AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Ringwood State Park

Gatun Pond–Swan Pond, 8 sights

4.6 mi · ▲ 448 ft · 1 hr 45 min

Gatun Pond–Swan Pond, 8 sights is a 4.6-mile out-and-back in Ringwood State Park near Skylands, NJ. The route passes The Bog, Swan Pond, Duck Pond and Gatun Pond. It climbs 448 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 68/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi600 – 787 ft5.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: East Cottage Road/Crossover Trail 41.12697, -74.23633
Nearest town Skylands, NJ
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Gatun Pond–Swan Pond, 8 sights

4.6 mi · ▲ 448 ft · 1 hr 45 min

Elevation 601–787 ft

Out & Back · Ringwood State Park

Trailhead: East Cottage Road/Crossover Trail · 41.12697, -74.23633

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

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on East Cottage Road/Crossover Trail, heading SE.
  2. 350 ftTurn left onto Swan Pond Road/Crossover Trail, heading SE.
  3. 50 ftPass The Bog.
  4. 450 ftBear right onto Arbor Trail, heading SE.
  5. 150 ftContinue straight onto Swan Pond Road/Crossover Trail, heading S.
  6. 250 ftBear right onto Swan Pond Road/Crossover/Five Ponds Loop Trail, heading S.
  7. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  8. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  9. 400 ftPass Swan Pond.
  10. 150 ftBear left, heading S.
  11. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Defiance Road/Crossover Trail, heading S.
  12. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Defiance Road/Crossover/Five Ponds Loop Trail, heading S.
  13. 0.3 miPass Duck Pond.
  14. 50 ftBear left onto Defiance Road/Five Ponds Loop Trail, heading S.
  15. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Crossover/Five Ponds Loop Trail, heading SE.
  16. 50 ftTurn right onto Defiance Road, heading S.
  17. 50 ftBear left onto Crossover/Five Ponds Loop Trail, heading S.
  18. 0.2 miPass Gatun Pond.
  19. 50 ftBear right onto Boulder Way South, heading S.
  20. 50 ftTurn left onto Crossover/Five Ponds Loop Trail, heading SW.
  21. 50 ftTurn right onto Boulder Way South, heading SW.
  22. 250 ftTurn left, heading S.
  23. 50 ftTurn right onto Ice Pond Road, heading SE.
  24. 250 ftBear right onto Catnest Trail-Renegade, heading S.
  25. 0.6 miBear left onto Ringwood-Ramapo Trail, heading SW.
  26. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  27. 50 ftBear left onto Catnest Swamp Road, heading SW.
  28. 0.2 miTurn left onto Ringwood-Ramapo Trail, heading SE.
  29. 150 ftReach Gatun Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  30. 200 ftTurn right onto Catnest Swamp Road, heading SE.
  31. 0.2 miBear right, heading S.
  32. 50 ftTurn left onto Ringwood-Ramapo Trail, heading S.
  33. 100 ftBear right onto Catnest Trail-Renegade, heading S.
  34. 0.6 miBear left onto Ice Pond Road, heading NE.
  35. 300 ftTurn left, heading N.
  36. 50 ftTurn right onto Boulder Way South, heading N.
  37. 250 ftTurn left onto Crossover/Five Ponds Loop Trail, heading N.
  38. 50 ftTurn right onto Boulder Way South, heading NE.
  39. 50 ftBear left onto Crossover/Five Ponds Loop Trail, heading NE.
  40. 0.2 miBear right onto Defiance Road, heading NE.
  41. 50 ftTurn left onto Crossover/Five Ponds Loop Trail, heading E.
  42. 50 ftContinue straight onto Defiance Road/Five Ponds Loop Trail, heading E.
  43. 0.2 miBear right onto Defiance Road/Crossover/Five Ponds Loop Trail, heading NW.
  44. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Defiance Road/Crossover Trail, heading W.
  45. 0.3 miBear right, heading N.
  46. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NE.
  47. 50 ftTurn left onto Swan Pond Road/Crossover/Five Ponds Loop Trail, heading NE.
  48. 50 ftBear left onto Swan Pond Road/Crossover Trail, heading NE.
  49. 250 ftContinue straight onto Arbor Trail, heading N.
  50. 150 ftBear left onto Swan Pond Road/Crossover Trail, heading N.
  51. 450 ftTurn right onto East Cottage Road/Crossover Trail, heading N.
  52. 100 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/gatun-pond-swan-pond-out-back-9-lakes

Trail surface

76% dirt24% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:30 AMSunset 7:22 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 7:02 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 7:22 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 7:50 PM.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from East Cottage Road/Crossover Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Skylands, New Jersey