Hike around Lake Sonoma and explore the beautiful forest beyond.
5.7 miles. Rugged, rocky surface with a few rock hops over streams.
- Also from this lot: Lake Sonoma, Overlook Rock, Manaticut Point.
- Nearby longer variation: Horse Pond Mountain to Lake Sonoma Loop.
- Other nearby hikes: Wyanokie High Point, Chikahoki Falls, Otter Hole; Wyanokie High Point, Carris Hill, Buck Mountain; Stonetown Circular.
Hike Info:
Our two cents:
The lake and the forest here is beautiful is any season. This route uses a somewhat newly blazed “Lake Sonoma Trail” which mixes new trail with old woods roads beyond Lake Sonoma. Also pass some interesting old rusted equipment along the way.
Portions of this route overlap our other Lake Sonoma area hikes.
Map/Book:
Northern New Jersey Highlands Trails Map. Note versions of this map before 2021 will not have this trail marked on it. Not in any books we know of.
Parking: N41.09077° W74.32124°
“Manaticut Point Trailhead”. Entering the street address shown on Google leads down the road and not at the trailhead (80-4 Crescent Dr, Ringwood, NJ 07456).
If coming from Rt. 287 N, take exit 55; Rt. 511 to West Brook Rd.; then Magee to Burnt Meadow Rd. to Crescent Drive.
Parking is on Crescent Dr. along the curb. The trailhead is near a wooden sign and large rock.
Restrooms:
None. Gas stations and convenience stores along Rt. 511.
Hike Directions:
Overview: Manaticut Spur (YELLOW with BLACK DOT) – Manaticut (YELLOW) – Lake Sonoma (ORANGE) – Manaticut (YELLOW) – Manaticut Spur (YELLOW with BLACK DOT)
0.0 – Start following Manaticut Spur (YELLOW with BLACK DOT) at a trail sign and near a large rock.
Large rocks loom above and there are several stream crossings.
0.3 – At a sign for Manaticut Point, turn RIGHT to start following Manaticut (YELLOW) towards Lake Sonoma. [Manaticut (YELLOW) also goes left].
0.9 – Start following Lake Sonoma (ORANGE) to the LEFT. It is co-joined with Manaticut (YELLOW) until the end of the lake. [Lake Sonoma (ORANGE) also goes to the right and is the return route].
Soon, the trail splits. Continue following Lake Sonoma (ORANGE) to the RIGHT. [Manaticut Sonoma Connector (ORANGE-YELLOW… like candy corn!) goes left].
1.2 – Lake Sonoma comes into view.
Lake Sonoma (ORANGE) runs along the edge of the water. There are several viewpoints and rocky spots to take a break.
The lake is beautiful even on an overcast and foggy fall day.
Beavers like hanging out at the lake, too.
Continue on Lake Sonoma (ORANGE) along the southwestern shore of the lake.
1.5 – Continue following Lake Sonoma (ORANGE) to the RIGHT. [Manaticut (YELLOW) leaves to the left].
The trail continues hugging the lake for a bit more with some last glimpses before it turns away from the lake. Rocky little island just off shore:
1.7 – Follow a side trail marked with a STAR on ORANGE. This leads to an open area near a large dam and a wide view over the lake. Return.
Pass an old… stove? You never know what you’ll find in the middle of the woods in Jersey…
Keep on following those orange blazes.
2.7 – Start seeing rusted old equipment along the way. While I couldn’t locate much information about this area, I believe this is a rock conveyor. In New Jersey it’s very common to be hiking on park land that was either farmed or mined at one point.
After this there is a long steep downhill on a woods road that has ‘ankle-roller’ sized rocks.
2.8 – Continue following Lake Sonoma (ORANGE). [Tapawingo (BLUE) is on the left]. Cross Burnt Meadow Brook. Large concrete rings are on the right.
Soon, more rusted equipment is off on the right.
Lake Sonoma (ORANGE) follows along an old woods road, again.
3.5 – Cross Burnt Meadow Brook where it’s marked “difficult in high water” on the trail map. This wasn’t an issue the day we hiked – but your experience may differ.
3.7 – At Burnt Meadow Road (a rutted dirt road at this point), turn RIGHT to continue on ORANGE (Lake Sonoma) which is briefly co-joined with RED TRIANGLE on WHITE (Stonetown Circular).
3.8 – Shortly, cross Burnt Meadow Road to continue following ORANGE (Lake Sonoma). [RED TRIANGLE on WHITE (Stonetown Circular) leaves to the left].
Continue following ORANGE (Lake Sonoma) through some low brush.
In an area with lots of ferns and some larger boulders there is a rock that kinda sorta looks like the profile of a gorilla.
4.8 – Turn LEFT to now follow YELLOW (Manaticut). [ORANGE (Lake Sonoma) goes to the right – the direction you went earlier.]
5.4 – Now follow Manaticut Spur (YELLOW with BLACK DOT) back to the parking area. [YELLOW (Manaticut) leaves to the right].
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Hiked: 10/25/21.