Windbeam Mountain from Stonetown Recreation Advanced

April 18, 2021 – Ringwood, New Jersey

Problem: Reasonable to Strenuous

Size: Roughly 3.2 miles

Max elevation: 1040 ft.– complete elevation acquire roughly 759 ft.

Route kind: Out and again

Purchase Map: North Jersey Trails Map #115 – NYNJTC

Trailhead parking: Stonetown Recreation Advanced – Mary Roth Drive, Ringwood, NJ 07456

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Overview:

Windbeam Mountain is a part of the easternmost part of the New Jersey Highlands. It’s situated north of Wanaque in Ringwood. To the east, it’s bounded by the Wanaque Reservoir, separating it from the Ramapo Mountains. To the north, is the 920-ft. Bear Mountain and Little Windbeam (720-ft.) to the south. The Stonetown Recreation Advanced lies at its western base.

At an elevation of 1040 ft above sea degree, Windbeam Mountain rises in an extended steep, wooded and rocky slope 800 ft above the valley beneath. Since it’s taller than the neighboring hills, the largely flat twin summits, present broad ranging views in all instructions.

The mountain is a part of nearly 3,000 acres of land that adjoins the Wanaque Reservoir that’s owned by the North Jersey District Water Provide Fee (NJDWSC). 

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Historical past:

The unique occupants of this space have been the Lenape Indians, who have been drawn to the land for its numerous pure sources and abundance of freshwater sources, which they utilized for fishing, looking, and navigation. In reality, Wanaque is the identify given to the valley by the Lenape and has been translated as “valley of sassafras.”

There have been at the very least fourteen completely different spellings of Windbeam all through the years. Winbeam, Windbeamus, Wimbeamus, Wiembemis, Weembemus, Weembeamus, Winbeamus, Weambemus, Weambeames, Wenbeamus, Winbbeam are a few of them.

In a few of the outdated deeds it’s spelled “Wimbemus.” Some say that Wimbemus means “chestnut tree.” Windbeam and the opposite mountains close by, have been coated with tall wholesome chestnut bushes. Some would counsel a derivation from wimb, coronary heart of a tree; -bi, tree; moschiwi, naked, open: a solitary tree on a bleak mountain prime.

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Trails Overview:

The Stonetown Round Path and the Highlands Path are coaligned as they traverse the rocky summit. These are the one official trails that summit the mountain. The path is nicely marked, however there are lots of turns and switchbacks, so keeping track of the blazes is important.

Following the Stonetown Round Path from the Stonetown Recreation Advanced, it passes by means of a low mendacity moist space and it’s a steep rocky climb over Little Windbeam and as much as Windbeam summit, gaining nearly 800 ft in elevation in a few mile and a half. 

Please be aware: The North Jersey District Water Provide Fee (NJDWSC), which owns the property that’s traversed by these trails, permits entry to their property for climbing and the upkeep of the paths. Please assist to maintain these trails open by staying on the paths and respecting personal property. Perform what you carry in.

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Hike Overview:

This hike begins and ends on the Stonetown Recreation Advanced on Mary Roth Drive. There shouldn’t be any points discovering a spot within the massive car parking zone. 

Throughout the road from the car parking zone is Windbeam Mountain. When you search for in direction of the summit, it’s possible you’ll spot the American Flag flying. That’s your vacation spot.

This out and again hike follows the red-triangle-on-white blazed Stonetown Round Path for its entirety. First summiting Little Windbeam (720-ft.) then Windbeam (1,040-ft.), and summiting Little Windbeam from the north on the best way again. The whole ascent is steep and fairly rocky, as is the descent. Mountaineering poles are a plus. The start and finish of this hike passes by means of a moist space with a number of small stream crossings. pair of waterproof climbing boots and bug spray is beneficial.   

Based on the New Jersey 1K Membership, At solely 1040-ft., Windbeam is the fifth lowest mountain on our NJ1K checklist, however Windbeam truly takes extra vertical climbing to summit than practically every other mountain in New Jersey. The path’s ascent up Windbeam from the south is likely one of the longest sustained steeps in New Jersey.

Though that is an out and again, the return route offers hikers a unique look. 

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The Hike:

Stroll again out of the doorway highway of the Stonetown Recreation Advanced. Diagonally to the suitable and throughout the highway you will notice two offset red-triangle-on-white blazes on a pole. That is the Stonetown Round Path which you may be following for all the hike. The path heads east into the woods, by means of wetlands and instantly rock hops a small stream. The path curves to the suitable (south) because it skirts the bottom of Windbeam Mountain. This space might be moist and muddy after rainfall.

 

 

 

 

The Stonetown Round Path involves a junction with an unmarked path and turns proper, rock hops one other stream and shortly comes near Stonetown Street earlier than veering away from it. The path descends slightly and crosses one other stream earlier than ascending steeply the southwest slope of Little Windbeam. The path quickly descends once more earlier than resuming its climb.

 

 

 

After about 0.7 mile, the path reaches a junction with the Highlands Path, which is available in from the suitable. Flip left on the junction (northeast) and comply with the 2 coaligned trails as they climb Little Windbeam very steeply.

 

 

 

Because the path climbs, it’s possible you’ll wish to cease to catch your breath and look behind you because the views begin to open up. As you proceed the steep ascent of Little Windbeam, extra views will seem. On the best way again they are going to be extra apparent.

 

 

 

The path ranges off on the summit of Little Windbeam, which makes a great place to relaxation earlier than you make your solution to Windbeam Mountain.

The path descends right into a col, with Windbeam Mountain summit looming simply forward. 

 

The path begins its steep ascent of Windbeam Mountain. As you climb greater, higher views start to look.

 

As you climb, there are a number of rock outcrops, to the left of the path with open views. Throughout the valley, the hills of Norvin Inexperienced State Forest are seen to the west. 

Because the path continues to climb, cease to take a breather and switch round for some southwest-facing views.

 

 

Because the path nears the summit, there’s a massive rock outcrop simply off the path to the left with far reaching views south over the Wanaque Reservoir and past. In my view that is one of the best view on this hike. This makes a terrific place to take a break and relaxation up from the climb.

If you find yourself able to proceed, comply with the blazes a brief distance to the summit of Windbeam Mountain, marked with an American Flag.

 

 

If the summit is crowded, proceed to the 2nd summit. The path descends steeply a brief distance then climbs. It’s a slight scramble to the 2nd summit, however doable by most. 

 

 

On the prime of the 2nd summit, to the suitable is a rock outcrop with panoramic views northeast to southeast.

 

On a transparent day, the Manhattan skyline is seen within the distance.

Proceed north a brief distance to a different rock outcrop with west-facing views.

 

That is the flip round spot for the hike described right here. If you want to increase the hike, the Stonetown Round Path (the identical route because the Highlands Path) continues north to Bear and Board Mountains. 

If you find yourself able to proceed, retrace your steps on the Stonetown Round Path, again to the primary summit.

 

 

 

Outdated Glory flies proudly on the summit.

Wanting west from the flagpole on the summit.

A zoomed in view of the ballfields on the Stonetown Recreation Advanced. 

On the other facet from the flag, there’s one other rock outcrop with sweeping views, northeast to southeast. We missed this on the best way up.

 

Descending the summit, it’s possible you’ll wish to make one other cease on the south-facing viewpoint.

 

 

 

From there, proceed to retrace your steps on the Stonetown Round Path, descending steeply and again to the parking space, the place the hike started.

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Evaluate:

That is excessive up on my checklist of favourite hikes. The views are a few of the finest round and there are many them. The path may be very steep and rocky, however the payoff makes it value it. There are quite a few rock outcrops with expansive views that make for nice picnic spots. The abundance of blazes makes the path straightforward to comply with. We started this hike on a Sunday morning at about 8:30am and solely ran right into a handful of individuals all the hike. The path and the summits have been freed from any trash, let’s maintain it that method. 

Execs:

Properly marked trails, excellent views, not extremely trafficked space, massive car parking zone.

Cons:

None.

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Take a hike!

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Sources:

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