<<<Best Hikes in NJ

Norvin Green State Forest

• Norvin Green trails are Map #115 of NYNJTC’s “North Jersey Trails” Map Set

• Highly recommended is "Hiking the Jersey Highlands" by George Petty. It contains 6 hikes in Norvin Green, with trail descriptions and maps.

Mileage: 7.7 miles roundtrip, moderate with a few decent elevation changes. There is an extensive trail system here, and its easy to create other shorter or longer loops.

 

Park Summary: Located in the New Jersey Highlands region just west of the Wanaque Reservoir, Norvin Green offers a variety of rugged hikes. There are short hikes with outstanding views, and longer, challenging loops for the experienced hiker.

 

Areas of interest include: multiple viewpoints including High Point (360° views of the area, including NYC on a clear day), Roomy Mine and Blue Mine, Chik Falls and Otter Hole. There is also Weis Ecology Center, part of the NJ Audubon Society. There is a trail kiosk in front of Weis that has a trail map, and you should be able to purchase the Trail Conference maps inside Weis.

 

Parking: Rt 287 to exit 55, take 511 N (Wanaque), continue through Wanaque for several miles. Make a left onto West Brook Rd.  Continue across Reservoir. At the T-intersection, make a left. The 2nd right is Snake Den Road. There is a sign for the park on the right side of the road. Continue uphill and bear left on Snake Den, past some houses until you get to the lot on the right hand side.

 

Restrooms are at Weis Ecology Center: from the lot follow the road/path around and then to the right to a building. Entrance is located outside, on the right side and down to the basement.

 

Note: blaze colors are used multiple times for trails in this park. For example, a WHITE blaze marks both the “Lower” and “Post Brook” trails.

 

Hike Directions: This hike hits some of the highlights of the park.  From the end of the lot, follow the road a bit and look for the GREEN markers on the left side, along a small brook. Follow along the brook, around the Natural Pool. Continue following the GREEN markers as it climbs up some rocks near the pool (do not follow the wide woods road). Cross a brief rocky area and meet up with a woods road. There is a trail kiosk with information and signs for “High Point”.

 

This is the junction of GREEN, BLUE and YELLOW. For this hike, follow BLUE in front of you. It climbs steeply. At .9 miles there is a junction with WHITE which goes off to the right. Continue following BLUE.

Shortly after, go uphill to a viewpoint with a large rock with a BLUE blazed to an unnamed overlook. At 1.2 miles, arrive at the junction of RED, BLUE and TEAL Diamond (Highlands Trail). Written on the large rock in front of you is “HI POINT” and a RED and TEAL blaze, you are no longer following BLUE. Walk around and scramble up the rocks.  Continue up a steep rocky outcropping of bare rocks.

 

Arrive at High Point at 1.3 miles. There is a 360 degree view of the area, and on a clear day you can see New York City. This is a terrific spot for a snack.At this point, you could backtrack your way to the lot, or take several different trails.

 

For this hike, look for the RED and TEAL markers, follow through an open area with fallen trees, and descend.

 

At 2.0 miles is the junction with WHITE (Lower) on your right, with RED and TEAL continuing straight over a water crossing. Start following WHITE. It will curve around and start heading back uphill gradually with some minor water crossings to walk over. The trail levels off to some easy walking for awhile.

 

On your right are some large rocks, a small ravine and views of the reservoir on your left (when there is no leaf cover). Continue on WHITE over some open rocky areas with a lot of dead, fallen trees. It feels quite remote here.

 

At 3.3 is the junction of YELLOW (Carris) and WHITE (PBT – Post Brook Trail). (Sign says Weis 2.4 miles away on YEL)

 

Go straight past YEL to pick up WHITE (PBT). At the bend in the brook, follow WHITE the right. (the trail also goes left) The trail runs along the brook through a very pretty area.

At 3.6 miles is Chikahoki Falls. Follow WHITE up sharply to the right.

 

At 3.8 miles the WHITE trail ends. The TEAL (Highlands Trail) comes in from your right. Go straight over a stream, you will be following BLUE and TEAL now.  Follow along the stream though a very scenic area.

 

At 4.1 miles there is a junction with YELLOW (Wyanokie Crest).  Continue straight on BLUE/TEAL.

 

At 4.35 miles, bear right, continuing on BLUE/TEAL. There is a unmarked path to the left.

 

At 4.7 miles is the junction of BLUE/TEAL and the start of GREEN (Otter Hole). Turn left here on BLUE to go to Otter Hole – a nice water cascade that makes for a good break spot. 

 

Beyond the water crossing is a parking area and another trail – but save that for another day.

When you are ready to continue, retrace your steps to the junction with GREEN. Continue on GREEN/TEAL.

 

At 5.3 miles, there is a junction with YEL to the right and left is TEAL (highlands). Continue straight, following just GREEN now. (The sign says Weis/Pkg is 1.6 miles from here, but that doesn’t seem correct).

 

At 5.5 miles is a overlook to the west. Continue on GREEN, mostly level with minor elevation change.

 

At 6.3 miles, RED (WCI – Wyanokie Circular) crosses  GREEN. Continue straight on GREEN here. RED to the right will take you back up to High Point. (The sign says Weis/Pkg is 1.3 miles from here, but that doesn’t seem correct either)

 

At 6.5 miles, WHITE (Macopin) starts on your right which leads also to High Point. Continue across a little stream, on GREEN. The trail goes uphill a little then comes down again at a junction with a woods road at about 7 miles.

 

Continue on GREEN, and in a bit, rock-hop across a stream crossing. Make a sharp left onto a woods road, following GREEN.

 

You will reach the trail kiosk again, make a left and go over the rocky area… retracing your steps on GREEN back to the lot.