Campgaw Mountain Snowstorm

Campgaw Mountain Reservation
Bergen Co.,
New Jersey

Hiking Trails:
Hemlock Trail: Pink blaze
Old Cedar Trail: Red blaze
Rocky Ridge Trail: Blue blaze

Total Time: 1:15
Estimated Distance: 2.1 miles

Pros: Many trails in the area
Cons: View isn't great, especially in the snow
Hike Type: Loop hike
Level of Difficulty: Moderate (though difficult in snow)

Map of Route:
https://goo.gl/maps/qNCxCwJ6Hnv2mzj5A

Hiking Partner:
Shimon Rosenberg 

Shimon Rosenberg and I have been talking for a long time to get out and hike together. It took the worst of weather conditions to get us out together hiking. Not the weather for the fainthearted, this hike took place in the midst of a Winter Storm Warning. The snow was intense with about six inches total. It had also snowed the week before, in the form of a giant, two footer Nor'easter.

We took the opportunity to hike at Campgaw, which features many short trails and loops, affording us an easy exit should the situation deteriorate. I came prepared with snow crampons and winter gear, which protected me during the heavy snowfall and very cold temperatures.

We parked at the large parking lot near Fyke Brook, taking the Hemlock Trail for a very short distance to the Old Cedar Trail for another very short distance, and then to the  Rocky Ridge Trail, which we took up the mountain. We then took the Old Cedar Trail along the ridge to the summit atop the ski hill. We then took the Rocky Ridge Trail down the mountain, parallel to the ski and tubing slope. The ski hill and tubing hill were very busy despite the weather conditions. 

We then walked along the ski area, bushwacking down the hill to the Fyke Pond. We then walked along the north side of the pond, at the dam, up the road and back to the parking lot.

Map of the Route

Shimon at the Beginning of the Hike

Me and Shimon at the Beginning of the Hike

Me and Shimon on the Rocky Ridge Trail

Warning of Bear Activity on the Trailhead

Me on the Snowy Hike

Rocky Ridge Trail in the Snow

Approaching the Summit and the Top of the Ski Area at Campgaw

Me and Shimon on the Top of Campgaw

Ski Lift at Campgaw

Looking Down at the Ski Area at Campgaw

Players Playing Disc Golf on a Snowy Day

Throwing the Tethered Frisbee at Disc Hockey

Monster Ski Equipment at the Base of the Mountain

Frozen Fyke Pond

Me and Shimon at a Frozen Fyke Pond

Snowy Scene at the Fyke Pond Outlet

Fyke Pond from the Dam

Campgaw Mountain Backslope Area

Campgaw Mountain County Reservation
Bergen Co.,
New Jersey

Hiking Trails:
Rocky Ridge Trail: Blue blaze
Red/Blue Trail: Red/Blue blaze
Backslope Trail: Yellow blaze

Total Time: 1:10 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.4 Miles

Pros: Quiet area
Cons: Built up area of ski slope

The previous day, Sunday, featured rain all day. I was not able to get out and hike, so I took some time the following day on Monday to do a short hike near my office. I parked at the main area by the ski area, and walked along the bottom of the ski hill until the Rocky Ridge Trail. I climbed up the mountain on the Rocky Ridge Trail to the top of mountain above the ski lifts, where there is a view facing east and northeast. I then took to the short Red/Blue Trail to the Backslope Trail, which goes down the western side of Campgaw Mountain. The Backslope Trail is a loop that has a small pond and cistern along the route. At the end of the trail, I took the same return route back, to the Red/Blue Trail, Backslope Trail, and back to my car.

Map of the Route

Artificial Snow on the Main Slope

The Tubing Hill on the Left

Rocky Ridge Trail

View from the Top of the Ski Slop, Facing North

View from the Top of the Ski Slop, Facing East

View from the Top of the Ski Slop, Facing Northest

Me at the Top Slope

Backslope Trail Interesting Tree

Small Pond Labelled as a Cistern on the Backslope Trail

Close-Up of the Pond

Pond Dam

Water Flowing Over the Dam

Campgaw Mountain County Reservation

Ramapo Mountain State Forest,
Bergen County,
New Jersey
Trails: Old Cedar Trail: Red blaze

Total Time: 1:15 hour
Estimated Distance: 3.2 miles
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Level of Recommendation: Recommended for a tranquil hike
Points Of Interest: Viewpoint and tranquil nature

Google Maps of Parking:

View 2012 Hiking in a larger map

Campgaw Mountain is a small mountain (or large hill, depending how you look at it) in Northwestern Bergen County. While it doens't contain any rugged peaks or exhilirating hiking, it does afford a very large network of tranquil and well-marked trails in a very small area. There is a small downlhill ski area with about a 200 foot vertical drop.

I parked in the northern end of the large parking lot near the ski lifts, and took the Old Cedar Trail up the mountain. The Old Cedar Trail is the longest trail in the park, and makes a complete loop, starting at the same point where it ends on the road. I climbed up the mountain and veered off at the top to take a look at the view by the top of the ski lifts. Continued back on the trail, going down and then going along the stream, down to the more developed park area at the bottom. From there headed along and continued past the lake, across the road, and along the brand new trail bridge back to the area where I parked.

Strange Pods on top of the mountain.
There are several of these and I don't know what they are for.

View from the top of the ski lift. Facing east.

From top of ski lift, facing northeast.

From top of Ski Lift facing north, with Sheraton Crossroads
Ramapo Mountains in view. The small jagged mountain in the
right center is Cheesecoate Mountain.

Power lines at the bottom.

Interesting trail marker along the Old Cedar Trail