Long Pond Ironworks State Park /
Tranquility Ridge County Park,
Passaic Co.,
New Jersey
Hiking Trails:
Sterling Ridge Trail: Blue Blaze
Hasenclever Iron Trail: Yellow Blaze
Total Time: 1:30 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.9 Miles
Pros: Scenic Frozen Lake, Historic District
Cons: Confusing Trail Marker at north end of Monksville Reservoir
Hike Type: Loop
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Google Maps of Parking:
https://goo.gl/maps/E7Am9F3K2FMZgJSs8
The past week had been very cold. I had checked the Harriman office if the lakes there were listed as safe to walk on, but non were open. I drove towards Wawayanda, and noticed that the northern part of the Monksville Reservoir had many people on it, mostly ice fisherman but also a group of people playing hockey.
It was frozen without any snow, making conditions very slippery. I had ice crampons, otherwise this walk on the lake would have been nearly impossible. I parked at the parking area/boat launch area on Beech Road, and walked across the lake to the Long Pond Ironworks main area, passing many of the abandoned historical houses along the way. I visited the iron furnaces, and then crossed the new bridge, taking the Hasenclever Iron Trail up the ridge and then back down to the reservoir. I hiked around the northern end of the Monksville Reservoir, and then took Beech Road back to my car.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiiTzb6aeqzLP4nmQx-24IzmdTrLTbnJ0P2pxHxR7e7ozGJNf_qFxjtR_tBlCzM9Am-GS_ptjWC-TiHopAWFaP1nTI_o8-hjC0lneAmsFyauM3rK00HXzly2qtpy2oy262qoGou-dVt0U589EUrdaie4LeThZNo6QFKRKInhqrmjSw_C8prvXt4IIZ7=w640-h544) |
Map of the Route. Note the map is prior to the Reservoir. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgq3Qea6gwAafCxYCVlnQOgqJNysZD3ey5IVZs4XE0FZpc5SNnVUc_ZiSuZWiHsfm8R58vltcpZ-2PpfCOxCud2FnTytFi5C-M2yxB_gdhThdjpQdGbj_j6fkmwBH8PFONOsPtJJrPcdsltjjzpJW32FI3xySBSXFoCaUFI-5TSel76cX9EeL-gYaLJ=w640-h426) |
Hockey Team on the Frozen Lake |