AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Apshawa Preserve

High Crest Lake–Butler Reservoir, 7 sights

2.9 mi · ▲ 612 ft · 1 hr 16 min

High Crest Lake–Butler Reservoir, 7 sights is a 2.9-mile out-and-back in Apshawa Preserve near Smiths Mills, NJ. The route passes High Crest Lake, White Viewpoint and Butler Reservoir. It climbs 612 ft, with sections as steep as 24% grade. It scores 21/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi614 – 968 ft · steepest grade: 24%3.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Purple Trail 41.02433, -74.37529
Nearest town Smiths Mills, NJ
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

High Crest Lake–Butler Reservoir, 7 sights

2.9 mi · ▲ 612 ft · 1 hr 16 min

Elevation 612–968 ft

Out & Back · Apshawa Preserve

Trailhead: Purple Trail · 41.02433, -74.37529

Weather Sep 7: sunrise 6:31 AM · sunset 7:22 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Purple Trail, heading NW.
  2. 50 ftPass High Crest Lake.
  3. 0.2 miTurn right, heading N.
  4. 250 ftTurn left onto Blue Trail, heading W.
  5. 100 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  6. 500 ftContinue straight onto White Trail, heading W.
  7. 0.3 miPass White Viewpoint.
  8. 50 ftPass Butler Reservoir.
  9. 50 ftTurn left onto Red Trail, heading W.
  10. 250 ftTurn right onto Green Loop Trail, heading SW.
  11. 50 ftBear left onto Red/Green Trail, heading SW.
  12. 250 ftBear left onto Red Trail, heading S.
  13. 50 ftContinue straight onto Red/Green Loop Trail, heading SW.
  14. 250 ftContinue straight onto County Access Road, heading SW.
  15. 100 ftReach High Crest Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  16. 50 ftSharp right onto Green Trail, heading W.
  17. 1.4 miContinue straight onto Orange Trail, heading NW.
  18. 0.1 miTurn right onto Blue Trail, heading NE.
  19. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SE.
  20. 0.1 miTurn right onto Purple Trail, heading N.
  21. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/high-crest-lake-out-back

Trail surface

54% dirt46% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:31 AMSunset 7:22 PM

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Purple Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Smiths Mills, New Jersey