AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

High Mountain Park Preserve

Buttermilk Falls–Ancients Pond, 7 sights

6.1 mi · ▲ 974 ft · 2 hr 31 min

Buttermilk Falls–Ancients Pond, 7 sights is a 6.1-mile out-and-back in High Mountain Park Preserve near Pines Lake, NJ. The route passes Buttermilk Falls and Ancients Pond. It climbs 974 ft, with sections as steep as 21% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 18/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi423 – 787 ft · steepest grade: 21%6.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Purple Trail 40.98314, -74.22893
Nearest town Pines Lake, NJ
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Buttermilk Falls–Ancients Pond, 7 sights

6.1 mi · ▲ 974 ft · 2 hr 31 min

Elevation 422–787 ft

Out & Back · High Mountain Park Preserve

Trailhead: Purple Trail · 40.98314, -74.22893

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

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Purple Trail, heading S.
  2. 0.2 miTurn left onto Beech Mountain-Clove Trail, heading NE.
  3. 350 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  4. 50 ftPass Buttermilk Falls.
  5. 450 ftBear left, heading SE.
  6. 0.4 miTurn left onto North Ancients- 3, heading SE.
  7. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  8. 0.3 miTurn left onto Beech Mountain-Clove Trail, heading SE.
  9. 500 ftTurn left onto North Ancients- 2, heading NE.
  10. 350 ftTurn right onto Beech Mountain-Clove Trail, heading N.
  11. 150 ftTurn left onto North Ancients- 2, heading N.
  12. 50 ftContinue straight onto Beech Mountain-Clove Trail, heading N.
  13. 100 ftBear right, heading NE.
  14. 450 ftSharp right, heading NE.
  15. 0.5 miBear left onto Dyn-O-Mite!, heading S.
  16. 50 ftPass Ancients Pond.
  17. 300 ftBear left, heading S.
  18. 450 ftBear left, heading S.
  19. 200 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  20. 0.3 miBear left onto Indians Double Track, heading N.
  21. 450 ftBear left, heading NE.
  22. 100 ftTurn left onto Summit Trail, heading NE.
  23. 250 ftBear right, heading NE.
  24. 0.5 miReach Buttermilk Falls, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  25. 0.6 miTurn right, heading SE.
  26. 50 ftBear right onto Indians Double Track, heading SE.
  27. 450 ftBear right, heading SE.
  28. 0.3 miTurn right onto Dyn-O-Mite!, heading E.
  29. 150 ftTurn right, heading S.
  30. 50 ftBear right, heading S.
  31. 0.1 miBear right, heading SW.
  32. 0.5 miSharp left, heading N.
  33. 450 ftBear left onto Beech Mountain-Clove Trail, heading N.
  34. 100 ftContinue straight onto North Ancients- 2, heading N.
  35. 50 ftTurn right onto Beech Mountain-Clove Trail, heading N.
  36. 100 ftTurn left onto North Ancients- 2, heading N.
  37. 400 ftTurn right onto Beech Mountain-Clove Trail, heading N.
  38. 450 ftTurn right, heading N.
  39. 0.3 miTurn left onto North Ancients- 3, heading S.
  40. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  41. 0.4 miBear right onto Beech Mountain-Clove Trail, heading NW.
  42. 450 ftTurn left, heading N.
  43. 350 ftTurn right onto Purple Trail, heading W.
  44. 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/buttermilk-falls-ancients-pond-out-back-8-sights-10-km

Trail surface

100% dirt

Weather

Sunrise 6:28 AMSunset 7:25 PM

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Purple Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Pines Lake, New Jersey