Sunday, May 6, 2012

Campgaw Mountain County Reservation

Ramapo Mountain State Forest,
Bergen County,
New Jersey

Trails: Old Cedar Trail: Red blaze

Total Time:
1:15 hour
Estimated Distance: 3.2 miles
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Level of Recommendation: Recommended for a tranquil hike
Points Of Interest: Viewpoint and tranquil nature

Google Maps of Parking:

View 2012 Hiking in a larger map

Campgaw Mountain is a small mountain (or large hill, depending how you look at it) in Northwestern Bergen County. While it doens't contain any rugged peaks or exhilirating hiking, it does afford a very large network of tranquil and well-marked trails in a very small area. There is a small downlhill ski area with about a 200 foot vertical drop.

I parked in the northern end of the large parking lot near the ski lifts, and took the Old Cedar Trail up the mountain. The Old Cedar Trail is the longest trail in the park, and makes a complete loop, starting at the same point where it ends on the road. I climbed up the mountain and veered off at the top to take a look at the view by the top of the ski lifts. Continued back on the trail, going down and then going along the stream, down to the more developed park area at the bottom. From there headed along and continued past the lake, across the road, and along the brand new trail bridge back to the area where I parked.

Strange Pods on top of the mountain.
There are several of these and I don't know what they are for.

View from the top of the ski lift. Facing east.

From top of ski lift, facing northeast.

From top of Ski Lift facing north, with Sheraton Crossroads
Ramapo Mountains in view. The small jagged mountain in the
right center is Cheesecoate Mountain.

Power lines at the bottom.

Interesting trail marker along the Old Cedar Trail

4 comments:

  1. Nice post. I remember seeing another one of those pods in the woods behind the lodge, and was wondering what sport they involve. Maybe you can see the manufacturer name in your copy of the picture.

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  2. They are all over the place there, and I have no idea what sport they involve and am wondering the same thing. I don't see any manufacturer name. I would have asked someone there but the area is very quiet and there wasn't anyone to ask.

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  3. Seems like its an old version of their Disc Golf target, http://www.innovadiscs.com/targets/discatcher-sport.html.
    Ski centers try to drum up business in the summer with Disc Golf.

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  4. Great photos! I agree with NightHiking, they are for Disc Golf (this is also found in West Milford's Browns Point Park)

    In the meantime please check out NJUrbanForest.com's take on Campgaw County Reservation!

    http://njurbanforest.com/2015/07/05/hiking-campgaw-mountain/

    Plenty of Pictures!!!!

    ReplyDelete