AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

South Mountain Reservation

Hemlock Falls–Hobble Falls, 9 sights

6.8 mi · ▲ 1,035 ft · 2 hr 47 min

Hemlock Falls–Hobble Falls, 9 sights is a 6.8-mile out-and-back in South Mountain Reservation near Newstead, NJ. The route passes Hobble Falls, Hemlock Falls and West Ridge Sunset Point before reaching Flamingo at the turnaround, 3.4 miles in. It climbs 1,035 ft. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi276 – 581 ft8.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Lenape Trail (Yellow) 40.75330, -74.29035
Nearest town Newstead, NJ
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Directions

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Hemlock Falls–Hobble Falls, 9 sights

6.8 mi · ▲ 1,035 ft · 2 hr 47 min

Elevation 274–581 ft

Out & Back · South Mountain Reservation

Trailhead: Lenape Trail (Yellow) · 40.75330, -74.29035

Weather Sep 5: Overcast, high 80°F / low 65° · precip 1% · wind 7 mph · sunrise 6:29 AM · sunset 7:25 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading SW.
  2. 0.2 miPass Hobble Falls.
  3. 50 ftBear right onto Lenape Upper/Hemlcok Link, heading SE.
  4. 50 ftContinue straight onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading SE.
  5. 100 ftPass Hemlock Falls.
  6. 250 ftTurn left, heading S.
  7. 350 ftBear right onto Hemlock Falls Loop, heading SE.
  8. 350 ftTurn left onto Openwood Trail, heading S.
  9. 0.2 miTurn left onto Summit Trail, heading SE.
  10. 0.1 miBear left, heading N.
  11. 50 ftBear right onto Longwood Trail, heading N.
  12. 0.1 miSharp left onto Reservior Road, heading N.
  13. 0.3 miBear left onto Turtle Back Trail (Orange), heading NW.
  14. 250 ftTurn left onto Lenape Trail (Yellow) / Turtle Back Trail (Orange), heading W.
  15. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading NW.
  16. 350 ftContinue straight onto Yellow Bypass, heading NW.
  17. 50 ftBear left onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading NW.
  18. 0.7 miPass West Ridge Sunset Point.
  19. 250 ftContinue straight onto West Ridge Trail, heading W.
  20. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading NE.
  21. 50 ftContinue straight onto West Ridge Trail, heading NE.
  22. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading NE.
  23. 0.3 miBear right, heading N.
  24. 350 ftContinue straight onto Mayapple Trail (Blue Dot), heading NE.
  25. 400 ftBear right onto Lower Mayapple, heading N.
  26. 250 ftPass Flamingo.
  27. 0.1 miReach Hemlock Falls, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  28. 0.1 miBear left onto Mayapple Trail (Blue Dot), heading NW.
  29. 450 ftContinue straight onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading NE.
  30. 0.4 miContinue straight onto West Ridge Trail, heading SW.
  31. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading SW.
  32. 50 ftContinue straight onto West Ridge Trail, heading SW.
  33. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading SW.
  34. 0.7 miBear right onto Yellow Bypass, heading SW.
  35. 50 ftContinue straight onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading SW.
  36. 350 ftContinue straight onto Lenape Trail (Yellow) / Turtle Back Trail (Orange), heading SW.
  37. 0.1 miTurn right onto Turtle Back Trail (Orange), heading NE.
  38. 250 ftBear right onto Reservior Road, heading NE.
  39. 0.3 miSharp right onto Longwood Trail, heading E.
  40. 0.1 miBear left, heading NE.
  41. 50 ftBear right onto Summit Trail, heading NE.
  42. 0.1 miTurn right onto Openwood Trail, heading E.
  43. 0.2 miTurn right onto Hemlock Falls Loop, heading S.
  44. 350 ftBear left, heading SE.
  45. 350 ftTurn right onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading S.
  46. 350 ftContinue straight onto Lenape Upper/Hemlcok Link, heading SE.
  47. 50 ftBear left onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading SE.
  48. 250 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/hemlock-falls-hobble-falls-out-back-9-sights

Trail surface

38% dirt62% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 80°F65°
Precip1%Wind7 mphUV7Humidity71%
Rained 0.4″ yesterday (2.5″ 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°61°
Mon 81°63°
Tue 85°64°
Wed 87°68°
Thu 84°69°
Fri 74°60°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.1 mi in (~61 min). Leave by 6:03 PM for the 7:25 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:38 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Lenape Trail (Yellow) Trailhead

Hikes near Newstead, New Jersey