Wildcat Ridge Wildlife Management Area
Splitrock Reservoir & Beaver Pond via Four Birds Trail
3.8 mi · ▲ 451 ft · 1 hr 30 min
Splitrock Reservoir & Beaver Pond via Four Birds Trail is a 3.8-mile out-and-back in Wildcat Ridge Wildlife Management Area near Meriden, NJ. The route passes Splitrock Reservoir and Beaver Pond. It climbs 451 ft, with sections as steep as 24% grade. It scores 64/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Splitrock Reservoir & Beaver Pond via Four Birds Trail
3.8 mi · ▲ 451 ft · 1 hr 30 min
Elevation 785–1,004 ft
Out & Back · Wildcat Ridge Wildlife Management Area
Trailhead: Righter Mine Trail (Green) · 40.96266, -74.45736
Weather Sep 5: sunrise 6:29 AM · sunset 7:26 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Splitrock Furnace Trail, heading W.
- 50 ftPass Splitrock Reservoir.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 150 ftBear right, heading NW.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Wildcat Ridge Trail (Yellow), heading SW.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Four Birds Trail, heading W.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading S.
- 350 ftPass Beaver Pond.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Solar Pond Road, heading W.
- 0.3 miBear left, heading W.
- 0.2 miSharp right, heading SW.
- 0.3 miSharp right, heading S.
- 500 ftReach Splitrock Reservoir, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 500 ftSharp left onto Hibernia Brook Trail, heading NW.
- 0.3 miSharp left onto Wildcat Ridge Trail, heading NE.
- 0.2 miBear right onto Solar Pond Road, heading NE.
- 0.4 miTurn left onto Four Birds Trail, heading E.
- 0.5 miTurn right onto Wildcat Ridge Trail (Yellow), heading E.
- 0.3 miBear left, heading E.
- 150 ftTurn left onto Splitrock Furnace Trail, heading E.
- 350 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 1.5 mi in (~45 min). Leave by 6:20 PM for the 7:26 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:24 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Righter Mine Trail (Green) Trailhead
- Fugawe Ridge–Splitrock Reservoir, 3 summits 6.2 mi · ▲ 973 ft
- Splitrock Reservoir–Beach Glen Trail (Blue), 8 sights 10.8 mi · ▲ 1,367 ft
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