Hike of the Week
Adapted from Hike Published 04/06/04
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- FEATURES: This loop hike climbs Assiniwikam Mountain, with
a series of panoramic views in all directions.
- LENGTH: About 4 miles.
- DIFFICULTY: Moderate to strenuous.
- TIME: About two hours.
- STARTING POINT: The Highlands Pool.
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DESCRIPTION: Looking out from the pool entrance, turn left onto the light-green-blazed Otter
Hole Trail, climbing above the pool and over a bridge. When you see the kiosk at the intersection of the blue-blazed Hewitt-Butler
Trail, turn right and follow the Otter Hole Trail, which climbs steadily on a woods road, crosses a stream and continues a slow ascent.
After a little over 1 mile, the red-on-white-blazed Wyanokie Circular Trail crosses. Turn right onto the Wyanokie Circular Trail,
which ascends on a footpath through a deciduous forest. At the top of the rise, you'll come to a trail junction. To the left,
three yellow blazes mark the start of the Wyanokie Crest Trail; to the right, three pink blazes mark the start of the Will Monroe
Loop. Turn right and follow the pink blazes.
The one-mile-long Will Monroe Loop, blazed by Trail Conference volunteers in 2003-04, is named after Professor Will S. Monroe of
the Montclair State Normal School (now Montclair State University), who laid out most of the trails in the Wyanokies in the 1920s.
After a short climb to an open area where the trees have been killed by drought and gypsy moth infestation, the trail turns left,
descends into a shallow valley, and then climbs to open rock ledges. Although the climbing is not particularly difficult, you might
have to use your hands in a few places. The rock ledges offer views to the west and north. The trail continues along the ledges,
reaching another viewpoint - this one to the south - at a balanced boulder. In the spring, this area is frequented by migratory birds,
including the indigo bunting.
After a short stretch in which the trail leaves the ledges, it turns left and climbs over rocks to the summit of Assiniwikam
Mountain (1,200 feet), where there is an east-facing view over the Wanaque Reservoir, with the Ramapo Mountains in the background.
The trail descends slightly and soon comes out at another east-facing ledge with an interesting balanced rock. This ledge offers
an even better view. The Wanaque Reservoir is to the east, with Windbeam, Bear, Board and Horse Pond Mountains to the northeast.
A short distance beyond, the trail leaves the rock ledges and begins to descend through the woods. Soon, it passes huge boulders
to the left. Of particular interest is a split boulder with a tree growing out of a crack in the rock. After a short, rather steep
descent, the Will Monroe Loop continues to descend steadily until it ends at an intersection with the red-on-white blazed Wyanokie
Circular Trail. Turn left and follow the Wyanokie Circular Trail uphill past the Wyanokie Crest/Will Monroe junction heading back
to the intersection with the green-blazed Otter Hole Trail.
Turn left onto the Otter Hole trail as it descends on a wide path. Follow this trail back to the kiosk at the intersection with the
blue-blazed Hewitt-Butler Trail and bear left. Follow the Otter Hole Trail back a short distance to the pool entrance.
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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