AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

High Mountain Park Preserve

Beech Mountain–Buttermilk Falls, 3 summits

5.6 mi · ▲ 703 ft · 2 hr 13 min

Beech Mountain–Buttermilk Falls, 3 summits is a 5.6-mile out-and-back in High Mountain Park Preserve near Pines Lake, NJ. The route passes Buttermilk Falls before reaching Beech Mountain at the turnaround, 2.8 miles in. It climbs 703 ft, with sections as steep as 19% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 9/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi410 – 814 ft · steepest grade: 19%6.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 40.98086, -74.23858
Nearest town Pines Lake, NJ
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Beech Mountain–Buttermilk Falls, 3 summits

5.6 mi · ▲ 703 ft · 2 hr 13 min

Elevation 410–813 ft

Out & Back · High Mountain Park Preserve

Trailhead: 40.98086, -74.23858

Weather Sep 5: sunrise 6:28 AM · sunset 7:25 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 400 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  3. 0.2 miSharp right onto Purple Trail, heading SE.
  4. 250 ftBear left, heading NE.
  5. 250 ftBear right, heading NE.
  6. 150 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  7. 1.4 miContinue straight onto Beech Mountain-Clove Trail, heading N.
  8. 350 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  9. 50 ftPass Buttermilk Falls.
  10. 450 ftBear left, heading NE.
  11. 0.4 miTurn left onto North Ancients- 3, heading S.
  12. 0.5 miReach Beech Mountain, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  13. 0.5 miTurn right, heading NE.
  14. 0.4 miBear right onto Beech Mountain-Clove Trail, heading N.
  15. 450 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  16. 350 ftContinue straight onto Purple Trail, heading NW.
  17. 1.4 miBear right, heading NW.
  18. 0.1 miSharp left, heading NW.
  19. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SW.
  20. 250 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/beech-mountain-buttermilk-falls-out-back-3-summits-9-km

Trail surface

100% dirt

Weather

Sunrise 6:28 AMSunset 7:25 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.8 mi in (~24 min). Leave by 6:41 PM for the 7:25 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:01 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Trailhead visible from the viewpoint

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