Bare Rock at Greenwood Lake

Sterling Forest State Park
Orange Co, NY

Hiking Trails:
West Valley Trail: Green blaze
Bare Rock Trail: Orange Blaze

Total Time: 2:40 hour
Estimated Distance: 5.4 Miles

Pros: Quiet area, excellent lake view
Cons: Hunting area
Hike Type: Out and back
Level of Difficulty: Difficult

Google Maps of Parking:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/SrXNcVvw6g86TUgx9

Hiking Partner:
Yehudah Koblick

I have hiked at the Greenwood Lake many times, including the Bearfort Mountain ridge on the western side of Greenwood Lake. However, this was the first time I hike on the eastern ridge with the only official known view on the east side of Greenwood Lake. This is an exceptional view, but it is a long hike to get here.

I parked at the West Valley Trail trailhead in Sterling Forest. Note of caution: this is an active hunting area so its important to stay on the trail and wear bright clothing during hunting season. We hiked along the West Valley Trail, which is a wide trail that also functions as woods road for hunting access. We continued on the trail until the Bare Rock Trail, which we took to the short spur trail at the rock above the lake.

This view is exceptional, and on this peak foliage day with bright colors, a blue sky, and bright blue lake, the scenery was amazing. We turned around at this point and took the same route back to our car.

Map of the Route

Trailhead Signs

West Trail

Bar Rock Trail Sign

Greenwood Lake from the Bare Rock View

Nice Foliage Scenes Along the Trail

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