Sunday, May 17, 2015

Sparta Mountain at Sparta Glen

Sparta Township,
Sussex Co.,
New Jersey

Hiking Trails:
Blue Trail: Blue blaze
Green Trail: Green blaze
Yellow Trail: Yellow Trail
Unnamed Trail: Unblazed

Total Time: 0:50 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.0 miles
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Level of Recommendation: Slightly recommended
Points of Interest: Lake views, good short climb

I had a tradeshow in Ogdensburg, New Jersey, which is in the rural highlands region of Sussex County, New Jersey. I wanted to find a short hike in the vicinity for after the show, and this seemed to be the perfect location. Sparta Glen is a stream that forms the headwaters of the Wallkill River that goes through a narrow valley. The area has some nice picnic areas and a short network of trails. There are several wide trails that meander up Sparta Mountain, and one shorter but steeper trail that goes almost straight up to the top and requires scrambling. The longer wider trails are all marked, but the short steep trail is unmarked.

I parked near the trailhead of the blue trail and took the blue trail alongside before it starts the more gradual climb to the top. I didn’t see the view on the top and meandered along an unmarked trail on the top of the ridge heading north, which just looped me back to a yellow trail which I took back to where I was before. From  there there is a short descent to the view, which faces south and provides and nice view of Lake Mohawk. I then continued from here on the unmarked trail down the mountain, which is quite steep, and took this down to the road in the glen which I then took back to my car.

Map of the Route.
Central Jersey Highlands Trail Map

The Green Path

Large Wild Turkey I Encountered Along the Hike

Approaching the View

Lake Mohawk from the Viewpoint, Facing South

Another View of Lake Mohawk

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