AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Ringwood State Park

Ilgenstein Rock–CU Bypass Trail, 8 sights

13.1 mi · ▲ 1,745 ft · 5 hr 14 min

Ilgenstein Rock–CU Bypass Trail, 8 sights is a 13.1-mile out-and-back in Ringwood State Park near Erskine Lakes, NJ. The route reaches Ilgenstein Rock at the turnaround, 6.5 miles in. It climbs 1,745 ft, with sections as steep as 21% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 55/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi335 – 1,135 ft · steepest grade: 21%13.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Hickory Road Access 41.11319, -74.25876
Nearest town Erskine Lakes, NJ
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Directions

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Ilgenstein Rock–CU Bypass Trail, 8 sights

13.1 mi · ▲ 1,745 ft · 5 hr 14 min

Elevation 336–1,136 ft

Out & Back · Ringwood State Park

Trailhead: Hickory Road Access · 41.11319, -74.25876

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

  1. Start on Hickory Road Access, heading SW.
  2. 0.2 miSharp right onto Cooper Union Trail, heading NE.
  3. 0.7 miTurn right, heading E.
  4. 150 ftTurn right, heading E.
  5. 150 ftBear left onto Cooper Union Bypass Trail, heading NE.
  6. 0.4 miBear left onto CU Bypass Trail, heading E.
  7. 250 ftBear right, heading NE.
  8. 50 ftContinue straight onto Cooper Union Bypass Trail, heading NE.
  9. 150 ftBear right onto Cooper Union Trail, heading N.
  10. 0.8 miContinue straight onto Cupsaw Brook Trail, heading NW.
  11. 0.3 miBear right onto Crossover/Cupsaw Brook/Ringwood-Ramapo Trail, heading E.
  12. 50 ftContinue straight onto Crossover Trail, heading E.
  13. 0.1 miBear left onto Alligator, heading E.
  14. 50 ftSharp right onto Crossover Trail, heading E.
  15. 0.5 miTurn left onto Tennesee Gas Service Road, heading S.
  16. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Old Morris Road, heading E.
  17. 250 ftContinue straight onto Tennesee Gas Service Road, heading E.
  18. 0.3 miTurn left onto Skylands Trail, heading E.
  19. 100 ftBear right onto Tennesee Gas Service Road, heading E.
  20. 0.8 miTurn right onto Pierson Ridge Trail, heading S.
  21. 0.9 miTurn left onto Crossover Trail, heading S.
  22. 0.5 miTurn right onto Crossover/Hofferlin Memorial Trail, heading E.
  23. 0.4 miReach Ilgenstein Rock, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  24. 0.4 miTurn left onto Crossover Trail, heading N.
  25. 0.5 miTurn right onto Pierson Ridge Trail, heading N.
  26. 0.9 miTurn left onto Tennesee Gas Service Road, heading NE.
  27. 0.8 miBear left onto Skylands Trail, heading N.
  28. 50 ftTurn right onto Tennesee Gas Service Road, heading N.
  29. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Old Morris Road, heading W.
  30. 250 ftContinue straight onto Tennesee Gas Service Road, heading NW.
  31. 0.4 miTurn right, heading W.
  32. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Crossover Trail, heading W.
  33. 0.3 miSharp left onto Alligator, heading SW.
  34. 50 ftBear right onto Crossover Trail, heading SW.
  35. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Crossover/Cupsaw Brook/Ringwood-Ramapo Trail, heading N.
  36. 50 ftBear left onto Cupsaw Brook Trail, heading N.
  37. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Cooper Union Trail, heading NE.
  38. 0.8 miBear left onto Cooper Union Bypass Trail, heading S.
  39. 150 ftBear left onto CU Bypass Trail, heading S.
  40. 250 ftBear right onto Cooper Union Bypass Trail, heading SE.
  41. 0.4 miBear right, heading W.
  42. 150 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  43. 150 ftTurn left onto Cooper Union Trail, heading W.
  44. 0.4 miSharp right, heading SW.
  45. 0.3 miSharp left onto Hickory Road Access, heading S.
  46. 500 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/ilgenstein-rock-cu-bypass-trail-out-back-9-sights

Trail surface

65% dirt2% boardwalk33% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:30 AMSunset 7:22 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 5.3 mi in (~158 min). Leave by 4:24 PM for the 7:22 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:54 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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