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Carris Hill Loop


Highlights:

Norvin Green Park, Mines & Carris Hill
Near:Ringwood, NJ
Scenery:
Distance:5.5 miles round trip
Elevation Gain:2300 ft
Hike Time:3.5 hours
Difficulty:Moderate
Trail Condition:OK, but a few difficult spots
HikeType:Loop


Summary: We took the Mine Trail past the Mine Falls. Past the falls, evidence of the old mining operations in this area were everywhere. We finally reached the Roomey Mine, and old iron mine which can be entered with great care. We grabbed our headlamps and explored it for awhile. We then followed the Mine Trail to the Blue Mine, a flooded mine, and began to ascend Carris Hill. High Point was the first viewpoint we reached, and you could see the skyline of Manhattan over 30miles away! Below us was the vast Wanaque Reservoir. Here we picked up the Highlands Trail and followed it over Yoo-Hoo Point and to the summit of Carris Hill itself. Here, the Carris Hill Trail lead steeply downwards to the Chikahoki Brook. The trail was very rocky and we hiked along slowly and carefully. We met the Lower Trail at the brook itself and followed it around the base of Carris Hill back to the Mine Trail and to the parking area.
Trailhead: These trails are located in the Norvin Green State Forest in Northeast New Jersey. I parked at the Weiss Ecology Center on Snake Den Rd which is next to the park. You can take NJ's Skyline Drive to Rt 511 and West Brook Rd. Take time to visit the Ecology Center - a fantastic place with incredible outdoor educational programs! (Lat:41.07006 Lon:-74.32211)
Trail Guides for Carris Hill Loop:
Iron Mine Trails Of NY & NJ
by Edward Lenik (NY/NJ Trail Confrence)

Best Seasons: Year-Round
User Groups: Hikers,
Ranger Contact: Weiss Ecology Center - (973) 835-2160
Localhikes Reporter: This hike was submitted by Brian Walter, who has posted  10 other hikes on this site
Trail Reviews  Submit your own review
Reviewed by Jay D on 8/3/2008
Must say out of my short resume of hikes this one tops it so far. I started from Glenwild Ave. The views just kept getting better thru out the hike and it finally climaxed at High Point in Norvin Green with one spectacular view looking over Wanaque Reservoir and NYC in the far distance. I stayed up the for about 2 hours just relaxing. Trails are clearly marked and I had no trouble in my plan of doing a loop by connecting to other trails. It all worked brilliantly. 5 stars for this one. I will be back.

Reviewed by Justin on 8/18/2007
Great hike with the perfect amount of difficulty and fun. Wildlife was minimal. We saw only toads but there were a lot of them (we counted 13). It is not a round trip though, as far as I can tell. we took the blue trail all the way (ending near the weiss center) and then took the green trail back.

Reviewed by Janet D on 10/8/2006
Hiked a variation on this trail on 6/4/06. Very dog friendly trails. Nice views - especially NYC view from High Point.

Reviewed by Powitz on 12/7/2005
My dog and I love these trails. I have personaly hiked all the marked ones many times. Hope to see you there.

Reviewed by Brian S on 7/5/2004
Very nice hike. The views from High Point and Carris Hill are outstanding. Possibly the best in NJ. This is not an easy hike, but anyone in half decent shape can easily complete it.

Reviewed by NA on 3/21/2004
Nice hike. Nice views. Walking staff or poles recommended on steep rock inclines, especially in wet snow. Quality footwear (& feet) a plus!

Reviewed by AMS on 11/7/2003
Great hike. Steep and difficult rock climbing at times, but well worth the effort. Great views(!) at top. Hike took about 3 1/2 hours. Watch out for black bears.


Notice: Traveling in the backcountry can be hazardous. You are responsible for informing yourself about these hazards and taking necessary precautions. Information on this web site comes from volunteer reporters and may contain errors or omissions. A current guidebook and proper equipment are essential for safe enjoyment of the hikes posted on this site.
Keys: New Jersey Hiking, New Jersey Trails, New Jersey Hikes, Passaic County Hiking, Passaic County Trails, Passaic County Hikes

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