Hike of the Week 10/02/03

WHERE: Garrett Mountain Reservation

FEATURES : This loop hike visits less-used areas of this popular park, passing several outstanding views over northern New Jersey and the Manhattan skyline.

LENGTH: 2.8 miles.

DIFFICULTY: Easy to moderate.

TIME: About two hours.

MAP: Passaic County Park Commission trail map (available from their office; 973-881-4832)

HOW TO GET THERE: Take Interstate Route 80 to Exit 57A. Proceed south on NJ 19, and take the first exit (Valley Road). Turn right at the top of the ramp, then make the first right turn, which leads into the parking area for Lambert Castle. Continue past the castle, then turn sharply left and proceed to the southern end of the parking area. (If you have additional time, you may also wish to visit the historic castle, which is open Wednesday-Sunday from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. A $5.00 admission fee is charged to enter the castle, but there is no charge for parking.)

DESCRIPTION: From the southern end of the parking area, follow the yellow-blazed Garrett Mountain Trail, which proceeds uphill on a macadam path and stone steps. You'll pass a sign which identifies the trail as the Great Notch Trail - a reference to its former terminus at Great Notch, south of Route 46. The trail turns right onto a wide, paved path, which switchbacks up to the top of the mountain.

  At the top of the climb, you'll pass through an opening in a stone wall. Turn sharply right here, briefly following the stone wall, then turn right again. You're now heading north. The trail soon begins to descend on a rocky path and stone steps. After paralleling the paved park road (which runs to the left) for a short distance, you'll notice a well-worn side trail to the right. Follow this trail, which leads to an expansive east-facing viewpoint from the edge of a cliff. (A police firing range is located directly below, so don't be startled to hear some gunshots!) Paterson may be seen directly below, with much of southern Bergen County beyond, and the Manhattan skyline visible in the distance on a clear day. The Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge is at the extreme right of this broad panorama.

  After spending some time here, enjoying the view, return to the yellow trail and turn right. The trail soon passes a small gravel parking area to the left and, about 300 feet beyond, follows along the right side of a grassy field. At the end of the field, the trail descends on a footpath to reach an intersection with the White Trail at the entrance to an overlook. Turn right onto the White Trail, which follows a paved path along the right side of the overlook. It turns right and descends a set of stairs, then turns left and follows the stone wall along the edge of the overlook. The view to the south and east is more limited here, but downtown Paterson is visible directly below, and High Mountain may be seen to the north.

  At the end of the wall, the trail descends into the woods, crosses a wooden bridge over a ditch, and follows along the right edge of an open area, with a radio tower visible to the left. The trail then continues to descend, soon bearing left. At the base of the descent, the trail parallels an intermittent stream to the right, then turns left and ascends, soon joining a woods road. At a huge boulder, the trail turns left, leaving the woods road, and climbs on a footpath.

  After leveling off, the White Trail reaches a junction with the yellow-blazed Garrett Mountain Trail at a rock ledge that overlooks a ravine to the right. Follow the White Trail as it bears left, soon reaching a gravel parking area along a paved park drive. Here, the trail bears right, turns left to cross the park drive, and continues ahead on a chained-off gravel road. In 200 feet, the white blazes bear left at a fork and follow a bridle path for 250 feet. Be alert for the next turn, where the trail turns right, leaving the bridle path, crosses a small stream, and immediately turns right to follow along the base of a line of unusual flat-sided boulders.

  At the end of the boulders, the trail turns left onto another bridle path. In 250 feet, it bears right at a fork and continues along the bridle path. Then, in another 800 feet, the white blazes bear left onto a footpath, but soon rejoin the bridle path.

  The white-blazed trail continues along the bridle path for only another 150 feet. Follow the white blazes as they turn sharply right, leaving the bridle path, and descend on a footpath into the woods. You're now entering a little-used area of the park. The footpath here may be somewhat indistinct, but you should be able to follow the white blazes. Watch carefully for another sharp turn in about 0.2 mile. Here, the White Trail turns left to climb a rocky ledge and immediately turns right to cross a stream. The trail soon turns right onto a bridle path and ends, just ahead, at a junction with the Garrett Mountain Trail.

  Turn left here, now once again following the yellow-blazed trail, which runs along another bridle path. As the trail approaches the paved park road, the dirt bridle path bears left, but you should continue ahead, climb the embankment and cross the paved road. Follow the yellow blazes which indicate that the trail turns right and runs along the grassy shoulder of the road, bearing left at two road intersections. (Do not follow the paved road leading ahead to the park stables.) In about 800 feet, near the park boundary, the yellow-blazed trail turns left, leaving the road, and ascends into the woods on a footpath.

  Just before reaching the access road to the stables, the trail bears right and passes between several concrete tank supports. It then curves to the left and begins to run along the ridge of Garrett Mountain, with the stables to the left. At the end of the stables, the trail bears left, makes a short but steep descent, and then turns right, continuing along the ridge.

  About 0.2 mile beyond the stables, the trail reaches an unobstructed viewpoint to the east from the edge of the ridge. The view is similar to that afforded by the first viewpoint that you reached earlier in the hike, but you're a little further away from the urban bustle of the City of Paterson. This is a good place to take a break.

  Follow the trail as it continues north along the ridge, passing several more viewpoints. Soon, you'll reach a stone observation tower, built in the 1890s by a wealthy silk manufacturer as part of Lambert Castle, at the base of the mountain. The tower is presently closed to the public (although there are plans to restore it). The yellow-blazed trail skirts the tower to the left. At the end of a grassy area, continue straight ahead through the break in the stone wall and descend the paved path and steps that lead back to the parking area where the hike began.

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