AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Lake Surprise Boat Launch 2013-05-19.jpg
Bryan Housel · CC BY-SA 3.0
Watchung Reservation

Lake Surprise–Seeley's Pond, 7 sights

7.2 mi · ▲ 726 ft · 2 hr 46 min

Lake Surprise–Seeley's Pond, 7 sights is a 7.2-mile out-and-back in Watchung Reservation near Woodland Park, NJ. The route passes Lake Surprise and Seeley's Pond before reaching Little Seeley's Pond at the turnaround, 3.5 miles in. It climbs 726 ft. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi217 – 440 ft8.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Purple / White Trail 40.69355, -74.37018
Nearest town Woodland Park, NJ
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Lake Surprise–Seeley's Pond, 7 sights

7.2 mi · ▲ 726 ft · 2 hr 46 min

Elevation 218–441 ft

Out & Back · Watchung Reservation

Trailhead: Purple / White Trail · 40.69355, -74.37018

Weather Sep 5: Overcast, high 78°F / low 64° · precip 2% · wind 8 mph · sunrise 6:29 AM · sunset 7:25 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 50 ftPass Lake Surprise.
  3. 50 ftTurn right onto Purple Trail, heading SW.
  4. 0.9 miBear left, heading SW.
  5. 250 ftTurn right onto Orange Trail, heading S.
  6. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Blue Trail, heading SW.
  7. 100 ftTurn left onto White Trail, heading W.
  8. 50 ftTurn right onto Blue / White Trail, heading SW.
  9. 0.1 miContinue straight onto White Trail, heading SW.
  10. 350 ftBear right onto Purple Trail, heading W.
  11. 500 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  12. 350 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  13. 250 ftBear right onto Sierra Trail, heading SW.
  14. 0.6 miBear left onto White Trail, heading SW.
  15. 0.9 miSharp right, heading SW.
  16. 0.4 miPass Seeley's Pond.
  17. 50 ftPass Little Seeley's Pond.
  18. 0.2 miBear left, heading NW.
  19. 50 ftReach Lake Surprise, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  20. 0.1 miBear left, heading N.
  21. 1.3 miBear right, heading NE.
  22. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Sierra Trail, heading NE.
  23. 0.5 miBear left, heading E.
  24. 250 ftTurn right, heading E.
  25. 350 ftTurn right onto Purple Trail, heading NE.
  26. 500 ftBear left onto White Trail, heading E.
  27. 350 ftContinue straight onto Blue / White Trail, heading NE.
  28. 0.1 miTurn left onto White Trail, heading N.
  29. 50 ftTurn right onto Blue Trail, heading N.
  30. 100 ftContinue straight onto Orange Trail, heading N.
  31. 0.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  32. 250 ftBear right, heading NE.
  33. 0.1 miTurn left onto Purple Trail, heading E.
  34. 0.7 miTurn left, heading NE.
  35. 50 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/lake-surprise-seeleys-pond-out-back-9-lakes

Trail surface

33% dirt1% gravel66% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 78°F64°
Precip2%Wind8 mphUV7Humidity76%
Rained 0.3″ 2 days ago (4.2″ over the last week) · trails may be muddy
Hourly temperature
80°60°
Sunrise 6:29 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:25 PM
Sun 74°61°
Mon 81°61°
Tue 84°63°
Wed 86°66°
Thu 84°68°
Fri 74°59°

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Purple / White Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Woodland Park, New Jersey