Terrace Pond among the stunning, nearby hikes to explore New Jersey

Warm temperatures have arrived in the region and, with them, are new opportunities to go hiking.

There are new hiking trails to explore, as well, for those of you who stick to local favorites in the mid-Hudson Valley.

Just south of the border — the border between New York and New Jersey, that is — there are more than 80 square miles of heavy forested northern Highlands, with dozens of publicly accessible hiking trails in West Milford, for example.

The trails range from the Apshawa Preserve near Route 23 to the Abram S. Hewitt State Forest near the state line.

The southwestern third of the township is also preserved watershed property owned by the City of Newark. Those trail-threaded properties contain vital reservoirs and therefore require a readily-obtainable permit to access.

Bearfort Fire Tower (4 miles)

A hike along Bearfort Ridge to the fire tower near Clinton Reservoir starts near P2, the second of the Newark watershed’s four trailhead parking areas along Clinton Road. Hikers can take the adjacent yellow-blazed woods road known as the Fire Tower West Trail the entire way, but many only take it about 300 feet before hopping onto a triple-blue blazed trail that ends at the red-on-while blaze of the Fire Tower Ridge Trail.

Taking a left brings visitors near the Cross Castle. Built 111 years ago, the former home of Richard F. Cross was sold to the City of Newark in 1919 and left to stand abandoned for nearly 70 years before it was demolished. The trail continues, providing views of Hanks Pond before it gets steep, passes a swamp, and eventually hits a clearing with the 68-foot-high fire tower in view. The seasonally-manned tower turns 84 this year.

Apshawa Preserve (5 miles)

The Apshawa Preserve features views of the Butler Reservoir and the New York City skyline. The preserve is open daily from dawn to dusk as a cooperative conservation project by the New Jersey Conservation Foundation and the County of Passaic.

Parking off Northwood Road provides a direct link to the Blue Trail, a 1-mile straight path that ends at the Green Trail near the hardwood-shadowed Apshawa Brook. Take a right to cut off about 1.6 miles or follow the Green Trail south with the brook before linking up with the Red Trail circumnavigating the Butler Reservoir. A lookout near the reservoirs dam doubles as a photo op and rest spot.

Terrace Pond Loop (5 miles)

The picturesque, yet-dangerous Terrace Pond provides the payoff for trekking one of the town’s most popular loops. Hikers can part at the convenient sandlot near Bearfort Waters along Clinton Road and cross the street to the yellow-blazed Terrace Pond South Trail in Wawayanda State Park.

The lumpy terrain runs through hemlock trees fighting to make a comeback and a rhododendron grove until the trail hits a relatively-flat woods road. Transitions to the Yellow Dot, Terrace Pond Red, and Terrace Pond Circular (white) trail take visitors to a secluded glacial lake. A blue-blazed trail completes the loop near the Clinton Road lot.

Bearfort Ridge (7 miles)

Views are the trademark of this hike to an overlook of Greenwood Lake, New York City’s skyline, and the Sterling Ridge Fire Tower. The Bearfort Ridge Trail accessible from the westbound side of Warwick Turnpike near White Road takes hikes more than 600 feet up glacier-rutted rocks to a ridgetop that provide a view of the aptly-named Surprise Lake.

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Hikers in this section of Abram S. Hewitt State Forest often continue to the yellow-blazed Earnest Walker Trail before taking the 2.5-mile Jeremy Glick Trail back to the trailhead. The orange-blazed woods road named for the Flight 93 hero who along with other tried to foil a terrorist hijacking on 9/11 was formerly known as the Quail Trail.

MTB: Jungle Habitat (11+ miles)

For biking, rather than hiking trails, no area destination is as popular as Jungle Habitat. The former Warner Bros. safari theme park property now under state control contains more than 11-miles of single track mountain biking trails as well as paved roads, double tracks, and hiking trails open to the public every day.

A revised parking area near Greenwood Lake Airport on Airport Road provides ample parking and access to trails such as Warthog, Hippo, Tiger Pen, Babs, and Boon. All trails on site are maintained by the volunteers at the Jersey Off-Road Bicycling Association who contribute more than 5,000 hours each year to create, maintain, and preserve trails throughout the state.