Ramapo Mountain State Forest

Sliver Lake–Black Birch Way, 3 sights

8.6 mi · ▲ 1,236 ft · 3 hr 29 min

Sliver Lake–Black Birch Way, 3 sights is an 8.6-mile out-and-back in Ramapo Mountain State Forest near Skylands, NJ. The route reaches Sliver Lake at the turnaround, 4.3 miles in. It climbs 1,236 ft, with sections as steep as 22% grade. It scores 72/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi591 – 974 ft · steepest grade: 22%9.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Crossover Trail 41.12748, -74.23706
Nearest town Skylands, NJ

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Sliver Lake–Black Birch Way, 3 sights

8.6 mi · ▲ 1,236 ft · 3 hr 29 min

Elevation 590–976 ft

Out & Back · Ramapo Mountain State Forest

Trailhead: Crossover Trail · 41.12748, -74.23706

Weather Sep 7: Overcast, high 74°F / low 53° · precip 0% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 6:30 AM · sunset 7:22 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Old Morris Road, heading E.
  2. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Tennesee Gas Service Road, heading E.
  3. 0.4 miTurn left onto Skylands Trail, heading SE.
  4. 50 ftBear right onto Tennesee Gas Service Road, heading E.
  5. 0.2 miTurn left onto Black Birch Way, heading S.
  6. 0.5 miBear left onto Cape Road, heading E.
  7. 350 ftBear right, heading NE.
  8. 0.2 miBear right onto Woods Road, heading E.
  9. 2.5 miReach Sliver Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  10. 2.5 miBear left, heading SW.
  11. 0.2 miBear left onto Cape Road, heading W.
  12. 350 ftBear right onto Black Birch Way, heading W.
  13. 0.5 miTurn right onto Tennesee Gas Service Road, heading W.
  14. 0.2 miBear left onto Skylands Trail, heading NW.
  15. 50 ftTurn right onto Tennesee Gas Service Road, heading N.
  16. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Old Morris Road, heading NW.
  17. 0.4 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail surface

38% dirt62% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 74°F53°
Precip0%Wind4 mphUV6Humidity66%
Rained 0.2″ 4 days ago (0.4″ over the last week)
Hourly temperature
75°50°
Sunrise 6:30 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:22 PM
Tue 77°57°
Wed 82°59°
Thu 78°63° 30%
Fri 74°53° 19%
Sat 78°53°
Sun 82°57°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.0 mi in (~1 min). Leave by 7:01 PM for the 7:22 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:38 PM — 12 min before dark.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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