AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

South Mountain Reservation

Crater View–West Ridge Sunset Point, 9 sights

10.1 mi · ▲ 1,041 ft · 3 hr 53 min

Crater View–West Ridge Sunset Point, 9 sights is a 10.1-mile out-and-back in South Mountain Reservation near Saint Cloud, NJ. The route passes West Ridge Sunset Point before reaching Crater View at the turnaround, 5.1 miles in. It climbs 1,041 ft. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi276 – 584 ft11.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Whitbay Access 40.78576, -74.28434
Nearest town Saint Cloud, NJ
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Crater View–West Ridge Sunset Point, 9 sights

10.1 mi · ▲ 1,041 ft · 3 hr 53 min

Elevation 276–586 ft

Out & Back · South Mountain Reservation

Trailhead: Whitbay Access · 40.78576, -74.28434

Weather Sep 5: Overcast, high 78°F / low 65° · precip 1% · wind 9 mph · sunrise 6:29 AM · sunset 7:25 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Whitbay Access, heading NW.
  2. 500 ftContinue straight onto Billy Goat Way, heading S.
  3. 250 ftBear left onto Lenape (Yellow), heading SE.
  4. 0.7 miBear left onto Mayapple Trail (Blue Dot), heading SE.
  5. 50 ftContinue straight onto Lenape Trail (Yellow) / Mayapple Trail (Blue Dot), heading E.
  6. 0.1 miTurn right onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading SE.
  7. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Mayapple Trail (Blue Dot), heading SW.
  8. 50 ftContinue straight onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading SW.
  9. 0.4 miContinue straight onto West Ridge Trail, heading SW.
  10. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading SW.
  11. 50 ftContinue straight onto West Ridge Trail, heading SW.
  12. 0.4 miPass West Ridge Sunset Point.
  13. 400 ftContinue straight onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading SW.
  14. 0.7 miBear right onto Yellow Bypass, heading E.
  15. 50 ftContinue straight onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading E.
  16. 350 ftContinue straight onto Lenape Trail (Yellow) / Turtle Back Trail (Orange), heading E.
  17. 0.1 miTurn right onto Turtle Back Trail (Orange), heading N.
  18. 250 ftBear right onto Reservior Road, heading N.
  19. 0.3 miSharp right onto Longwood Trail, heading SE.
  20. 0.1 miBear left, heading SE.
  21. 50 ftBear right onto Summit Trail, heading E.
  22. 0.1 miTurn left onto Openwood Trail, heading S.
  23. 0.1 miTurn right onto Crest Trail, heading E.
  24. 0.5 miTurn right, heading S.
  25. 0.5 miSharp left onto Grassy Trail, heading SW.
  26. 50 ftReach Crater View, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  27. 50 ftSharp right onto Crest Trail, heading SW.
  28. 0.5 miTurn right, heading SW.
  29. 0.5 miTurn left onto Openwood Trail, heading NE.
  30. 0.1 miTurn right onto Summit Trail, heading NE.
  31. 0.1 miBear left, heading NE.
  32. 50 ftBear right onto Longwood Trail, heading NE.
  33. 0.1 miSharp left onto Reservior Road, heading NE.
  34. 0.3 miBear left onto Turtle Back Trail (Orange), heading N.
  35. 250 ftTurn left onto Lenape Trail (Yellow) / Turtle Back Trail (Orange), heading N.
  36. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading NE.
  37. 350 ftContinue straight onto Yellow Bypass, heading NE.
  38. 50 ftBear left onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading NE.
  39. 0.7 miContinue straight onto West Ridge Trail, heading SW.
  40. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading W.
  41. 50 ftContinue straight onto West Ridge Trail, heading NW.
  42. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading NE.
  43. 0.3 miBear right, heading NE.
  44. 350 ftContinue straight onto Mayapple Trail (Blue Dot), heading NE.
  45. 50 ftContinue straight onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading NE.
  46. 0.5 miTurn left onto Lenape Trail (Yellow) / Mayapple Trail (Blue Dot), heading N.
  47. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Mayapple Trail (Blue Dot), heading N.
  48. 100 ftBear right onto Lenape (Yellow), heading NE.
  49. 0.7 miBear right onto Billy Goat Way, heading NW.
  50. 250 ftContinue straight onto Whitbay Access, heading N.
  51. 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/crater-view-west-ridge-sunset-point-out-back-9-sights-16-km

Trail surface

38% dirt1% other61% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 78°F65°
Precip1%Wind9 mphUV7Humidity65%
Rained 0.5″ yesterday (0.7″ over the last week) · trails may be muddy
Hourly temperature
80°65°
Sunrise 6:29 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:25 PM
Sun 75°60°
Mon 79°59°
Tue 83°61°
Wed 85°66°
Thu 82°66°
Fri 72°56°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.7 mi in (~47 min). Leave by 6:18 PM for the 7:25 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:29 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Whitbay Access Trailhead

Hikes near Saint Cloud, New Jersey