Ryker Lake–Saffin Pond, 6 sights is a 10.4-mile out-and-back in Sparta Mountain Wildlife Management Area near Weldon, NJ. The route passes Saffin Pond before reaching Ryker Lake at the turnaround, 5.2 miles in. It climbs 1,381 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade. It scores 59/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
0 mi948 – 1,309 ft · steepest grade: 18%11.0 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Ogden Mine Railroad Trail 41.00805, -74.58679
Nearest town Weldon, NJ
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Ryker Lake–Saffin Pond, 6 sights
10.4 mi · ▲ 1,381 ft · 4 hr 9 min
Elevation 950–1,307 ft
Out & Back · Sparta Mountain Wildlife Management Area
Trailhead: Ogden Mine Railroad Trail · 41.00805, -74.58679
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 E.
- 50 ftPass Saffin Pond.
- 50 ftBear left, heading E.
- 200 ftContinue straight onto Yellow Trail, heading E.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading E.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto Yellow/Highlands Trail, heading SE.
- 0.5 miContinue straight onto Pink Trail, heading E.
- 0.3 miBear left onto Highlands Trail, heading N.
- 0.4 miTurn left onto White Trail, heading NE.
- 0.4 miSharp right onto Purple Dot Trail, heading NE.
- 300 ftBear left onto White/Highlands Trail, heading N.
- 0.6 miTurn right onto Highlands Trail, heading W.
- 0.8 miTurn right onto Blue/Highlands Trail, heading NE.
- 100 ftTurn left onto Highlands Trail, heading N.
- 1.3 miTurn left onto Unmarked Trail, heading NE.
- 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 SW.
- 100 ftTurn left onto Highlands Trail, heading SW.
- 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 W.
- 0.9 miBear left onto Yellow Trail, heading SW.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading W.
- 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
54% dirt46% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:32 AMSunset 7:23 PM
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Ogden Mine Railroad Trail Trailhead
- Morris County High Point–Saffin Pond, 4 sights 3.3 mi · ▲ 196 ft
- Saffin Pond–Ogden Mine Railroad Trail Loop, 5 sights 4.7 mi · ▲ 378 ft
- Morris County High Point–Saffin Pond Loop, 6 sights 5 mi · ▲ 310 ft
- Lake Shawnee & Saffin Pond via Yellow Trail 9 mi · ▲ 648 ft
- Longwood Lake–Saffin Pond, 4 sights 9.3 mi · ▲ 1,282 ft
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