Woodland Sunset Point–Ancients Pond, 5 sights
7.2 mi · ▲ 1,016 ft · 2 hr 54 min
Woodland Sunset Point–Ancients Pond, 5 sights is a 7.2-mile out-and-back in High Mountain Park Preserve near Preakness, NJ. The route passes Ancients Pond before reaching Woodland Sunset Point at the turnaround, 3.6 miles in. It climbs 1,016 ft, with sections as steep as 21% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 7/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Woodland Sunset Point–Ancients Pond, 5 sights
7.2 mi · ▲ 1,016 ft · 2 hr 54 min
Elevation 433–787 ft
Out & Back · High Mountain Park Preserve
Trailhead: 40.97174, -74.22471
Weather Sep 5: sunrise 6:28 AM · sunset 7:25 PM
Transit-accessible: William Paterson U Valley Road Facility stop 507 m from the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
- 500 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Beech Mountain-Clove Trail, heading E.
- 0.6 miSharp left onto Purgatory, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto North Ancients- 3, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Beech Mountain-Clove Trail, heading SE.
- 500 ftTurn left onto North Ancients- 2, heading NE.
- 350 ftTurn right onto Beech Mountain-Clove Trail, heading N.
- 100 ftTurn left onto North Ancients- 2, heading N.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Beech Mountain-Clove Trail, heading N.
- 150 ftBear right, heading NE.
- 400 ftSharp right, heading NE.
- 0.5 miBear left onto Dyn-O-Mite!, heading S.
- 50 ftPass Ancients Pond.
- 250 ftBear left, heading S.
- 450 ftBear left, heading S.
- 50 ftBear left, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 350 ftBear left, heading S.
- 50 ftBear right, heading S.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Grandpa's Favorite, heading SE.
- 100 ftSharp left, heading SE.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 100 ftBear left, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Woodland Trail, heading S.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Black Bear, heading E.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Woodland Trail, heading N.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading S.
- 0.1 miReach Woodland Sunset Point, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
- 0.5 miContinue straight onto Black Bear, heading NE.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Woodland Trail, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear right, heading NW.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 400 ftSharp right onto Grandpa's Favorite, heading NW.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
- 100 ftBear left, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear right, heading NW.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Dyn-O-Mite!, heading NW.
- 200 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading NW.
- 0.5 miSharp left, heading N.
- 450 ftBear left onto Beech Mountain-Clove Trail, heading N.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto North Ancients- 2, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Beech Mountain-Clove Trail, heading N.
- 150 ftTurn left onto North Ancients- 2, heading NW.
- 350 ftTurn right onto Beech Mountain-Clove Trail, heading N.
- 500 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto North Ancients- 3, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Purgatory, heading N.
- 0.2 miSharp right onto Beech Mountain-Clove Trail, heading W.
- 0.6 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
- 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.6 mi in (~99 min). Leave by 5:26 PM for the 7:25 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:20 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: William Paterson U Valley Road Facility stop 507 m from the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Purple Trail 1.9 mi · ▲ 33 ft
- Beech Mountain-Clove Trail 1.9 mi · ▲ 209 ft
- Beech Mountain-Clove Trail–North Ancients- 2, 3 sights 3.9 mi · ▲ 588 ft
- Ancients Pond–Dyn-O-Mite!, 4 sights 5 mi · ▲ 778 ft
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