Back Beach Park /
Wanaque Reserve /
Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Passaic Co.,
New Jersey
Hiking Trails:
Indian Rock Trail: Red blaze
Pete's Path: Red/Yellow blaze
Wanaque Ridge Trail: Orange blaze
Total Time: 1:40 hour
Estimated Distance: 3.3 Miles
Pros: Nice views and quiet area
Cons: Noise from highway, Lack of shade on ridge
Hike Type: Eight Loop
Level of Difficulty: Slightly Difficult
Google Maps of Parking:
https://goo.gl/maps/9xmPLcjfCUbMQZ156
Wyanokie Ridge is a narrow ridge with views on both sides, on the eastern flank of the Wanaque Reservoir. The Wanaque Ridge Trail goes along this trail, and connects to the many trails in the Ramapo Mountain State Forest. The hike starts at Back Beach Park, a nice local park in Wanaque, NJ, and crosses the Wanaque River over a narrow step stone bridge.
There are multiple unmarked trails across the river and some go up the ridge with a shortcut to Pete's Path. I took Pete's Path up the Wanaque Ridge along the ridge, then down the hill Profile Rock, a rock with a creepy face, and then took the parallel unmarked trail below the ridge back to Pete's Path. I then took another connector trail back to the Wanaque River which i then took back to my car.
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| Map of the Route |
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| Indian Rock Trail Trailhead |
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| Wyanokie Ridge Behind the Ball Field |
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| Old Marker about the Bridge |
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| Bridge Crossing the Wanaque River |
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| Wanaque River |
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| Old Trail Signs |
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| Wanaque Ridge Trail |
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| View Along the Wanaque Ridge Trail |
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| Wanaque Reservoir and the Main Dam |
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| Looking to Castle Hill in Ramapo Mountain Forest |
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| Split Rock |
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| Latern Fly. These Invasive Pests should be Killed |
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| Windbeam Mountain in the Distance |
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| Profile Rock. Note the Creepy Face. |
