<<<Hikes in NJ - Trails Less Taken
Norvin Green - Lake Sonoma/Overlook
Summary: This loop contains two newer trails, Lake Sonoma and Overlook. It's a pretty trail with some nice overlooks located in the northern section of Norvin Green State Forest.
8.1 miles. This isn't a really long hike but with a decent amount of rugged up/down, several stream crossings, a bit of scrambling, we'd rate it on the low end of "challenging".
Shorter: for about a 4 mile loop, go to Overlook Rock and back on the ORANGE trail.
Map: You'll want the North
Jersey Trails Map Set
Books: Not aware of books that contain the newer Lake Sonoma
and Overlook trails (2008-ish I believe), but there could be some. The rest
of Norvin's trails can be found in the New
Jersey Walk Book
Parking: Rt 287 to exit 55, north on 511, after you pass
the Reservoir and then Long Pond, turn left onto Burnt Meadow Rd which turns
to dirt in a bit.
Note: There are two parking areas on Burnt Meadow but on the map the
road is marked as "impassable" if you are approaching from the south...
which is exactly how Google or your GPS is going to send you. We didn't check
out that way, but when coming off the trail, we noticed a large deep puddle
across the road down that direction that we wouldn't have gotten our car through.
So, driving south on Burnt Meadow, pass the 1st parking pullout (which I don't
recall as being real obvious. It's on the left, and on the right is the yellow
trail), then its another mile to the 2nd parking area.
The dirt road is doable in a car, but not fantastic, and we'd think twice
before heading to that lot again with a car. We had to stop just before getting
to the 2nd lot, and parked on a wide area before the bridge because after that
was too eroded.
Therefore for this loop, we really recommend starting at the first parking pullout (which would mean the directions here would change) unless you just want to only do Sonoma/Overlook and not the loop - then you'd want the 2nd lot. (which would make for a nice hike - the new trails were quite scenic, and the best section of this loop)
Restrooms: None. Options are gas stations on 511 well before the turn onto Burnt Meadow, or porta-johns at the two Monksville Reservoir parking lots (can't count on them as of 4/2010 however... one was locked, the other swarming with mosquitoes - this could change of course)
Hike Directions: The trails are very well marked, with frequent blazes - just pay attention as there are many unmarked paths to amble down if you get distracted.
OVERVIEW: Since we parked a bit down from the parking, we started with the RED TRIANGLE on WHITE (Stonetown Circular) trail near where we parked, up Harrison Mountain, took a left onto WHITE (Horse Pond Mountain) for some ridge views, then left and steeply down YELLOW Burnt Meadow.
Hit Burnt Meadow Rd and turn right, walk down the road a bit, then turn left back into the woods for a level section that's a bit of a break. When you get to BLUE Hewitt Butler, turn left and follow that south for awhile. Take a left onto WHITE Overlook, cross a power line cut, and follow until you get to a large rock that is Overlook Rock for a very nice view.
Follow the ORANGE blazes for Lake Sonoma after this, it requires just a bit of a backtrack. Take Sonoma all the way back, with views of the Lake, then skirting near it. When back onto Burnt Meadow Rd, turn left and walk back to your car.
0.0 - [This route starts before the bridge, and not at the actual parking lot] Follow RED TRIANGLE on WHITE (Stonetown Circular) into the woods, not along the road.
Come up on a ridge, where you can see water below to your right and some peaks in the distance, this may be obscured when there are leaves on the trees.
Cross power lines. There is an abandoned blue car on your left that may distract you from the fact that the trail heads to your RIGHT here.
1.4 - At the 4-way junction, turn left onto the WHITE (Horse Pond Mountain) which is co-aligned with HIGHLANDS (Teal Diamond). [straight is RED TRIANGLE on WHITE/Highlands, to the right is WHITE]
Follow along a ridge with some views.
2.3 - turn LEFT onto YELLOW (Burnt Meadow), and drop down steeply with some scrambling. It then levels off.
2.8 - turn RIGHT onto Burnt Meadow Rd, walk down a bit and turn LEFT back into the woods. This is the other parking area. The trail is easier and more level here for a bit, then heads uphill to an overlook.
3.6 - turn LEFT onto BLUE (Hewitt-Butler) [YELLOW ends here, and BLUE goes both left and right]
5.0 - Turn LEFT onto WHITE (Overlook Trail), and go under the power lines. [BLUE continues straight]
6.0 - ORANGE (Lake Sonoma) trail starts. head towards the big Overlook Rock. Scramble up for a very nice view and break spot. When done, come back off the rock and backtrack on WHITE/ORANGE, picking up the ORANGE to the right.
Follow this all the way back, skirting Lake Sonoma and a few other viewpoints. When you arrive back at Burnt Meadow Rd, turn left and walk back to your car.
