AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

South Mountain Reservation

Hemlock Falls–Hobble Falls, 11 sights

5.1 mi · ▲ 485 ft · 1 hr 57 min

Hemlock Falls–Hobble Falls, 11 sights is a 5.1-mile out-and-back in South Mountain Reservation near Saint Cloud, NJ. The route passes Flamingo, Big Cat Country, Hemlock Falls and Hobble Falls. It climbs 485 ft, with sections as steep as 19% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi266 – 558 ft · steepest grade: 19%5.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Zoo Loop (Green Dot) 40.77003, -74.27783
Nearest town Saint Cloud, NJ
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Hemlock Falls–Hobble Falls, 11 sights

5.1 mi · ▲ 485 ft · 1 hr 57 min

Elevation 265–559 ft

Out & Back · South Mountain Reservation

Trailhead: Zoo Loop (Green Dot) · 40.77003, -74.27783

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

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Zoo Loop (Green Dot), heading SW.
  2. 50 ftPass Flamingo.
  3. 0.2 miPass Big Cat Country.
  4. 0.2 miBear left onto Reservoir/Zoo Loop (Green Dot), heading SW.
  5. 0.1 miBear left onto Ravine Trail, heading SW.
  6. 0.2 miTurn right onto Turtle Back (Orange), heading SE.
  7. 0.1 miBear right onto Hillspur Trail, heading S.
  8. 250 ftBear left onto Longwood Trail, heading SW.
  9. 0.6 miBear left, heading SW.
  10. 50 ftBear right onto Girl Scout Bridge / Summit Trail, heading SW.
  11. 0.1 miTurn right onto Openwood Trail, heading SE.
  12. 0.2 miTurn right onto Hemlock Falls Loop, heading NW.
  13. 350 ftBear left, heading W.
  14. 150 ftPass Hemlock Falls.
  15. 150 ftTurn right onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading NW.
  16. 50 ftPass Hobble Falls.
  17. 50 ftContinue straight onto Lenape Trail (Yellow) / Hemlock Falls Loop, heading N.
  18. 250 ftContinue straight onto Lenape Upper/Hemlcok Link, heading N.
  19. 50 ftBear left onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading NW.
  20. 400 ftTurn right onto Rahway Trail (White), heading N.
  21. 350 ftContinue straight onto Overgrown Rahway Trail (White), heading NW.
  22. 150 ftSharp left onto Rahway Trail White, heading NW.
  23. 0.3 miReach Hemlock Falls, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  24. 0.3 miSharp right onto Overgrown Rahway Trail (White), heading NE.
  25. 100 ftContinue straight onto Rahway Trail (White), heading NE.
  26. 400 ftTurn left onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading E.
  27. 350 ftBear right onto Lenape Upper/Hemlcok Link, heading N.
  28. 50 ftContinue straight onto Lenape Trail (Yellow) / Hemlock Falls Loop, heading N.
  29. 300 ftContinue straight onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading N.
  30. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  31. 300 ftBear right onto Hemlock Falls Loop, heading SE.
  32. 350 ftTurn left onto Openwood Trail, heading SE.
  33. 0.2 miTurn left onto Girl Scout Bridge / Summit Trail, heading SE.
  34. 0.1 miBear left, heading SE.
  35. 50 ftBear right onto Longwood Trail, heading SE.
  36. 0.6 miBear right onto Hillspur Trail, heading NE.
  37. 250 ftBear left onto Turtle Back (Orange), heading N.
  38. 0.1 miTurn left onto Ravine Trail, heading NE.
  39. 0.2 miBear right onto Reservoir/Zoo Loop (Green Dot), heading N.
  40. 0.1 miBear right onto Zoo Loop (Green Dot), heading NE.
  41. 0.4 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/hemlock-falls-hobble-falls-out-back-11-sights-8-km-5831

Trail surface

82% dirt18% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:29 AMSunset 7:25 PM

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Zoo Loop (Green Dot) Trailhead

Hikes near Saint Cloud, New Jersey