AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

South Mountain Reservation

Nook Hill–West Ridge Sunset Point, 8 sights

11 mi · ▲ 1,176 ft · 4 hr 15 min

Nook Hill–West Ridge Sunset Point, 8 sights is an 11-mile out-and-back in South Mountain Reservation near Saint Cloud, NJ. The route passes West Ridge Sunset Point and Campbells Pond before reaching Nook Hill at the turnaround, 5.5 miles in. It climbs 1,176 ft. It scores 1/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi203 – 584 ft11.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Lenape Trail 40.79402, -74.27683
Nearest town Saint Cloud, NJ
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Nook Hill–West Ridge Sunset Point, 8 sights

11 mi · ▲ 1,176 ft · 4 hr 15 min

Elevation 202–586 ft

Out & Back · South Mountain Reservation

Trailhead: Lenape Trail · 40.79402, -74.27683

Weather Sep 6: sunrise 6:30 AM · sunset 7:23 PM

  1. Start on Lenape Trail, heading NW.
  2. 0.1 miTurn left onto Lenape (Yellow), heading NW.
  3. 1 miSharp right onto Whitbay Access, heading SW.
  4. 50 ftContinue straight onto Billy Goat Way, heading SW.
  5. 250 ftBear left onto Lenape (Yellow), heading S.
  6. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Lenape Trail (Yellow) / Mayapple Trail (Blue Dot), heading SE.
  7. 0.1 miTurn right onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading SE.
  8. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Mayapple Trail (Blue Dot), heading SW.
  9. 50 ftContinue straight onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading SW.
  10. 0.4 miBear right onto Oakdale Trail, heading SW.
  11. 50 ftContinue straight onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading SW.
  12. 100 ftContinue straight onto West Ridge Trail, heading S.
  13. 250 ftContinue straight onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading S.
  14. 0.6 miPass West Ridge Sunset Point.
  15. 400 ftContinue straight onto West Ridge Trail, heading SW.
  16. 150 ftContinue straight onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading SW.
  17. 0.2 miBear left onto West Ridge Trail, heading W.
  18. 1.3 miPass Campbells Pond.
  19. 450 ftTurn right onto Elmdale Trail (Blue), heading SW.
  20. 0.3 miSharp left, heading NW.
  21. 500 ftReach Nook Hill, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  22. 0.4 miTurn left onto West Ridge Trail, heading N.
  23. 1.4 miBear right onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading NE.
  24. 0.2 miContinue straight onto West Ridge Trail, heading N.
  25. 200 ftContinue straight onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading N.
  26. 0.7 miContinue straight onto West Ridge Trail, heading N.
  27. 250 ftContinue straight onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading NE.
  28. 100 ftContinue straight onto Oakdale Trail, heading NE.
  29. 50 ftBear left onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading N.
  30. 0.3 miBear right, heading N.
  31. 350 ftContinue straight onto Mayapple Trail (Blue Dot), heading N.
  32. 50 ftContinue straight onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading N.
  33. 0.4 miTurn left onto Lenape Trail (Yellow) / Mayapple Trail (Blue Dot), heading NE.
  34. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Lenape (Yellow), heading NE.
  35. 0.7 miBear right onto Billy Goat Way, heading NE.
  36. 250 ftContinue straight onto Whitbay Access, heading N.
  37. 50 ftSharp left onto Lenape (Yellow), heading N.
  38. 1 miTurn right onto Lenape Trail, heading NE.
  39. 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/nook-hill-west-ridge-sunset-point-out-back-4-lakes

Trail surface

49% dirt1% other50% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:30 AMSunset 7:23 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.4 mi in (~9 min). Leave by 6:54 PM for the 7:23 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:48 PM — 3 min before dark.

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