Buck Mountain

Splitrock Reservoir & Orange Trail via Charlottesburg Road

3.1 mi · ▲ 363 ft · 1 hr 13 min

Splitrock Reservoir & Orange Trail via Charlottesburg Road is a 3.1-mile out-and-back in Buck Mountain near Smoke Rise, NJ. The route reaches Splitrock Reservoir. It climbs 363 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade. It scores 71/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi843 – 1,099 ft · steepest grade: 18%3.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 40.99330, -74.42805
Nearest town Smoke Rise, NJ

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Splitrock Reservoir & Orange Trail via Charlottesburg Road

3.1 mi · ▲ 363 ft · 1 hr 13 min

Elevation 844–1,099 ft

Out & Back · Buck Mountain

Trailhead: 40.99330, -74.42805

Weather Sep 5: sunrise 6:29 AM · sunset 7:26 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
  2. 0.3 miSharp left, heading N.
  3. 0.4 miTurn left, heading W.
  4. 350 ftBear left, heading W.
  5. 500 ftBear left, heading SW.
  6. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  7. 150 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  8. 50 ftBear right, heading NW.
  9. 450 ftTurn right, heading W.
  10. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  11. 350 ftPass Splitrock Reservoir.
  12. 50 ftTurn right onto Charlottesburg Road - Unpaved - Gated, heading W.
  13. 0.2 miTurn right onto Orange Trail, heading N.
  14. 450 ftTurn left onto Blue Trail Connector to Indian Cliffs Outlook, heading E.
  15. 0.7 miTurn right, heading SE.
  16. 350 ftBear right, heading E.
  17. 0.6 miSharp right, heading SW.
  18. 0.3 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

39% dirt61% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:29 AMSunset 7:26 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.8 mi in (~25 min). Leave by 6:40 PM for the 7:26 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:03 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Trailhead visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby