyline Drive by the reservoir and travel past Monksville Reservoir and Greenwood Lake. After the intersection of 513, look for a pullout on the right side. There are no parking lots or facilities, just a spot for a couple cars.

 

Walk back down the road to the trail head – be very careful as there isn’t much shoulder. There is a sign for the “Jeremy Glick” trail and “Bearfort Ridge Trail”.

 

There is another pullout a little farther up the road from the 1st, as well. From this, you can walk back to the trail head as above, or take the BLUE trail from the pullout which will meet up with this description as noted below.

 

Restrooms: None. Gas station or there is a composting toilet at the Monksville reservoir on Rt 511 that is in decent shape. Look for the “Long Pond Ironworks” park sign on the left and follow the driveway down. It’s also marked in our map coordinate files.

 

Hike Directions:Head to the left on WHITE trail (Bearfort Ridge). The trail is immediately very pretty, but there is some road noise for a little bit (the downside of being in Jersey – never that far from a road). The trail starts to climb up to the ridge.

 

In a short while you meet the ORANGE (Quail) trail. Follow the WHITE blazes where they indicate a left turn.

 

At about .6 mile in, the BLUE trail comes in from the left. (if you parked at the 2nd pullout, this is where you join this route)

 

Continue straight on WHITE, heading uphill.

 

At about 1 mile, scramble up to a viewpoint on your left with a view to the west and south. NYC can be visible on a clear day.

 

Continue on WHITE.

 

At about 1.8 miles, watch for the WHITE markers heading right and down a steep scramble. The trail appears to go straight, and in fact there is a rock cairn (stack of rocks denoting a trail) straight ahead– but it’s not the trail.

 

At roughly 2.2 miles you come to a huge rock cleft – a large slab of rock has vertically sheered away from the larger rock face. It overlooks an overgrown swampy area.

 

At about 2.9 miles arrive at a open area with views to the east.

 

At 3.0 miles, arrive at the junction with YELLOW (Ernest Walter Trail). WHITE ends, you now follow YELLOW.

 

YELLOW continues left and right – for this route, go to the right.

 

The trail drops steeply down a little rock scramble, then will go through a wet area you cross by rock-hopping.

 

As you get closer to Surprise Lake, the trail goes through a “tunnel” of rhododendron which is really nice.

 

At about 3.4 miles, arrive at Surprise Lake. There are some rocks to sit on in a few areas. This is a popular spot, there will be people here.

 

To head back, we took the woods road (Quail Trail). You could also return the way you came instead, but the woods road is much less challenging.

 

From the lake, head back how you came on the YELLOW trail and look for the where the trail splits. Take the left side. There was a paper on a tree denoting the way back to Warwick Ave.

 

Pay close attention to the trail. The trail is blazed orange, but the marks are spaced more than normal and easy to miss. The trail is a wide woods road but it is very close to a stream in one section and is wet, making it hard to tell where the trail is.

 

The trail this way is easier and just as pretty, although you are lower and there aren’t any views. There are several wet areas to go through and cross.

 

Now, as the trail becomes easier to follow and you don’t need them, the orange markers are more frequent.

 

The trail will start a gradual descent, and at about  5.1 there is a small water cascade on your right.

 

At about 5.6 miles, the trail kind of ends in a T but there isn’t any indication of where to go. Turn right and you will see an ORANGE marker.

 

Soon after, at about 5.8 miles, you arrive where you picked up the WHITE trail earlier. Don't turn right onto WHITE, just follow the trail straight and arrive at the road. Turn right on the road and walk to the car pullout.