Lake Henry Sunset Hike

Continental Soliders Park
Bergen Co.,
New Jersey

Hiking Trails:
Lake Henry Path: Unblazed

Total Time: 0:30 Hours
Estimated Distance: 1 Mile
Level of Difficulty: Very Easy
Level of Recommendation: Recommended for a short pretty walk

Points of Interest: Nice lake with waterfowl
Cons: Non Dramatic

It was a beautiful, late December day, with temperatures peaking at 70 degrees! My office is very close to this location, so I took the opportunity to take this short walk instead of my lunch break. It was about 45 minutes to dusk, and I encountered several fisherman as well as a beautiful white swan in a close encounter. The pictures below were taken with my cell phone camera because that is all I had with me.

Map of the Route. North Jersey Trails Eastern Map

Path Around the Lake in a Snowless and Spring-Like December

Lake Henry from the Western Shore

Bridge over the Lake Henry Inlet, with a Swan Across the Brook 

The Swan , Taken From the Bridge

Beautiful White Swan

Dusk Approaching Over Lake Henry

Lake Henry Loop

Continental Soldiers Park
Mahwah,
Bergen Co.,
New Jersey

Hiking Trails:
Lake Henry Trail: Unblazed

Total Time: 0:20 hours
Estimated Distance: 1.0 mile

Level of Difficulty: Very Easy
Level of Recommendation: Recommended for a short, quiet, and easy walk
Points Of Interest: Tranquil Lake and pretty scenery
Pros: Quiet area and very pretty lake with lots of interesting waterfowl

I had been very busy over the summer and had not had the oppurtunity to do much hiking from late July. I was also busy at work and couldn't take any time off from work. I had a meeting in Mahwah one fine day during the week and took the oppurtunity to do this very tranquil walk around this little-known lake directly across from Ramapo College.

I parked at the parking area at Continental Soldiers Park, and entered the path to the lake at its eastern side. I did the loop around the lake, crossing both bridges and the inlet and outlet spur of the Ramapo River. This is a great place to see interesting watefowl. Aside from the typical ducks and geese, I saw a large white heron and swans.

Map of the Route.
North Jersey Trails

Lake Henry from the eastern shore,
Facing West towards Hawk Rock

Zoomed in to Hawk Rock
Note the People atop of the Rock

Lake Henry from the Northeastern Side

White Heron on the Northern Side of Lake Henry

Bridge Crossing the River Inlet of the Mahwah River to Lake Henry

The Mahwah River north of Lake Henry

Lake Henry, Continental Soldiers Park

Mahwah,
Bergen Co.,
New Jersey

Hiking Trails:
Lake Henry Trail: Unblazed

Total Time: 0:25 hours
Estimated Distance: 1.0 mile

Level of Difficulty: Very Easy
Level of Recommendation: Recommended
Points Of Interest: Tranquil Lake and pretty scenery
Pros: Quiet area and very pretty lake with lots of interesting waterfowl
Cons: Double-track path takes away from natural setting

Google Map of Parking:

View 2013 Hiking Locations in a larger map

This is a little-known trail in Mahwah, right across from Ramapo College. Although it was a weekday, a beautiful, upper-70's day in the fall called to me for a quick lunchtime hike.

This area is right next to Ramapo Mountain Reservation, which is more well-known, but is not connected to it and is separated by the Ramapo River. There is a new trail that was created surrounding Lake Henry, and it is a pretty path with nice scenery of the lake and the mountains behind the lake. Lake Henry forms from a spur of the Ramapo River, and seems to be a natural lake with no dam. At the far end of the lake there is a short path to the main artery of the Ramapo River, which runs behind the lake. There were several interesting species of waterfowl present when I was there, including swans and several types of ducks. There are two bridges, one crossing at the inlet and one crossing at the outlet of the lake. The trail starts behind the park and tennis courts, and the path is a complete loop around the lake.

Map of the Route

Map Kiosk at the Beginning of the Trail

Foliage at the Ramapo Mountains

Ramapo Mountains and Hawk Rock Behind Lake Henry

Lake Henry with Ramapo Mountains  and Hawk Rock

Ditto

From  the Eastern Side of the Lake

Lake Henry from the Western Swan,
with all Different Waterfowl Swimming Around

Swan in the Lake

Swan and Duck Together

Bridge Over the Outlet of the Lake

Outlet of the Lake

Stunning View  from Southern  Part of the Lake

Another View from the Southern Part of the Lake