Ringwood State Park
Potake Pond–The Bog, 3 lakes
2.5 mi · ▲ 315 ft · 59 min
Potake Pond–The Bog, 3 lakes is a 2.5-mile out-and-back in Ringwood State Park near Skylands, NJ. The route passes The Bog before reaching Potake Pond at the turnaround, 1.2 miles in. It climbs 315 ft, with sections as steep as 27% grade. It scores 69/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Potake Pond–The Bog, 3 lakes
2.5 mi · ▲ 315 ft · 59 min
Elevation 640–830 ft
Out & Back · Ringwood State Park
Trailhead: East Cottage Road/Crossover Trail · 41.12697, -74.23633
Weather Sep 7: sunrise 6:30 AM · sunset 7:22 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on East Cottage Road/Crossover Trail, heading SE.
- 350 ftTurn left onto Swan Pond Road/Crossover Trail, heading SE.
- 50 ftPass The Bog.
- 150 ftTurn left onto Arbor Trail, heading N.
- 350 ftTurn right onto Old Morris Road, heading E.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Tennesee Gas Service Road, heading E.
- 0.4 miTurn left onto Skylands Trail, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear right onto Tennesee Gas Service Road, heading E.
- 0.1 miSharp left onto White's Road, heading E.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Cape Road/Mountain Bike Loop/Race Trail, heading NE.
- 350 ftReach Potake Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 350 ftContinue straight onto White's Road, heading N.
- 0.2 miSharp right onto Tennesee Gas Service Road, heading SW.
- 0.1 miBear left onto Skylands Trail, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Tennesee Gas Service Road, heading W.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto Old Morris Road, heading W.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Arbor Trail, heading SW.
- 350 ftTurn right onto Swan Pond Road/Crossover Trail, heading SW.
- 150 ftTurn right onto East Cottage Road/Crossover Trail, heading W.
- 150 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 7:02 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 7:22 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 7:50 PM.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from East Cottage Road/Crossover Trail Trailhead
- Warm Puppy Rock–Swan Pond, 6 lakes 2.2 mi · ▲ 206 ft
- Old Morris Road & White's Road via Tennesee Gas Service Road 2.3 mi · ▲ 314 ft
- Shepherd Lake–The Bog, 4 lakes 2.5 mi · ▲ 264 ft
- Ringwood State Park Beach–Crossover Trail, 3 sights 2.6 mi · ▲ 224 ft
- Ringwood-Ramapo Viewpoint–Five Ponds Viewpoint Loop, 8 sights 2.6 mi · ▲ 406 ft
- Warm Puppy Rock–Swan Pond, 6 lakes 3.5 mi · ▲ 356 ft
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