Best trails in Wawayanda State Park, New Jersey

The trail starts out as a steep climb up to the top of Wawayanda Mountain. Along the way up there are many large boulders that are great for bouldering. Once on top of the mountain you get some great views of the Vernon Valley, Pochuck Mountain, the Kittatinny's, Catskills and the Black Dirt region. The trail then traverses the top of Wawayanda Mountain to another lookout. This is when you will start your bushwhacking along the old Appalachian trail route. (It is more like a bushwhack because you may have difficulties finding the trail most of the way as you go down the mountain.) When descending you will pass a waterfall and some nice cascades. Be careful on this section as there are many unstable rocks in the area. Here is the route to take: Appalachian Trail, Right on Blue Livingston Trail, Come to the large creek, make a right and then try to follow the old Appalachian Trail down. As you go right onto the unmarked path follow along the mountain base to the Appalachian Trail.Show more

Follow the Yellow blazes from Clinton Road to Terrace Pond to make a loop. Existing trails and woods roads create a loop from Clinton Road that offers diverse forests and swamp views while leading you to Terrace Pond.Show more

This loop follows the orange-blazed Wawayanda Lake loop trail to circle the lake and return to the parking areas. Show more

Crossing the North outlet of Terrace Pond is a bit dicy - lots of water.  The Terrace Pond North trail segment that is North East of Terrace Pond is a bit overgrown and the trail blazes are fading but the way is fairly obvious.Show more

Rhododendron Tunnels, Rare White Atlantic Cedar Swamp, Natural AreaShow more

Route Overview: From the Parking lot, Blue (Wingdam) - Yellow (Double Pond) - Red (Red dot) - Cherry Ridge road - Red (Old coal) - Unmarked trail - Green (Turkey ridge) - Green (Pines) - Unmarked trail - Cabin Trail road - Cherry ridge road - Unmarked trail - White - Cherry ridge trail - Yellow (Laurel pond) - Orange (Sitting bear) - Blue (Wingdam)Show more

A pleasant, easy hike with some nice scenery. A pleasant, shorter verison of the Wawayanda Jungle Trail. A great place for cross country skiing in season. Take Cherry Ridge Rd west from the parking area. It's an unpaved woods road here. After about .5 miles, make a right onto the Red Dot trail (actually blazed by red squares). The trail is flat but passes some interesting terrain. It eventually crosses a stone bridge and reaches Double Pond Road. There is an interesting swamp at this junction and a boardwalk that makes for a good spot to stop for lunch. Continue southeast on the yellow blazed Double Pond trail and after a short distance make a right onto the blue blazed Cedar Swamp Trail. This trail goes through a swamp on boards and then through interesting rhododendron tunnels. It eventually reaches the yellow blazed Banker Trail. Make a right here and take it back to the parking area.Show more