Description

The Apshawa Preserve is a rugged 576-acre tract owned by Passaic County and the New Jersey Conservation Foundation. About seven miles of trails traverse this preserve, and this hike features the trails in the northern section of the preserve, which loop around the Butler Reservoir. The trails are blazed both with colored plastic diamond blazes that incorporate the logo of the New Jersey Conservation Foundation, and with older rectangular paint blazes.

At the northern end of the parking area, you'll see three white blazes, which mark the start of the White Trail. Follow this trail as it enters the forest on a woods road, but soon continues on a footpath. A short distance ahead, you'll notice three green blazes on a tree to the left. The Green Trail, which begins here, will be your return route, but for now, continue ahead on the White Trail.

Just beyond the intersection with the Green Trail, the White Trail bears left and descends to cross a stream, then climbs a hill on a woods road. It bears right at a high point and soon passes interesting rock formations on the left. Just beyond, the trail turns left, leaving the woods road, and descends steeply into a ravine, where it joins another woods road.

A short distance ahead, follow the White Trail as it turns right, leaving the road, and begins to climb (the Green Trail continues ahead on the road). At the top of the hill, you'll pass through an area studded with cedars and soon reach a west-facing viewpoint, with the Butler Reservoir visible below. You'll be hiking along the shoreline of this reservoir later on in the hike.

The White Trail now descends rather steeply to the southeast corner of the reservoir. Here, the Red Trail begins to the left, but you should continue on the White Trail, which turns right and heads north parallel to the eastern shore of the reservoir, with several views over the reservoir.

At the northern end of the reservoir, the White Trail bears right, briefly follows a stream, and reaches a junction with the Yellow Trail. Continue ahead on the Yellow Trail, which circles a small pond, with several viewpoints over the pond. At the eastern end of the pond, the trail traverses a rocky area and comes close to Macopin Road, so you may hear the sounds of traffic.

After completing its circuit around the pond, the Yellow Trail ends at a second junction with the White Trail. Continue ahead on the White Trail, which follows a woods road. Soon, you'll reach an open area to the left of the trail that affords a broad south-facing view over the Butler Reservoir.

A short distance ahead, be alert for a junction with the Red Trail, which begins to the left (at this writing, the trail junction is just beyond a large blowdown). Turn left, leaving the White Trail, and follow the Red Trail, which soon crosses the wide inlet stream of the reservoir on rocks. This crossing may be tricky if the water is high.
The Red Trail now heads east and soon reaches the shore of the reservoir, where a rock ledge affords a nice view. Just beyond, the trail climbs briefly to avoid a steep rock face, but for most of the next half mile, the trail closely parallels the shore of the scenic reservoir.

After several private homes come into view (on the right) near the southwest corner of the reservoir, the trail joins a woods road and soon reaches a north-facing viewpoint over the reservoir. A short distance beyond, you'll come to a gravel road that leads to the reservoir dam. Continuing to follow the red blazes, turn right onto the road and then bear left. The Green Trail soon joins from the left, and you should follow both red and green blazes along the road.

When the green blazes bear right, diverging from the red blazes, follow the Green Trail, which descends on a narrower woods road, but watch carefully for a left turn. Follow the Green Trail as it climbs briefly, then descends to cross Apshawa Brook on rocks just below the dam of the reservoir (again, this stream crossing can be difficult in times of high water). Due to safety concerns, the historic stone dam has been breached and a concrete spillway constructed to lower the water level of the reservoir.

After crossing the brook, the Green Trail turns right and briefly parallels it, then turns left on a woods road, soon crossing a broad expanse of open rock and passing a steep rock face to the left. Watch for a turn where the Green Trail leaves the road to the left, climbs a hill, then descends to reach another woods road. Here, the Green Trail turns left, but you should turn right onto the Yellow Trail (not the same as the Yellow Trail you followed earlier), which begins here.

After following the road for a short distance, the Yellow Trail ends at another junction with the Green Trail (this is a different section of the same Green Trail that you just followed). Turn left and follow the Green Trail, which descends rather steeply on a woods road. At the base of the descent, a small pond is visible to the right. Follow the Green Trail as it climbs briefly, then turns right, leaving the road, and descends to cross a stream. It climbs the opposite bank to end at a junction with the White Trail. Turn right and follow the White Trail a short distance back to the parking area where the hike began.