AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
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Wildcat Ridge Wildlife Management Area

Splitrock Reservoir–Beaver Pond, 8 sights

13.6 mi · ▲ 1,541 ft · 5 hr 18 min

Splitrock Reservoir–Beaver Pond, 8 sights is a 13.6-mile out-and-back in Wildcat Ridge Wildlife Management Area near Smoke Rise, NJ. The route passes Splitrock Reservoir and Beaver Pond. It climbs 1,541 ft, with sections as steep as 16% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 62/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi682 – 1,089 ft · steepest grade: 16%14.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Butternut Terr Connector 41.00318, -74.42504
Nearest town Smoke Rise, NJ
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Splitrock Reservoir–Beaver Pond, 8 sights

13.6 mi · ▲ 1,541 ft · 5 hr 18 min

Elevation 683–1,090 ft

Out & Back · Wildcat Ridge Wildlife Management Area

Trailhead: Butternut Terr Connector · 41.00318, -74.42504

Weather Sep 7: sunrise 6:31 AM · sunset 7:22 PM

  1. Start on Butternut Terr Connector, heading SW.
  2. 0.1 miTurn left onto Blue Trail Connector to Indian Cliffs Outlook, heading SE.
  3. 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  4. 0.2 miTurn left onto Splitrock Trail, heading S.
  5. 0.3 miPass Splitrock Reservoir.
  6. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Charlottesburg Road - Unpaved - Gated / Splitrock Trail (Dk Blue), heading S.
  7. 0.6 miTurn left onto Splitrock Trail (Dk Blue), heading S.
  8. 50 ftBear right onto Charlottesburg Road - Unpaved - Gated, heading SE.
  9. 1.1 miContinue straight onto Splitrock Trail (Dk Blue), heading SW.
  10. 1.4 miSharp left onto Righter Mine Trail (Green), heading SW.
  11. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Righter Mine Trail (Green) / Splitrock Trail (Dk Blue), heading NW.
  12. 450 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  13. 0.2 miTurn left onto Four Birds Trail, heading W.
  14. 150 ftTurn right onto Red Trail, heading W.
  15. 0.3 miPass Beaver Pond.
  16. 100 ftBear left onto Solar Pond Road, heading W.
  17. 0.2 miBear right, heading W.
  18. 150 ftContinue straight onto Darlington Drive, heading W.
  19. 0.2 miSharp left onto KDM Woods, heading NW.
  20. 0.8 miBear right onto Woods Road - Not Maintained, heading W.
  21. 0.2 miContinue straight onto KDM Woods, heading N.
  22. 0.2 miReach Splitrock Reservoir, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  23. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Woods Road - Not Maintained, heading NW.
  24. 0.2 miBear left onto KDM Woods, heading E.
  25. 0.8 miSharp right onto Darlington Drive, heading SE.
  26. 0.2 miBear left onto Solar Pond Road, heading SE.
  27. 0.2 miBear right onto Red Trail, heading SE.
  28. 0.3 miTurn left onto Four Birds Trail, heading E.
  29. 150 ftTurn right, heading E.
  30. 0.3 miTurn left onto Righter Mine Trail (Green) / Splitrock Trail (Dk Blue), heading E.
  31. 450 ftContinue straight onto Righter Mine Trail (Green), heading E.
  32. 0.6 miSharp right onto Splitrock Trail (Dk Blue), heading NE.
  33. 1.4 miContinue straight onto Charlottesburg Road - Unpaved - Gated, heading E.
  34. 1.1 miBear left onto Splitrock Trail (Dk Blue), heading N.
  35. 50 ftTurn right onto Charlottesburg Road - Unpaved - Gated / Splitrock Trail (Dk Blue), heading N.
  36. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Splitrock Trail, heading NW.
  37. 0.6 miTurn right, heading N.
  38. 0.2 miTurn left onto Blue Trail Connector to Indian Cliffs Outlook, heading N.
  39. 0.1 miTurn right onto Butternut Terr Connector, heading NE.
  40. 250 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

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

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/splitrock-reservoir-beaver-pond-out-back-9-sights

Trail surface

81% dirt3% gravel16% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:31 AMSunset 7:22 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.6 mi in (~94 min). Leave by 5:28 PM for the 7:22 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:16 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

More from Butternut Terr Connector Trailhead

Hikes near Smoke Rise, New Jersey