AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Hilltop Reservation

Cedar Grove Reservoir & Boogaloo via West Essex Trail

3.7 mi · ▲ 481 ft · 1 hr 28 min

Cedar Grove Reservoir & Boogaloo via West Essex Trail is a 3.7-mile out-and-back in Hilltop Reservation near North Caldwell, NJ. The route reaches Cedar Grove Reservoir at the turnaround, 1.8 miles in. It climbs 481 ft. It scores 2/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi262 – 600 ft4.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 40.85329, -74.25014
Nearest town North Caldwell, NJ
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Cedar Grove Reservoir & Boogaloo via West Essex Trail

3.7 mi · ▲ 481 ft · 1 hr 28 min

Elevation 261–600 ft

Out & Back · Hilltop Reservation

Trailhead: 40.85329, -74.25014

Weather Sep 5: sunrise 6:29 AM · sunset 7:25 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
  2. 0.1 miTurn left onto Spruce Trail - Inner Loop, heading NE.
  3. 500 ftContinue straight onto C26 Trail, heading N.
  4. 150 ftBear right onto Spruce Trail - Inner Loop, heading NE.
  5. 50 ftBear right onto C26 Trail, heading NE.
  6. 50 ftTurn left onto C26 Link, heading NE.
  7. 50 ftBear right onto Spruce Trail - Inner Loop, heading NE.
  8. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Endor, heading E.
  9. 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
  10. 100 ftTurn left, heading E.
  11. 250 ftSharp right, heading E.
  12. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  13. 150 ftBear right onto Lenape Trail, heading SE.
  14. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Endor, heading S.
  15. 250 ftBear right, heading NE.
  16. 50 ftTurn left onto Boogaloo, heading NE.
  17. 0.1 miContinue straight onto West Essex Trail, heading E.
  18. 250 ftBear left onto Boogaloo, heading E.
  19. 50 ftBear right onto West Essex Trail, heading E.
  20. 0.6 miTurn right, heading E.
  21. 500 ftBear right, heading NE.
  22. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  23. 150 ftBear left, heading NE.
  24. 100 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  25. 150 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  26. 100 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  27. 50 ftContinue straight onto Lenape Trail, heading NE.
  28. 50 ftReach Cedar Grove Reservoir, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  29. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  30. 100 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  31. 150 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  32. 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
  33. 200 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  34. 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
  35. 500 ftTurn left onto West Essex Trail, heading E.
  36. 0.6 miBear left onto Boogaloo, heading SW.
  37. 50 ftBear right onto West Essex Trail, heading SW.
  38. 250 ftContinue straight onto Boogaloo, heading W.
  39. 0.1 miTurn right, heading SW.
  40. 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
  41. 150 ftContinue straight onto Endor, heading SW.
  42. 50 ftContinue straight onto Lenape Trail, heading SW.
  43. 0.1 miBear right, heading SW.
  44. 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
  45. 150 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  46. 50 ftSharp left, heading SW.
  47. 200 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  48. 100 ftTurn left onto Endor, heading SW.
  49. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Spruce Trail - Inner Loop, heading SW.
  50. 0.2 miBear left onto C26 Link, heading SW.
  51. 50 ftTurn right onto C26 Trail, heading SW.
  52. 50 ftBear left onto Spruce Trail - Inner Loop, heading SW.
  53. 50 ftBear left onto C26 Trail, heading SW.
  54. 150 ftContinue straight onto Spruce Trail - Inner Loop, heading SW.
  55. 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  56. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/cedar-grove-reservoir-boogaloo-out-back-6-km

Trail surface

50% dirt5% paved45% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:29 AMSunset 7:25 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 7:05 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 7:25 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 7:53 PM.

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