Norvin Green – Torne Mountain and Osio Rock
Complete hike details, photos, and video on our Torne Mountain page.
The views just didn’t stop on this hike… Hewitt-Butler trail follows along the ridge so there are views almost the whole way. Gorgeous.
There are 360 degree views from Osio Rock (too hot-n-hazy to see NYC today), and we assume most people turn around here. We had intended to as well, and go back to Otter Hole to add in a loop from the main part of Norvin, but changed our mind and decided that since the trail goes off the map edge with the notation “To Camp Vacamas, 1 Mile”…. we needed to see where that took us.
We continued on as the trail did some steep, rocky, dry and dusty switchbacks down Osio Rock (with some early ripe blueberries to keep us occupied mmmm). Then the trail entered into some pleasant shady forest and became pretty level… which was a nice change from the rugged trail and all the sun.
An orange trail marked “To Vacamas” goes off to the right eventually (not on the map), and we continued straight on BLUE Hewitt-Butler. The trail ends at the parking for Camp Vacamas, where they kindly have a few parking spots for hikers. Lake Larriwien is at the end of lot, but it’s part of the private camp so there is no access for swimming or fishing.
We took the RED Torne trail on the way back, and this was much shorter, level and shaded. We decided against adding another part of the main Norvin to our hike for the day, since we’d taken longer than usual for this hike because of stopping for photo after photo. And for the blueberries… that slowed us down too.
6.4 miles; moderate… couple minor scrambly areas. A lot of sun exposure.
Route: BLUE (Hewitt-Butler) to end at Camp Vacamas and turn around, pick up RED Torne trail after Osio on the return trip.
Map: NYNJTC provides the Norvin section of their North Jersey Trails Map Set as a paper map at the trailhead and online.
Parking: This route starts from the “Otter Hole” parking area of Norvin, not the main one at the Weis Center. Rt 287 to exit 53, bottom of the ramp turn left onto Hamburg Turnpike, right onto Glenwild Ave.
Pass a hiker parking area for Wyanokie Crest on the right, shortly after that is limited parking for Otter Hole (8-10 cars or so). The trailhead is across the road.
Restrooms: none. There was a gas station in town on the way there.
Have to Check it out. I’ve done cariss hill and wyanokie highpoint from the otter hole parking area. Checked out the waterfall too. I tried to go to this lot again last Saturday but the cops had it blocked off in both directions cause of accident and down tree. Ended up going to ramapo state forest instead which is nice too.
I heard buck mountain is higher elevation in southern norvin green. Any nice views on the trail that goes on it?
I believe Buck Mountain is a bit higher. We did a big loop in Norvin a ways back, approaching it the other direction (from Weis)…it’s on our list to do again, but if I recall correctly (it was before we started tracking hikes in a blog) – it was quite steep coming down from Buck towards Otter Hole. There should be nice views, including NYC skyline… in fact, check out this blog, it has a few photos.
thanks
by the way how come njhiking.com and the njhiking connect have separate ways to log in to comment etc.. was looking for where to sign in then realized that was only for the nj connect part of the site.
The Connect site is a whole different site platform that allows for users to add content like their own blogs or photos, while the Trail Blog is a regular blog with comments. We’ve had the blog since about 2006 or so, while the Connect site was created at the end of last year. Sorry for any confusion!