Houvenkopf Mountain / Hoodge Kup

Ramapo Mountains at Mahwah,
Bergen Co.,
New Jersey

Hiking Trails:
White Trail: White blaze
Total Time: 0:40 hours
Estimated Distance: 0.6 miles

Pros: Very quiet area
Cons: Area is a bit creepy, view was disappointing

Hiking Partner:
Adina Friedman

Google Maps of Parking:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/7DXV9q3PzbM6iTtP9

Houvenkopf Mountain is a mountain over Mahwah right near the New Jersey / New York state line. There isn't any network of trails here and there are some rural houses at the mountain in the area. However, I noticed a new trail here on the 2021 Conference Trail map edition and decided to take it. It's a very short, marked trail from Geiger road to the view above Mahwah. The weather was oppressingly hot, so I opted for this very short hike. The view does overlook Mahwah and the Sheraton hotel, but it's a bit overgrown and not a great view. The trail has a circle loop forming a lollipop loop, which I took in its entirety towards the end.

Map of the Route

Start of the Trail

Small Pond in the Distance

Approaching the View

Sheraton Crossroads at the View

Scarlet Oak Pond Loop Fall Foliage

I had taken a lunch break during work on this beautiful fall day to Scarlet Oak Pond in the Ramapo Valley County Reservation. While I have been here many times, the beautiful blue sky with the late-season foliage was stunning. I only had my cell phone camera with me, though the pictures came out pretty good. I parked in the large parking area by Ramapo Reservation off Route 202, crossed the Mahwah River, and walked the loop around Scarlet Oak Pond.

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

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