Governor Mountain – Ringwood State Park

April 4, 2021 – Ringwood, New Jersey

Issue: Straightforward to Reasonable

Size: Roughly 2.5 miles

Max elevation: 627 ft.– whole elevation achieve roughly 383 ft.

Route kind: Lollilop Loop

Free Map: Ringwood State Park Path Map – 2021

Free Map: Ringwood State Park Map NYNJTC

Purchase Map: North Jersey Trails Map

Trailhead parking: Cooper Union Trailhead (2-3 vehicles) – Carletondale Rd, Ringwood, NJ 07456

Alternate parking: Neighborhood Presbyterian Church 145 Carletondale Rd, Ringwood, NJ 07456

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Overview:

Ringwood State Park is a 4,444 acres state park in Passaic County in northeastern New Jersey. The Park is situated within the coronary heart of the Ramapo Mountains in Ringwood. Its forests are a part of the Northeastern coastal forests ecoregion.

Ringwood State Park options each wild lands and landscaped gardens. It consists of 4 distinct areas: Ringwood Manor, Skylands Manor/NJ State Botanical Backyard, Shepherd Lake, and Bear Swamp Lake. The park is operated and maintained by the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry.

Governor Mountain is a rocky promontory within the southwestern part of Ringwood Manor State Park. It has an elevation of about 627 ft above sea degree and is bordered by Sloatsburg Street to the west, Skylands Street to the east and the Wanaque Reservoir to the south. The Cooper Union Path varieties a Lollilop Loop via the mountain, with views of the Wanaque Reservoir from a rock outcrop at its southern finish.

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Historical past:

The current day Ringwood State Park consists of a number of the authentic land and buildings of the as soon as flourishing iron trade developed in 1740 by the Ringwood Firm. By putting a dam on the Ringwood River, the corporate harnessed water energy to function a blast furnace and forges. House for a succession of well-known ironmasters for practically 200 years, the property handed from Peter Cooper to Abram S. Hewitt within the mid nineteenth century, America’s foremost iron grasp. In 1936, Erskine Hewitt deeded the Ringwood Manor Home and grounds to the State of New Jersey with a view to protect this historic property for posterity.

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Trails Overview:

There are 20 official trails throughout the park, totaling practically 50 miles. Many trails start close to Ringwood Manor, Skylands Manor, or Shepherd Lake, and prolong into the park.

Every space has quick trails that permit for exploration of those points of interest, and longer trails that discover the encircling space. Particular person trails vary from 0.2 to 7 miles. Trails are marked with coloured blazes.

Path used on this hike:

• Cooper Union Path – Yellow • 4.7 miles whole size; 2.5 miles this hike • Multiuse

The yellow-blazed path runs from north to south starting at a trailhead on Sloatsburg Street on the northern finish of the park. Alongside its route, the path crosses Morris and Carletondale Roads. The path heads south via forested hillsides. Close to its southern finish, the path splits to kind a loop. On the southern finish of the loop, there’s a scenic view of Wanaque Reservoir.

The unique path was laid out by members of the Cooper Union Climbing membership from the distinguished Manhattan school based by one among New Jersey’s largest landowners, Peter Cooper. The mountaineering trails are maintained by volunteers coordinated by the New York-New Jersey Path Convention.

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Hike Overview:

Being Easter Sunday, I used to be seeking to do a hike on the quick facet that consisted of greater than only a stroll within the woods. This hike was an ideal choose. It has a very nice viewpoint over the Wanaque Reservoir and the Ramapo Mountains on the opposite facet. We didn’t encounter anybody else on the paths which made for a quiet morning within the woods.

This Lollipop Loop begins on the Carletondale Street trailhead which might accommodate about 2-3 vehicles. Please be aware: You’ll have to cross the highway and head south if ranging from right here.

There’s further parking on the Neighborhood Presbyterian Church, simply down the highway, however permission is required on weekdays, in line with an indication on the entrance to the path.

This counterclockwise lollipop loop follows the yellow-blazed Cooper Union Path for its entirety. The path is properly blazed and simple to comply with. If beginning out from the small trailhead on Carletondale Street, you should cross the highway, which the path additionally crosses, and start the hike there, heading south.

Though there are just a few steep sections, the elevation achieve is usually gradual and in the course of the first mile of the hike. The mountain itself is barely over 600 ft in elevation, so most hikers shouldn’t have any points.

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The Hike:

From the trailhead parking space, cross Carletondale Street and choose up the yellow-blazed Cooper Union Path on the alternative facet of the road, heading south.

In about 950 ft, the path passes a junction with the connector path from the Neighborhood Presbyterian Church. When you parked within the church car parking zone, you’ll choose up the Cooper Union Path right here and switch left.

The path crosses a small footbridge over a stream and begins to climb on an outdated woods highway.

In about 540 ft, the yellow-blazed Cooper Union Path involves the loop part of the path. Moving into both route will deliver you again to this spot. We opted to go counterclockwise and veered proper.

The path continues its gradual ascent on the woods highway, passing a big boulder to the left of the path. Quickly the path veers proper and goes via a moist space then begins to climb once more, now just a little extra steeply.

Because the path nears the summit, it ranges off and passes extra giant boulders alongside the path.

Because the path nears the southernmost part of Governor Mountain, the Wanaque Reservoir is seen via the leafless timber down beneath on the precise.

After the path passes a campsite, it descends to a rock outcrop and turns left.

Because the path turns left, the rock outcrop simply forward gives a pleasant view over the Wanaque Reservoir and the encircling hills.

leaving the path, you possibly can proceed down beneath a brief distance, to a different rock outcrop that affords a greater and fewer obstructed view.

From the decrease rock outcrop, there’s a extra expansive view of the Wanaque Reservoir with Greenwood Lake Turnpike bisecting it.

Barely southwest, the tall hills on the opposite facet of the reservoir are from proper to left: Board Mountain, Bear Mountain and Windbeam Mountain.

A zoomed in view wanting south.

When you find yourself performed having fun with this scenic spot, make your means again to the primary path and proceed forward on the yellow-blazed Cooper Union Path which ascends barely, then descends steeply right into a hole.

Wanting again from the place the path descended.

On the base of the descent, the path passes via a moist space.

The path quickly climbs out of the hole, leaving the moist space behind.

The path passes an unmarked footpath on the precise. That is the second star (viewpoint) marked on the North Jersey Trails Map, indicating a view. Sadly, the timber have grown up round this rock outcrop and solely a partial view exists throughout leaf-off season.

Proceed forward, following the yellow blazes as they head north. After some minor ups and downs, the path begins a gentle descent.

In about 0.9 mile from the scenic viewpoint, the yellow-blazed Cooper Union Path involves a junction with itself, closing the loop. Flip proper and proceed following the yellow blazes north, as they proceed to descend. You are actually retracing your steps from the start of the hike.

In about one other 500 ft, the path crosses the small footbridge over the stream. When you parked within the church car parking zone, make the following proper and return to your automobile.

When you parked on the trailhead on Carletondale Street, proceed forward for about 950 ft, crossing Carletondale Street and again to the parking space, the place the hike started.

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Overview:

A very nice hike via some quiet and scenic woods that results in an amazing viewpoint over the Wanaque Reservoir and surrounding hills. Since this hike follows one path for its entirety, it’s a good hike for newbies and those that are uncertain of their navigational expertise. Additionally if quick on time, the size makes for a fast hike with an distinctive view. Not a little bit of trash was seen on the path, let’s hold it that means.

Execs:

Properly marked path, stunning viewpoint, quiet space with little foot site visitors.

Cons:

None.

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Take a hike!

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Sources:

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