Sunday, August 27, 2023

Bearfort Mountain: New Terrace Pond North Trail

Bearfort Mountain: New Terrace Pond North Trail
Wawayanda State Park,
Passaic Co.,
New Jersey

Hiking Trails:
Terrace Pond North Spur Trail: Blue/black blaze
Terrace Pond North Loop Trail: Blue blaze

Total Time: 2:40 hour
Estimated Distance: 3.8 Miles

Pros: Nice climb, great views, and scenic area
Cons: None
Hike Type: Out and back
Level of Difficulty: Difficult

Google Maps of Parking:
https://goo.gl/maps/H39rVc7RjWscF79Z8

Hiking Partner:
Shimmy Rosenberg

This is one of my favorite areas in New Jersey. The terrain is very scenic with cool rock formations and great views. The ridge on the western side of Greenwood Lake extends south and is known as Bearfort Mountain, and has a network of scenic trails along the ridge. The trails were recently rerouted, with a new trail created along the ridge.

We parked on Warwick Turnpike and took the Terrance Pond Trail up the mountain, passing several great views along the ridge. We then took the Terrace Pond North Trail further up the higher part of the ridge to some more good views. When we reached the gas pipeline we found it to be very overgrown, so we turned around at that point and headed back along the same route.

Map of the Route

Start of the Trail at the Trailhead


First View on Bearfort

Bearfort Mountain Terrain










Greemwood Lake in the Distance




Terrace Pond North Spur Trail & Terrace Pond North Loop Trail Intersection



















Sunday, August 20, 2023

Wolf River Trails

Shelby Farms Park
Memphis,
Shelby Co.,
Tennessee

Total Time: 1 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.7 Miles

Hiking Trails:
Wolf River Greenway
Yellow Trail: Yellow blaze
Blue Trail: Blue blaze

Pros: Quiet and scenic area in urban place
Cons: Trails are not well-marked, bikers on the trails
Hike Type: Lollipop Loop
Level of Difficulty: Easy

Google Maps of Parking:
https://goo.gl/maps/WtsuGVkBkFg6X8Nc8

I was in Memphis for the weekend visiting a family friend. We were staying right near Shelby Farms Park, once of the largest urban parks in the country, and I noticed there were hiking trails in the area. It was very hot, with temperatures in the upper 90's by the end of the hike. I was in the shade most of the time and made sure to stay well hydrated.

I parked at the Wolf River Greenway Parking Lot, and took the trail across the bridge over the Wolf River, one of the tributaries in of the Mississippi River, and then took the Yellow Trail. Once I reached Walnut Grove Road, I took the Blue Trail to the Yellow Trail, which I took to the sandbar along the Wolf River. I took the Yellow Trail back to the Blue Trail, to the bridge and back to my car.

Map of the Route

Wolf River Greenway Trail

Wolf River


Wolf River Bridge


Yellow Trail







Wolf River Sandbar




Skink on the Log

Wolf River Bridge




Pond at the Parking Area