Bearfort Ridge West Ridge and West Loop

Abraham Hewitt State Forest
West Milford
Passaic Co.,
New Jersey

Hiking Trails:
Bearfort Ridge Connector Trail: Blue-green blaze
Bearfort Ridge Loop Trail: Green blaze
West Ridge Trail: Pink blaze
Ernest Walter Trail: Yellow blaze

Total Time: 3:15 hour
Estimated Distance: 5.3 Miles

Pros: Good climb, multiple views, rock formations, and scenic lake
Cons: Non
Hike Type: Lollipop Loop
Level of Difficulty: Difficult

Hiking Partners:
Yehudah Koblick
Shimmy Rosenberg

Google Maps of Parking:
https://goo.gl/maps/tJwT7L2p84vKAiaX6

I had been in the area the previous Sunday, and it was amazing scenery with the fall foliage. I decided to come back and explore the new West Ridge Trail which goes along the western ridge of Bearfort Mountain in Abraham Hewitt State Forest along rocky outcrops and views.

We parked on Warwick Turnpike and took the Bearfort Ridge Connector Trail from the road, crossing over the bridge over Green Brook and then through a rhododendron forest. We then took the took the Bearfort Ridge Loop Trail trail up the mountain, passing rock outcrops and a nice view, and then took the West Ridge Trail down and across the rocky ridge to the trail end at the Ernest Walter Trail. We took the Ernest Walter Trail to the spur trail that overlooks West Pond, with beautiful scenery and foliage, and then continued to the Bearfort Ridge Loop Trail. 

We took the trail along some ups and downs and views, and then took the trail back down the mountain and back to the Bearfort Ridge Connector Trail back to our car.

Map of the Route

Signs at the Trailhead

Bridge Over Green Brook

Small Waterfall Over Green Brook

Shimmy at a Rocky Outcrop on Bearfort Ridge

View on Bearfort Ridge

Yehudah at Bearfort Ridge

Manhattan Skyline in the Distance

Views from West Ridge

Yehudah and Shimmy on West Ridge

West Ridge Trail Terminus

Foliage on the Earnest Walter Trail

Ernest Walter Rock Scramble near West Pond

Ascending the Ernest Walter Rock Scramble near West Pond

West Pond

Foliage View from West Pond

View at the Ernest Walter / Bearfort Ridge Trail Intersections

Swamp with Rocky Outcrop Along the Bearfort Ridge Loop

Rhododendron Trail at the End of the Hike

Green Brook and Bridge Near the End of the Hike