AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Ramapo Mountain State Forest

Brushwood Pond–Gatun Pond, 4 sights

3.2 mi · ▲ 196 ft · 1 hr 10 min

Brushwood Pond–Gatun Pond, 4 sights is a 3.2-mile out-and-back in Ramapo Mountain State Forest near Erskine, NJ. The route passes Brushwood Pond before reaching Gatun Pond at the turnaround, 1.4 miles in. It is mostly level, with 196 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 69/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi587 – 787 ft3.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Copper Hill Park Access 41.08973, -74.24617
Nearest town Erskine, NJ
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Brushwood Pond–Gatun Pond, 4 sights

3.2 mi · ▲ 196 ft · 1 hr 10 min

Elevation 588–788 ft

Out & Back · Ramapo Mountain State Forest

Trailhead: Copper Hill Park Access · 41.08973, -74.24617

Weather Sep 7: sunrise 6:30 AM · sunset 7:22 PM

Bikes allowed on the whole route

  1. Start on Copper Hill Park Access, heading E.
  2. 0.2 miBear left onto Cheshire Lane Trail, heading N.
  3. 0.4 miBear right onto Catnest Swamp Road, heading NE.
  4. 100 ftBear right onto Cheshire Lane Trail, heading NE.
  5. 250 ftBear left onto Ringwood-Ramapo Trail, heading NE.
  6. 0.1 miTurn right onto Catnest Swamp Road, heading NE.
  7. 0.2 miBear right, heading N.
  8. 50 ftTurn right onto Ringwood-Ramapo Trail, heading N.
  9. 50 ftBear left onto Catnest Swamp Road, heading N.
  10. 0.3 miPass Brushwood Pond.
  11. 350 ftBear right onto Five Ponds Loop Trail, heading NE.
  12. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Gatun Pond Road/Five Ponds Loop Trail, heading N.
  13. 50 ftPass Gatun Pond.
  14. 0.2 miReach Brushwood Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  15. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Five Ponds Loop Trail, heading N.
  16. 0.2 miBear left, heading S.
  17. 350 ftContinue straight onto Catnest Swamp Road, heading S.
  18. 0.3 miBear right onto Ringwood-Ramapo Trail, heading SW.
  19. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  20. 50 ftBear left onto Catnest Swamp Road, heading SW.
  21. 0.2 miTurn left onto Ringwood-Ramapo Trail, heading W.
  22. 0.1 miBear right onto Cheshire Lane Trail, heading S.
  23. 200 ftBear left onto Catnest Swamp Road, heading S.
  24. 100 ftBear left onto Cheshire Lane Trail, heading S.
  25. 0.4 miBear right onto Copper Hill Park Access, heading SW.
  26. 0.2 miArrive 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/brushwood-pond-brushwood-pond-out-back-6-lakes-5-km

Trail surface

85% dirt15% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:30 AMSunset 7:22 PM

Good to know

  • Bikes allowed on the whole route

More from Copper Hill Park Access Trailhead

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