Between the boulder and the kiosk, a triple black-square-on-yellow blaze marks the start of the Manaticut Point Spur Trail. Head into the woods on this trail. Soon, you'll cross two branches of a stream on rocks, with several abandoned sections of concrete pipe adjacent to the stream, and pass by a huge fractured rock. A short distance beyond, you’ll cross another stream.
After crossing a third stream below an interesting inverted-V-shaped rock formation and proceeding through an area with an understory of ferns, the Manaticut Point Spur Trail ends at a junction with the yellow-blazed Manaticut Point Loop. Here, the yellow blazes head both to the left and straight ahead. You should continue straight ahead, uphill (towards Lake Sonoma), to follow the loop of the Manaticut Point Loop in the counterclockwise direction.
About a mile from the start, you’ll pass the trailhead of the orange-blazed Lake Sonoma Trail on the right. A short distance ahead, you’ll notice a triple yellow/orange blaze on the left, but you should continue ahead on the yellow-blazed Manaticut Point Loop, which descends to cross the inlet stream of Lake Sonoma at a woods road, immediately turns right, and soon reaches a limited viewpoint over the lake. The trail reenters the woods, with views of the lake through the trees, then bears right and reaches a panoramic viewpoint over the lake. Soon, it bears sharply left and heads away from the lake, following a narrow ridge, then turns right onto a woods road.
The Manaticut Point Loop soon turns left, leaving the woods road. It briefly parallels a stream, then crosses it below an attractive cascade. The trail immediately turns sharply left, briefly joining another woods road, then bears right and begins a steady climb. At the top, it bears left, briefly descends, then turns sharply left at a switchback and climbs gently to reach a junction with the white-blazed Overlook Rock Trail, which joins from the right.
Continue ahead, now following both yellow and white blazes. In 150 feet, both trails turn right at a double blaze. Here, you should turn left and make a short, steep climb up a rock ledge, emerging onto Overlook Rock -- a massive exposed rock face. Overlook Rock affords a panoramic east-facing view over Lake Sonoma and Windbeam, Bear and Board Mountains, with the Ramapo Mountains in the background. You've now gone about two miles from the start.
After taking in the view, descend from the rock, turn right, and retrace your steps along the joint yellow/white-blazed trail for 150 feet, then turn left onto the white-blazed Overlook Rock Trail. The trail descends gradually, crossing a woods road and then a stream. It turns right and parallels the stream, soon joining a level woods road, which it follows for 0.2 mile.
Immediately after crossing another stream, the Overlook Rock Trail turns left, leaving the road, and climbs to reach a long rock outcrop. It parallels the outcrop on the left, then bears right and climbs to the top, with another broad east-facing view.
The trail descends from the outcrop and again begins to climb, soon joining a woods road. After passing under power lines at the crest of the ridge, the Overlook Rock Trail reaches a junction with the blue-blazed Hewitt-Butler Trail.
Turn left and proceed south on the joint Overlook Rock/Hewitt-Butler Trail, which parallels the power lines. It soon heads back towards the power lines but then turns further west, away from the power lines, and begins to climb. Soon after passing a west-facing viewpoint from open rocks, the trail turns left, emerges onto the power line clearing and briefly joins the service road that runs under the power lines.
In 200 feet, the white/blue-blazed trail bears left and continues along a grassy woods road just east of the power lines. Soon, the power lines diverge to the right, while the woods road bears left and begins to head southeast. About half a mile after leaving the power line service road, another woods road joins from the left. Just beyond, the white/blue trail turns left, leaving the road, and continues on a footpath, which climbs a rocky hillside. A short distance beyond, it makes another steep climb. Soon, it emerges onto a rock ledge with several cedar trees.
After descending a little, the trail climbs to another rock ledge, marked by a single cedar tree. Here, the white-blazed Overlook Rock Trail turns left, but you should continue ahead on the blue-blazed Hewitt-Butler Trail, now joined by the yellow-blazed Manaticut Point Trail. The blue/yellow-blazed trail descends briefly, then climbs steeply to the crest of the ridge. It heads southeast along the ridge, passing viewpoints on the right over Saddle Mountain and then descending gradually. At the base of the descent, there is a small pond on private property to the right.
After climbing through a cleft in the rock, you'll pass on the left the southern end of the yellow/orange-blazed connector trail. Continue along the blue/yellow-blazed trail, which descends a little and then climbs steadily to a panoramic viewpoint from Manaticut Point - an open rock ledge. Windbeam Mountain is directly ahead (east). To the south, you can see a quarry, with the New York City skyline visible on the horizon on a clear day (the best view of the skyline is from the rock ledge just below the one traversed by the trail).
The trail now descends very steeply. Watch carefully for a double blaze painted on a rock. Here, the blue-blazed Hewitt-Butler Trail turns right, but you should follow the yellow-blazed Manaticut Point Trail, which turns left and continues to descend more gradually. The trail soon bears left and climbs a little, goes through an interesting passage between rocks, then resumes a steady descent. After passing several rock formations on the left and crossing a stream, it climbs to the junction where the loop of the Manaticut Point Trail ends. Bear right and follow the black-square-on-yellow blazes of the Manaticut Point Spur Trail, retracing your steps to the trailhead on Crescent Drive, where the hike began.
Publication: Submitted by Daniel Chazin on 12/16/2010 updated/verified on 06/29/2020
This loop hike goes by Lake Sonoma and climbs to Overlook Rock, Manaticut Point and several other panoramic viewpoints.
Between the boulder and the kiosk, a triple black-square-on-yellow blaze marks the start of the Manaticut Point Spur Trail. Head into the woods on this trail. Soon, you'll cross two branches of a stream on rocks, with several abandoned sections of concrete pipe adjacent to the stream, and pass by a huge fractured rock. A short distance beyond, you’ll cross another stream.
After...
Whether you are going for a day hike or backpacking overnight, it is good practice to carry what we call The Hiking Essentials. These essentials will help you enjoy your outing more and will provide basic safety gear if needed. There may also be more essentials, depending on the season and your needs.
Hiking Shoes or Boots
Water - Two quarts per person is recommended in every season. Keep in mind that fluid loss is heightened in winter as well as summer. Don't put yourself in the position of having to end your hike early because you have run out of water.
Map - Know where you are and where you are going. Many of our hiking areas feature interconnecting network of trails. Use a waterproof/tear-resistant Tyvek Trail Conference map if available or enclose your map in a Ziplock plastic bag. If you have a mobile device, download Avenza’s free PDF Maps app and grab some GPS-enhanced Trail Conference maps (a backup Tyvek or paper version of the map is good to have just in case your batteries die or you don't have service). Check out some map-reading basics here.
Food - Snacks/lunch will keep you going as you burn energy walking or climbing. Nuts, seeds, and chocolate are favorites on the trail.
Sunscreen and insect repellent
Rain Gear and Extra Clothing - Rain happens. So does cold. Be prepared for changing weather. Avoid cotton--it traps water against your skin and is slow to dry. If you are wearing wet cotton and must return to your starting point, you risk getting chills that may lead to a dangerous hypothermia. Choose synthetic shirts, sweaters and/or vests and dress in layers for easy on and off.
Compass - A simple compass is all you need to orient you and your map to magnetic north.
Light - A flashlight or small, lightweight headlamp will be welcome gear if you find yourself still on the trail when darkness falls. Check the batteries before you start out and have extras in your pack.
First Aid Kit - Keep it simple, compact, and weatherproof. Know how to use the basic components.
Firestarter and Matches - In an emergency, you may need to keep yourself or someone else warm until help arrives. A firestarter (this could be as simple as leftover birthday candles that are kept inside a waterproof container) and matches (again, make sure to keep them in a waterproof container) could save a life.
Knife or Multi-tool - You may need to cut a piece of moleskin to put over a blister, repair a piece of broken equipment, or solve some other unexpected problem.
Emergency Numbers - Know the emergency numbers for the area you're going to and realize that in many locations--especially mountainous ones, your phone will not get reception.
Common Sense - Pay attention to your environment, your energy, and the condition of your companions. Has the weather turned rainy? Is daylight fading? Did you drink all your water? Did your companion fail to bring rain gear? Are you getting tired? Keep in mind that until you turn around you are (typically) only half-way to completing your hike--you must still get back to where you started from! (Exceptions are loop hikes.)
Check the weather forecast before you head out. Know the rules and regulations of the area.
Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
Be Considerate of Other Visitors
The Trail Conference is a 2015 Leave No Trace partner.
(c) Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics: www.LNT.org.
Take Skyline Drive to its northwestern terminus at Greenwood Lake Turnpike (County Route 511). Turn left and proceed south for 1.6 miles to West Brook Road. Turn right onto West Brook Road and cross the Wanaque Reservoir on a causeway. At the next T-junction, turn left and proceed for 0.8 mile to Magee Road. Turn right onto Magee Road and take the first left onto Burnt Meadow Road. Continue for 0.9 mile and turn left at the second intersection with Crescent Drive. Continue for 0.2 mile until you reach a huge boulder and a kiosk on the right side of the road, just beyond a curve. Park along the side of the road. GPS address: 1 Crescent Drive, Ringwood, NJ 07456.
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December 31, 1969
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