Ernest Walter Viewpoint–Surprise Lake, 8 sights is a 6.7-mile out-and-back in Abram S. Hewitt State Forest near Browns, NJ. The route passes Woodruff Gap, West Pond, Ernest Walter Viewpoint and Surprise Lake. It climbs 1,096 ft, with sections as steep as 36% grade. It scores 67/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
0 mi804 – 1,460 ft · steepest grade: 36%6.8 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Bearfort Ridge Connector 41.15745, -74.36713
Nearest town Browns, NJ
Directions
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Ernest Walter Viewpoint–Surprise Lake, 8 sights
6.7 mi · ▲ 1,096 ft · 2 hr 47 min
Elevation 805–1,459 ft
Out & Back · Abram S. Hewitt State Forest
Trailhead: Bearfort Ridge Connector · 41.15745, -74.36713
Weather Sep 7: sunrise 6:31 AM · sunset 7:22 PM
Transit-accessible: stop 791 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Bearfort Ridge Connector, heading NW.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Bearfort Ridge Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftPass Woodruff Gap.
- 0.7 miTurn left onto West Ridge Trail, heading NW.
- 1.6 miPass West Pond.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Ernest Walter Trail, heading NE.
- 0.6 miTurn right onto Appalachian Trail, heading E.
- 0.3 miBear right onto State Line Trail, heading E.
- 0.3 miPass Ernest Walter Viewpoint.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Ernest Walter Trail, heading E.
- 0.4 miPass Surprise Lake.
- 50 ftBear left onto Bearfort Ridge Trail, heading W.
- 1 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 1.5 miContinue straight onto Bearfort Ridge Connector, heading SE.
- 0.1 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
35% dirt6% rock59% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:31 AMSunset 7:22 PM
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: stop 791 m from the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Bearfort Ridge Connector Trailhead
- Ernest Walter/Bearfort Ridge Viewpoint–Woodruff Gap, 3 sights 4.4 mi · ▲ 835 ft
- Bearfort Mountain–Terrace Pond, 5 sights 4.9 mi · ▲ 895 ft
- Ernest Walter/Bearfort Ridge Viewpoint–Surprise Lake Loop, 8 sights 5.8 mi · ▲ 947 ft
- Prospect Rock–Woodruff Gap, 6 sights 9.4 mi · ▲ 1,419 ft
- Woodruff Gap–West Pond, 5 sights 12.7 mi · ▲ 1,776 ft
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