Hike of the Week
Published 11/7/2002
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- FEATURES: This loop climbs to the summit of Torne Mountain, with excellent views along the way.
- LENGTH: 1.7 miles.
- DIFFICULTY: Moderate.
- TIME: About one and one-half hours.
- STARTING POINT: From the pool, take Snake Den Road back to Westbrook Road and make a left.
In 3.9 miles, make a sharp left onto Otterhole Rd and continue for 3 miles to a parking area on the left side of the road
just before the "Welcome to Bloomingdale" sign.
Hiking From the Pool: From the pool entrance, take the Otterhole Trail (Green Blaze)
through Norvin Green State Forest to the end at the blue-blazed Hewitt-Butler (HB) Trail. Turn right, following the HB as it
crosses Otter Hole to Glenwild Avenue and proceed with directions below. This adds 4 miles to the hike.
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DESCRIPTION:
At the eastern end of parking area, at the sign “Welcome to Bloomingdale,” cross Glenwild Avenue. On the south side of the road, you will notice a blue-blazed post, marked “HB.”
Follow this blue-blazed Hewitt-Butler Trail, which climbs the hill and then turns right, heading west and parallel to the road, for about 0.25 mile. Here, with the road visible to the right, you will come to an intersection with the red-blazed Torne Trail. Turn left on this red trail, proceeding south. The trail climbs briefly, levels off, and then descends through a valley, which soon becomes a very rocky and boulder-filled gully.
In about 0.5 mile, the red trail ends at a second junction with the blue trail, which crosses the gully amidst large boulders. Turn right and head west and uphill, following the blue markers. For the next half mile, as you climb Torne
Mountain, first steeply and then more gradually, there are a series of bedrock outcrops that offer constantly changing views to the south and west. Many large rounded boulders in the vicinity reveal the extensive glaciation this area once experienced.
After passing a viewpoint to the west, the trail continues through a wooded section and reaches a final viewpoint, this one looking to the north and west. Buck Mountain is visible to the north, with the Pequannock Watershed to the
west. From here, the blue trail descends rather steeply and, in about a quarter mile, reaches the first junction with the red trail. Continue ahead on the blue trail, now retracing your steps, until the trail crosses Glenwild
Avenue at the parking area where you left your car.
View More Hikes.
Hike of the Week is provided by Daniel Chazin of the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference (NYNJTC).
The trail conference is a volunteer organization that builds and maintains 1,600 miles of hiking trails and publishes a library of hiking
maps and books, including a two-map set for North Jersey Trails, the New Jersey Walk Book and Hiking the Jersey Highlands.
Their office is at 156 Ramapo Valley Road, Mahwah. Phone: (201) 512-9348, Website: nynjtc.org.
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