South Mountain Reservation

Nook Hill–Hawk Hill, 13 sights

7.4 mi · ▲ 1,120 ft · 3 hr 2 min

Nook Hill–Hawk Hill, 13 sights is a 7.4-mile out-and-back in South Mountain Reservation near Millburn, NJ. The route passes Nook Hill, Campbells Pond and Hawk Hill. It climbs 1,120 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade. It scores 7/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi200 – 554 ft · steepest grade: 18%8.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 40.73558, -74.30729
Nearest town Millburn, NJ

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Nook Hill–Hawk Hill, 13 sights

7.4 mi · ▲ 1,120 ft · 3 hr 2 min

Elevation 200–554 ft

Out & Back · South Mountain Reservation

Trailhead: 40.73558, -74.30729

Weather Sep 5: Overcast, high 78°F / low 64° · precip 1% · wind 8 mph · sunrise 6:29 AM · sunset 7:25 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 50 ftPass Nook Hill.
  3. 500 ftSharp right onto Elmdale Trail (Blue), heading N.
  4. 0.3 miTurn left onto West Ridge Trail, heading NW.
  5. 50 ftPass Campbells Pond.
  6. 0.7 miTurn right, heading NE.
  7. 150 ftTurn left onto Elmdale Trail (Blue), heading E.
  8. 0.5 miTurn right onto Elmdale Trail (Blue) / West Connector, heading N.
  9. 350 ftContinue straight onto West Connector Green/White, heading E.
  10. 0.2 miTurn right onto Orange Trail, heading NE.
  11. 0.4 miSharp right onto Rahway Upper Ext Red/White, heading S.
  12. 400 ftBear left onto Rahway Hi & Low Connector, heading SW.
  13. 50 ftTurn right onto Rahway Lower Ext White/Red, heading SW.
  14. 50 ftTurn left onto Rahway Upper Ext Red/White, heading SW.
  15. 150 ftBear right onto Rahway Lower Ext White/Red, heading S.
  16. 350 ftContinue straight onto Painter's Point Lane, heading SW.
  17. 50 ftContinue straight onto Unblazed Trail, heading SW.
  18. 50 ftContinue straight onto Painters Point Trail (Blue-White), heading SW.
  19. 50 ftContinue straight onto Unblazed Trail, heading S.
  20. 0.1 miSharp left onto Rahway Trail (White);River Trail, heading S.
  21. 50 ftContinue straight onto River Trail, heading S.
  22. 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
  23. 50 ftTurn right onto Rahway Trail (White), heading S.
  24. 0.2 miTurn right onto Overlook Trail, heading NE.
  25. 0.4 miBear left onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading S.
  26. 50 ftContinue straight onto Overlook Trail, heading SE.
  27. 150 ftContinue straight onto Bear Lane, heading SE.
  28. 0.1 miTurn left onto Summit Trail, heading E.
  29. 0.8 miBear left, heading N.
  30. 50 ftBear right onto Longwood Trail, heading N.
  31. 0.1 miSharp left onto Reservior Road, heading NE.
  32. 0.3 miBear left onto Turtle Back Trail (Orange), heading NE.
  33. 250 ftTurn left onto Lenape Trail (Yellow) / Turtle Back Trail (Orange), heading NE.
  34. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading NW.
  35. 350 ftContinue straight onto Yellow Bypass, heading N.
  36. 50 ftBear left onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading N.
  37. 0.6 miBear left onto West Ridge Trail, heading S.
  38. 0.7 miTurn left, heading S.
  39. 150 ftTurn right onto Elmdale Trail (Blue), heading SE.
  40. 0.3 miPass Hawk Hill.
  41. 450 ftTurn right onto Painters Point Trail (Blue-White), heading S.
  42. 50 ftContinue straight onto Elmdale Trail (Blue), heading S.
  43. 0.7 miSharp left, heading E.
  44. 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 surface

24% dirt76% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 78°F64°
Precip1%Wind8 mphUV7Humidity73%
Rained 0.3″ yesterday (3.1″ 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°60°
Mon 80°62°
Tue 84°64°
Wed 86°67°
Thu 84°68°
Fri 74°59°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.3 mi in (~38 min). Leave by 6:27 PM for the 7:25 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:14 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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