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.

Map of the Route. Note the map is prior to the Reservoir.

Hockey Team on the Frozen Lake