Highlands Trail
Description
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The Highlands Millennium Trail is made possible in part by grants from American Express Company and Eastern Mountain Sports
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Scenic HighlightsThe Highlands Trail highlights the natural beauty of the New Jersey and New York Highlands region, and draws the public's attention to this endangered resource. It is a cooperative effort of the New York - New Jersey Trail Conference, conservation organizations, state and local governments, and local businesses. When completed, it will extend over 150 miles from Storm King Mountain on the Hudson River in New York south to Phillipsburg, New Jersey, on the Delaware River. The route will connect major scenic attractions in both states. Ultimately, a network of trails including alternate routes and multi-use paths is envisioned. The Highlands Trail is a combination of co-alignment on established trails, new trails, and road walking. The co-aligned sections bear both trails' blazes, except for the Appalachian, Sterling Ridge, and Allis Trails, which have plastic Highlands Trail logos at critical points. Hikers must pay attention at intersections as the Highlands Trail often leaves one trail to join another. The Highlands Trail blaze is a teal-colored diamond. Camping is not permitted along the Highlands Trail. Thru-hiker must stay at bed-and-breakfast facilities along the route, or at established State Park camp grounds. For more information, call the Trail Conference Office. No fires, horses, bikes, or motorized vehicles are permitted on the Highlands Trail unless specifically allowed by local regulations. New York Sections
To hike in Black Rock Forest, organized groups should contact the Forest at (914) 534-4517 in advance. There is no entry to Black Rock Forest or Black Rock Fish and Game lands during deer-rifle season. The Highlands Trail starts at Mountain Road in Cornwall. Proceed along the co-aligned the Stillman (yellow) and Highlands Trails over Storm King Mountain, then back down to Mountain Road at 3.6 miles. Pass under US 9W, and enter Black Rock Forest at the Black Rock Forest parking lot on Reservoir Road at 4.0 miles. At 8.3 miles reach a junction where the Stillman Trail and the northbound Compartment Trail (blue) go off to the right, and the co-aligned southbound Compartment Trail and Highlands Trail continue straight ahead. In another0.6 miles the Compartment Trail ends at a 'Y' junction with Jim's Pond Road. The Arthur Trail (yellow) begins here and follows Jim's Pond road to the left. Turn left onto Jim's Pond road. Stay on the road when the yellow blazes leave the road to the left. After another0.1 mile (8.8 miles from the start) turn right following the co-aligned Scenic (white) and Highlands Trails. Continue mostly downhill, reaching NY 32 at 12.3 miles. Follow NY 32 to the right for 1.0 mile, then make a left onto Taylor Road. Cross the New York State Thruway, reaching the parking lot for Schunemunk trails at 13.6 miles. From the parking lot, follow the co-aligned Jesup (yellow) and Highlands Trails south for 8.6 miles to Seven Springs Road (22.2 miles). For the next 7.7 miles until it reaches the Appalachian Trail (white), the teal diamonds are the only blazes. Turn right onto Seven Springs Road and follow it for 0.5 mile, crossing over Mountain Road, and turning right off the road in a residential area. Proceed through the woods and up and over a ridge to cross NY 208 at 23.2 miles. Follow the shore of Orange-Rockland Lake, then turn left onto Museum Village Road, following it across NY 17. Turn left, reaching a commuter parking lot at 23.8 miles. From there, turn sharply right onto the Orange Heritage Trail, formerly the Erie Railroad mainline, and proceed for a mile, crossing back under NY 17. Turn right just before a bridge and go down the embankment. Make a left under the bridge onto Oxford Road (County 51), following it to NY 17M at 25.5 miles. After a quick jog across 17M, turn right onto Lazy Hill Road, an abandoned, formerly paved road. Follow this through Goose Pond Mountain State Park, reaching Laroe Road (County 45) at 27.1 miles, where there is parking. Turn left onto Laroe Road and follow it for 1.0 mile. Turn right onto Gibson Hill Road, go under the power line, then left onto McGuinessburg Road, which crosses back under the power line. A short ways up the hill a driveway forks off to the right. Bear left at the fork, passing Historic McGuinessburg Cemetery. After a short distance turn right, crossing the power line again, and follow a woods road up Bellvale Ridge, meeting the Appalachian Trail (white) 1.2 mile from Gibson Hill Road, and 30.0 miles from Cornwall. Alert: The blazes along Gibson Hill Road may be painted out due to recurrent vandalism.
There are no Highlands Trail blazes along the Appalachian Trail, from Bellvale Mountain to Mombasha High Point. Turn left to follow the northbound Appalachian Trail (white)0.4 mile to Lakes Road, where parking is available. Continue on the co-aligned trails past Fitzgerald Falls at0.7 mile to the junction with the Allis Trail at 1.9 miles, just before Mombasha High Point. Turn right onto the co-aligned Allis (blue) and Highlands Trails, following them to NY 17A. Continue south on the Sterling Ridge Trail, crossing 17A at 6.0 miles. Parking is available here. Continue on the co-aligned Sterling Ridge (blue on white) and Highlands Trails for 8.6 miles to the junction of East Shore Road and County 511 (Greenwood Lake Turnpike) at 14.6 miles, where there is parking. New Jersey Sections
Note: A hiking permit is needed to hike in the Newark Watershed, which the Highlands Trail traverses between Algonquin Way and Rock Lodge Road. Hiking is restricted during hunting season. Obtain a permit and details on restrictions by calling (973) 697-2850. On Sundays the trail is open for hiking all year round. Going south from route 511, follow the co-aligned Hewitt-Butler (blue) and Highlands Trails for 1.0 mile. Turn left onto the co-aligned Horse Pond Mountain (white) and Highlands Trails for 3.0 miles to the terminus of the Horse Pond Mountain Trail at the Stonetown Circular Trail (red). Turn left onto the co-aligned Stonetown Circular and Highlands Trails, reaching Lake Rickonda Road, where parking is available, at 4.5 miles. Follow the road for 0.3 mile, turn left onto Stonetown Road, and go another 0.3 mile to White Road. Turn right onto White Road and go 0.3 mile to the end. Enter the woods, and after crossing three mountains, reach Stonetown Road again at 9.1 miles. The section from Stonetown Road to Wyanokie High Point has not been completed. Turn left onto Stonetown Road 0.2 mile to West Brook Road. Turn right onto West Brook Road and follow it for 0.5 mile. Turn left onto Snake Den Road East and follow it for 0.6 mile to the Weis Ecology Center, where parking is available, at 10.4 miles. The Wyanokie Circular Trail (red) comes in from the left just before Weis Ecology Center. Continue along Snake Den Road for another 0.25 mile, where the Hewitt-Butler Trail (blue) joins from the right and the Wyanokie Circular Trail leaves to the right. After another 0.25 mile, follow the Hewitt-Butler Trail as it turns left (south) and runs jointly with the Mine Trail (yellow on white) for 0.1 mile. Then follow the Hewitt-Butler Trail to the right almost to the top of Wyanokie High Point (11.5 miles), where it meets the Wyanokie Circular Trail again. The Highlands Trail blazes resume here. Turn right onto the three co-aligned trails for 0.2 mile, where the Wyanokie Circular Trail splits off the right. After 0.5 mile the Carris Hill Trail (yellow) starts off to the left. Proceed on the co-aligned Hewitt-Butler and Highlands Trails to the Post Brook Trail (white), which starts off to the left as the joint trails turn right at 12.9 miles. In 0.3 mile, the Wyanokie Crest Trail (yellow) comes in from the left and joins the Highlands and Hewitt-Butler Trails for 0.1 mile before leaving to the right. In another 0.5 mile, near the Otter Hole, the Hewitt-Butler Trail turns left. Turn right onto the co-aligned Otter Hole (green) and Highlands Trails, reaching the junction with the Wyanokie Crest Trail (yellow) after 0.4 mile. Turn left onto the co-aligned Wyanokie Crest and Highlands Trails, climbing Buck Mountain. After 0.5 mile turn left off the Wyanokie Crest Trail proceed down to Otter Hole Road at 15.1 miles. Turn right onto Otter Hole Road and follow it for 0.2 mile, then turn left onto Crescent Road. Turn right at a 'T' and follow Newton Road to Algonquin Way, at the end of which reenter the woods (15.8 miles). After about 1.1 mile, you will be on Newark Watershed property, reaching Macopin Road after another 0.8 mile. Turn right on Macopin for a short distance, then left off the road. After another 0.2 mile of hiking trail, follow woods roads for 0.6 mile to the remains of an old hotel on the right. Continue down the hill for 0.3 miles to Echo Lake. Turn left and proceed along the lake, emerging on Echo Lake Road. Turn right, reaching the Newark Watershed office, with parking, at 20.2 miles. Follow the west shore of Echo Lake north, then ascend a hill to Kanouse Road at 22.4 miles. Turn right on Kanouse Road for a short distance, then left into the woods. Cross Gould Road at 23.4 miles and Union Valley Road at 24.2 miles. Ascending ridges, cross the Hanks East and Hanks West Trails, reaching the Bearfort Ridge fire tower at 25.4 miles. From the fire tower, follow the co-aligned Fire Tower West (yellow) and Highlands Trails south for 0.9 mile. Turn right onto the co-aligned Twin Brooks (white) and Highlands Trails, reaching Clinton Road at 27.3 miles, where there is parking at lot P4. Turn left onto Clinton Road for a short distance, then right onto the co-aligned Clinton West (white) and Highlands Trails. After 2.9 miles, pass the junction with the Bearfort Waters/Clinton Trail (yellow). In another 0.9 mile turn right, leaving the Clinton West Trail. In the next 1.7 miles cross two woods roads and some well-preserved stone fences to reach Dunker Pond. Follow the stream out of Dunker Pond a short distance, then turn right to cross the stream, which has steep banks. After following some ATV tracks, turn left up a hill. After traversing the relatively level top, descend to Route 23 at Canistear Road, 33.8 miles from route 511, where parking is available.
Cross Route 23 at the light at Canistear Road, turn left and follow Route 23 until it crosses the Pequannock River at 0.3 mile. Turn right into the woods, ascend a ridge, and continue to a view of Oak Ridge Reservoir at 1.9 miles. From here turn west, crossing two ridges and several woods roads, reaching Holland Mountain Road at 3.8 miles. Continuing west across the road, following narrow paths and woods roads, crossing two streams, and reaching Rock Lodge Road at 4.6 miles. Cross Rock Lodge Road and continue over a hill, turn left onto a woods road, and reach Rock Lodge Road again, where you leave the Newark Watershed property (5.0 miles). Turn right onto Rock Lodge Road. At 5.2 miles Fall Drive bears off to the right. At 5.3 miles the pavement ends. For the next 1.2 miles, at the request of the property owner, no blazes will be placed on the right (north) side of the road. When in doubt at forks, take the straightest route. At 6.5 miles, just before a wetlands area, turn left off Rock Lodge Road into the Sparta Mountain Wildlife Management Area. Following woods roads and narrow paths, pass Ryker Lake and reach Russia Brook at 7.8 miles, emerging on Ridge Road at 7.9 miles. Between Ridge Road and Sparta Mountain Road, the Highlands Trail traverses property owned by the Missionary Society of St. Paul the Apostle. Please respect the privacy of the members of this organization by staying on the trail. Cross Ridge Road, almost immediately pass under a power line, then go over two hills, meeting a woods road at 9.1 miles. Turn right onto the woods road and almost immediately left onto another woods road, then right onto a faint woods road at 9.3 miles. At 9.6 miles turn left, reaching Sparta Mountain Road at 10.0 miles. The next section of the Highlands Trail traverses Mahlon Dickerson Reservation and is managed by the Morris County Parks Commission. Some of the older blazes in Mahlon Dickerson are teal-colored rectangles. Cross Sparta Mountain Road and almost immediately reach the junction with the Pine Swamp Trail (white). Follow the co-aligned Pine Swamp and Highlands Trails to the left, reaching the north parking area at 11.5 miles. Cross Weldon Road at 11.6 miles, reaching Headley Overlook with a view toward the south, including Lake Hopatcong, at 11.9 miles. After passing a second overlook, cross a woods road and continue to Saffin Pond at 14.4 miles. Parking is available at Weldon Road, .3 miles via a connecting trail to the right, blazed with small black diamonds on teal diamonds. Bear left past picnic tables on the left and Saffin Pond on the right. Turn left onto the old Ogden Mine Railroad bed. After .4 miles, bear right off the railroad, crossing Weldon Road at 14.8 miles. Continue past a gate, and quickly make a sharp right onto a woods road. Follow this to a power line right-of-way at 15.3 miles. Go under a tower, then bear slightly to the left to enter the woods on a narrow footpath. Pass near Route 15, then turn away from it, crossing the power line again and reaching Winona Trail (a woods road) at 15.8 miles. This section will end here until a crossing over or under Route 15 is built. Turn left on Winona Trail to return to Weldon Road.
Follow Route 181 north from Lake Hopatcong up the hill. There is limited parking under the power line, on the southbound side. Proceed north about 600 feet, where the trail enters the woods to the left, ascending a hill. Cross a woods road and enter a low, wet area bounded on the west by a steep rise, which may be an old quarry wall, at 0.2 miles. At 0.4 miles, turn right on a grassy woods road, then bear left, crossing an exposed rock surface. At 0.6 miles, turn left between two rocks, each about ten feet high, skirting a wetland. Cross a faint woods road at 0.7 miles. At 0.8 miles there is a view of the Kittatinny Ridge from the power line to the left. At 0.9 miles scramble down a rocky slope to a low, wet area, which takes the trail under the power line. At the top of the next ascent, at 1.1 miles, a fence joins from the left, which the trail follows with a power line on the right. After the end of the fence, turn left onto a faint track at 1.6 miles. Join a grassy woods road for a short distance before bearing right through sparse oak cover and rocky ground. Descend to a mountain laurel stand on the right and a small rocky rise on the left. At 2.2 miles turn right, shortly crossing a small stream. A faint woods road joins from the left. At 1.8 miles, the Anderson Bypass, a 1.7 mile alternate route that is blazed with teal diamonds with black centers, continues on the faint woods road. To follow the main trail, turn left and ascend a rocky hill with sparse oak cover. At 2.5 miles there is a limited view to the south. Turn right and descend with a vertical rock face on the right to a mixed hardwood forest, reaching a woods road designated "Eves Mountain Road" at 2.6 miles.
Much of this section parallels the "Cut-off", a massive cut-and-fill project by the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad to create a nearly straight route across the ridges and valleys from Dover to the Delaware Water Gap. Auto access is via the western intersection of Lake Drive and Lackawanna Drive. From Lake Drive just west of a bridge, ascend an ATV track almost to the old railroad grade and turn right. Almost immediately bear left and cross a rocky hilltop with erratics at .17 miles. Descend through mixed hardwoods. After crossing a wet area with a small stream, ascend through a rocky area with the old railroad embankment towering on the left. Cross an ATV track at .62 miles and a rocky stream at .82 miles. The trail traverses mixed hardwoods with a few stands of beeches. The treadway is intermittently rocky. Rocks of various sizes and shapes protrude from the ground on either side. The ground generally slopes downward to the right. At 1.62 miles reach a woods road. The blazes end here. Turn left, reaching the unpaved section of Mansfield Drive at 1.83 miles. Turn right, reaching the pavement and the Byram Township Intermediate School, where there is parking, at 2.02 miles.
From U.S. 206 opposite the shopping center north of Lackawanna Drive, proceed along Hi Glen Drive about 300 feet. Turn left on Francis Terrace, then follow it to the right as it becomes Drexel Drive. Bear right after a sign saying "Norman Terrace", reaching a parking area at 0.2 mile. Turn right into the woods, crossing well-preserved rock walls and small rocky ridges. At 1.2 miles, enter the northern fringe of a mining area with many large rocks, and some tailings and pits. At 1.5 miles, cross a 30-foot-wide stream on numerous rocks and continue to the Sussex Branch Trail at 1.6 miles. Turn left onto the Sussex Branch trail for about 100 feet, then bear right onto a narrow, level trail. After another 100 feet, turn right onto a narrow footpath and ascend a hill. At 1.9 miles cross a dirt road. Skirt a large depression, and continue to a multiple-use trail at 2.5 miles. Turn left onto this trail and follow it for 0.1 mile, then turn right, crossing a dirt road in about 250 feet. Cross a stream, skirt a wetland on the right, and continue to a multi-use trail at the top of an ascent, at 3.3 miles. Continue straight ahead. Old white blazes appear on this section along with the Highlands Trail blazes. This section is open to bicycles. At 3.5 miles, turn left, leaving the white blazes which bear right. Descend about 200 feet to a lookout, where you can see Waterloo Lake and the Musconetcong River. To the left is the International Trade Center; to the right the Pohatcong and Jenny Jump ridges are visible. Make a sharp right, and continue along the face of the mountain, descending to Waterloo Road at 4.4 miles, where there is parking. Turn right and follow Waterloo Road under Interstate 80. At 5.0 miles there is parking. In another 300 feet, bear left onto the Morris Canal Towpath. In this section, the Musconetcong River is on your left, and the old canal bed on your right. Cross Kinny Road at 5.2 miles. At 5.7 miles, turn right off the towpath about a hundred feet to Waterloo Road. Turn left onto Waterloo Road. At 5.9 miles there is parking. At 6.0 miles, turn right onto the old Waterloo Road. In this section, the canal and towpath have been obliterated by the present Waterloo Road. The last Highlands Trail blaze is at 6.1 miles, pending further construction of the Morris Canal Trail. Intrepid hikers can continue on, rejoining Waterloo Road at 6.2 miles. There is parking and access to the river at 6.6 miles. At 7.3 miles there is parking at the Saxton Falls historic site. At 8.5 miles, still following Waterloo Road, cross the New Jersey Transit Hackettstown railroad line. At 8.6 miles, turn left onto Waterloo Valley Road. (The junction of Waterloo Road and Waterloo Valley Road is obscured on the border of maps 6 and 7.) After about 500 feet, turn left into Stephens State Park, where there is parking. Follow the paved park road to a second parking lot at 8.9 miles. Pass a small ranger station and a gate where the blazes resume. The pavement ends at 9.1 miles. Continue through the picnic area, then continue on a narrow trail along the river to a "Y" at 9.7 miles. Bear left and angle up the hill along an old road, then turn left and continue straight up, reaching a level area at 10.2 miles. Cross a faint woods road, then Mine Hill Road (unpaved) at 10.4 miles. Cross another dirt road, then pass under a power line at 10.7 miles. Continue through a stand of evergreens, then turn right and descend to a stream at 11.0 miles. Ascend an old woods road to a plateau, make a sharp left and continue to U.S. 46 at 11.5 miles. Follow 46 left to the light at Naughright Road, 11.8 miles from U.S. 206. Across 46 is a shopping center where there is parking. Alert: After September 11, 2001, the section between Mine Road and US 46 was temporarily closed.
Follow the Columbia Rail Trail, formerly the High Bridge Branch of the Jersey Central Railroad, south from Schooleys Mountain Road (N.J. 24) in Long Valley. There is parking at Long Valley. At 4.0 miles from Long Valley, the trail reaches route 513. The railroad bed has been obliterated here. Follow 513 to the right about 300 feet, turn left just before a fence, go about 500 feet, then turn right onto the railbed. Continue on the Columbia Rail Trail to Califon at 6.3 miles, where there is parking. Stay on the rail trail, crossing the Raritan River on a former railroad trestle at 8.8 miles. At 9.0 miles, turn sharply right and ascend the west side of the gorge on three switchbacks, the middle one being quite long. The ascent becomes more gentle at 9.1 miles. Continue through saplings and past stone walls, turning right onto an overgrown woods road at 9.4 miles. Turn left off the woods road at 9.5 miles, shortly reaching a dirt driveway. Follow the driveway right to Route 513 at 9.8 miles. Turn left, reaching the Voorhees State Park entrance at 10.4 miles, where there is parking. Alert: Blazes between the Columbia Rail Trail and Route 513 may be painted out, due to recurrent vandalism.
Enter Voorhees State Park on the main entrance road from Route 513, opposite Voorhees High School. There is parking here. At 0.5 mile turn left off the road and cross a wooden bridge, reaching the Brookside Trail after about 250 feet. Jog right slightly, then continue, crossing stone walls and winding through black raspberry patches. At 1.5 miles, turn right and continue under a power line for about 250 feet, then turn left and re-enter the woods. (Note: it is difficult to position blazes in the cleared area under the power line, so look carefully for the turns.) Continue to Observatory Road, where there is parking, at 1.7 miles. Turn right onto Observatory Road for 0.3 miles, then make a sharp left onto Buffalo Hollow Road. After another 0.2 mile, Poplar Road bears off to the left. Bear slightly to the right, reaching N.J. 31 at 2.7 miles. Turn left and proceed about 0.2 mile to the traffic light at the junction with Van Syckel's Road. Turn right across route 31 and follow Van Syckel's Road about 0.1 mile to the entrance of Union Furnace Nature Area, 3.0 miles from route 513. Turn right into Union Furnace, then left. Ascend the embankment of an old mill race and go right along the top of the embankment for about a tenth of a mile. Turn left and cross the bottom of the mill race. Proceed up the hill, then descend to emerge on a cul-de-sac called Serpentine Drive at 3.9 miles. Follow Serpentine Drive 0.3 miles down to Van Syckel's Road. There are no utility poles and therefore no blazes on this road walk. At Van Syckel's Road, turn left, then bear right into a parking area. Proceed to the water and make a sharp right into Spruce Run Recreation Area. Here you will traverse meadows, a pine plantation, and dense autumn olive thickets. Cross a paved road near the boat launch area at 4.7 miles, then emerge onto the same road near the group picnic area, 5.1 miles from route 513. Campground facilities are available at Spruce Run Recreation Area from April to October. Turn left onto the boat launch road and continue to the Spruce Run headquarters. There turn right and proceed to the Spruce Run entrance at Van Syckel's Road. Turn left and follow Van Syckel's for about 400 feet. Turn right onto a gated gravel road, which takes you into Clinton Wildlife Management Area (the blazes resume here). Where the gravel road turns left, continue straight on a dirt road. Pass through a series of fields separated by hedgerows, with many mowed paths at right angles to each other. The trail turns left, then jogs right, then left, finally hitting a T-intersection .57 miles from the entrance to Spruce Run. Turn right and follow a woods road into a mixed hardwood forest with widespread multi-floral rose and other invasive species. At a fork bear right up a hill. At .95 miles from the Spruce Run entrance, turn left onto a narrow footpath, descending to Black Broad Road, an old woods road, at 1.44 miles. The Highlands Trail temporarily ends here. To the right, Black Brook Road leads out to Polktown Road.
Construction or planning is proceeding on various sections of the remainder of the route. From Allamuchy State Park. two alternatives diverge. The Hunterdon Highlands route includes the completed sections from Stephens State Park to U.S. 46, and Long Valley to Spruce Run. From Spruce Run the proposed route heads north to Charlestown Reservation, then south again through the Musconetcong Gorge. The location of the terminus on the Delaware River near is presently undecided. The proposed Warren Highlands route heads west to Jenny Jump Mountain, then south to Buttzville, Merrill Creek Reservoir, Scotts Mountain and Marble Mountain, reaching the Delaware River at Phillipsburg. |
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3/3/2006
