Sparta Mountain Wildlife Management Area
Ryker Lake–Highlands Trail, 5 sights
8.7 mi · ▲ 1,165 ft · 3 hr 29 min
Ryker Lake–Highlands Trail, 5 sights is an 8.7-mile out-and-back in Sparta Mountain Wildlife Management Area near Weldon, NJ. The route reaches Ryker Lake at the turnaround, 4.3 miles in. It climbs 1,165 ft, with sections as steep as 26% grade. It scores 61/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Ryker Lake–Highlands Trail, 5 sights
8.7 mi · ▲ 1,165 ft · 3 hr 29 min
Elevation 950–1,307 ft
Out & Back · Sparta Mountain Wildlife Management Area
Trailhead: 41.00932, -74.57210
Weather Sep 7: sunrise 6:32 AM · sunset 7:23 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading S.
- 50 ftBear left onto Yellow/Highlands Trail, heading S.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Pink Trail, heading E.
- 0.3 miBear left onto Highlands Trail, heading NE.
- 0.4 miTurn left onto White Trail, heading NW.
- 0.4 miSharp right onto Purple Dot Trail, heading N.
- 300 ftBear left onto White/Highlands Trail, heading NW.
- 0.6 miTurn right onto Highlands Trail, heading NW.
- 0.8 miTurn right onto Blue/Highlands Trail, heading N.
- 100 ftTurn left onto Highlands Trail, heading N.
- 1.3 miTurn left onto Unmarked Trail, heading SE.
- 0.3 miReach Ryker Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading S.
- 1.3 miTurn right onto Blue/Highlands Trail, heading W.
- 100 ftTurn left onto Highlands Trail, heading W.
- 0.8 miTurn left onto White/Highlands Trail, heading S.
- 0.6 miBear right onto Purple Dot Trail, heading SE.
- 300 ftSharp left onto White Trail, heading SE.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Highlands Trail, heading S.
- 0.4 miBear right onto Pink Trail, heading SW.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Yellow/Highlands Trail, heading S.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading SW.
- 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
Weather
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Saffin Pond–Highlands Trail, 3 sights 2.3 mi · ▲ 201 ft
- Yellow Dot Trail & Yellow/Highlands Trail via Yellow Trail 3.3 mi · ▲ 433 ft
- Blue Trail & Yellow/Highlands Trail Loop 3.5 mi · ▲ 423 ft
- Blue Trail–Highlands Trail, 4 sights 6.1 mi · ▲ 559 ft
- Saffin Pond–Blue Heron Lake, 5 sights 6.3 mi · ▲ 574 ft
- Beaver Brook Trail (White)–Teal/Black Dot, 3 sights 10.4 mi · ▲ 1,886 ft
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