This 4.4-mile, moderate-to-strenuous hike in Norvin Green State Forest climbs to the summit of Wyanokie High Point, goes by an historic mine that can be entered, and passes a beautiful waterfall. The hike should take about 3.5 hours. Dogs are permitted on leash.
To reach the trailhead, take N.J. Route 4 West to Route 208 North, and follow Route 208 to its end. Continue ahead on I-287 South, and take Exit 57 (Skyline Drive). Bear right at the fork and take Skyline Drive to its northwestern end at Greenwood Lake Turnpike (County Route 511). Turn left and proceed south for 1.6 miles, then turn right onto West Brook Road and cross the Wanaque Reservoir on a causeway. At the next T-junction, turn left, then take the second left onto Snake Den Road. Continue for 0.6 mile to a large dirt parking area on the right, just before the entrance to the New Weis Center.
The hike begins at the western end of the parking area, where a gatepost with a triple light-green blaze marks the start of the Otter Hole Trail. Continue along the driveway leading into the New Weis Center, following the light-green blazes and the “To Trails” signs. (If you have a dog, follow the signs for an alternate route.)
At the second kiosk, the trail turns right to skirt the Highlands Natural Pool. It briefly joins a dirt road, then bears left and ascends on a footpath, passing cascades in the brook and the weir that regulates the supply of water to the pool.
After crossing a footbridge over the brook, the green-blazed Otter Hole Trail proceeds through a rocky area and reaches a wide woods road—the continuation of Snake Den Road. Here, the Otter Hole Trail turns right, but you should cross the road at a kiosk and continue ahead on the joint Mine (yellow-on-white) and Hewitt-Butler (blue) Trails. The joint trails climb steeply through a rocky area, with rock steps provided for part of the way.
After leveling off, the Mine Trail turns left, but you should continue ahead, following the blue blazes of the Hewitt-Butler Trail. The trail climbs over rocks, briefly levels off, then bears right and begins a steady climb. At the top, a rock outcrop on the right offers a west-facing view. After crossing several rock ledges, the white-blazed Macopin Trail begins on the right, but you should continue ahead on the Hewitt-Butler Trail. You’ll now climb to a balanced rock atop a rock ledge, with views west, east and north.
After a relatively level stretch, you’ll reach a junction with the red-on-white-blazed Wyanokie Circular Trail (also the route of the teal-diamond-blazed Highlands Trail). Turn left and follow these trails, which make a short but steep climb to the summit of Wyanokie High Point. The last part of the climb is over bare rock, with the trail marked by blazes painted on the rock.
The summit offers panoramic views to the southeast over the Wanaque Reservoir. To the east, beyond the reservoir, you can see a long bridge carrying I-287 over a low area and, on a clear day, the New York City skyline may be seen on the horizon. To the north and west are Saddle, Assiniwikam and Buck Mountains.
When you’re ready to continue, follow the red-and-white and teal diamond blazes as they descend from the summit, passing more views of the Wanaque Reservoir along the way. A section of the trail descending from High Point is poorly blazed, but the trail is clear and evident.
The trail eventually goes back into the woods and bears left, with the descent becoming less steep. At the base of the descent, the white-blazed Lower Trail begins on the right. Just beyond, the trail crosses a stream on rocks, and soon afterwards, the yellow-on-white Mine Trail joins from the left. Proceed ahead, now following three different trail blazes.
A short distance ahead, you’ll notice on the left the ruins of a stone shelter. The trail now approaches Blue Mine Brook. Just before reaching the brook, there is a circular mine pit to the right of the trail.
After crossing the brook on a footbridge, turn right and proceed ahead for about 100 feet. To the left is the Blue Mine, filled with muddy water. This mine, named for the dark blue color of its ore, was discovered by Peter Hasenclever about 1765 and was worked extensively in the 1800s. A large concrete pad at the entrance to the mine, with protruding iron rods, once served as a base for steam-operated equipment.
Go back to the footbridge. (Do not recross it.) Just beyond, the teal-diamond-blazed Highlands Trail diverges to the right, but you should continue ahead on the joint Mine/Wyanokie Circular Trails, which follow a rocky woods road. Bear left at a fork and continue ahead for about a quarter of a mile until the two trails separate. Here, you should turn right and follow the yellow-on-white blazes of the Mine Trail, which climbs on a narrow woods road, once used to access the Roomy Mine. At the top of a rather steep pitch, the Mine Trail bears right, but you should bear left to continue on the orange-blazed Roomy Mine Trail.
At the top of the rise, the entrance to the Roomy Mine is on the right. Named for Benjamin Roome, a local land surveyor, the mine was opened shortly after 1840 and worked until 1857. The mine shaft extends about 60 feet into the hillside. The mine is open to the public from April 15 to September 15. To enter the mine, one first must crawl into an antechamber, but the mine shaft itself is over six feet high. Make sure to bring along a flashlight or headlamp!
Continue to follow the orange blazes of the Roomy Mine Trail along the mine road. Soon, the trail bears right onto another road. After climbing a little, turn left at a huge boulder and continue to follow the Roomy Mine Trail, which climbs over a rise and passes interesting rock outcrops.
After a jog to the right, the trail crosses Blue Mine Brook above a waterfall, turns right and briefly follows the brook, then turns left, away from the brook. The trail parallels a rocky escarpment on the right and continues to a junction with the yellow-on-white-blazed Mine Trail. Here, the Roomy Mine Trail ends, and you should turn right onto the Mine Trail. The trail is level at first, then climbs steadily. Near the top, you’ll pass some interesting jumbled boulders and rock outcrops on the right.
At the top of the climb, turn right, joining the blue-blazed Hewitt-Butler Trail. Now following both blue and yellow-on-white blazes, descend steeply to Snake Den Road, here a dirt road. The Hewitt-Butler and Mine Trails end here, but you should cross the road and continue ahead on the green-blazed Otter Hole Trail, retracing your steps past the Highlands Natural Pool and along Blue Mine Brook and ending at the parking area where the hike began.
GPS address: 150 Snake Den Road, Ringwood, NJ 07456.
This hiking article is provided by Daniel Chazin of the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference. The Trail Conference is a volunteer organization that builds and maintains over 2,000 miles of hiking trails and publishes a library of hiking maps and books. The Trail Conference’s office is at 600 Ramapo Valley Road (Route 202), Mahwah; (201) 512-9348; www.nynjtc.org. Daniel Chazin can be reached at [email protected].
