AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Ringwood State Park

Swan Pond–The Bog, 6 sights

5.3 mi · ▲ 549 ft · 2 hr 2 min

Swan Pond–The Bog, 6 sights is a 5.3-mile out-and-back in Ringwood State Park near Skylands, NJ. The route passes The Bog and Swan Pond before reaching Duck Pond at the turnaround, 2.6 miles in. It climbs 549 ft. It scores 51/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi430 – 742 ft5.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Crossover Spur Trail 41.13147, -74.24343
Nearest town Skylands, NJ
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Swan Pond–The Bog, 6 sights

5.3 mi · ▲ 549 ft · 2 hr 2 min

Elevation 431–742 ft

Out & Back · Ringwood State Park

Trailhead: Crossover Spur Trail · 41.13147, -74.24343

Weather Sep 7: sunrise 6:30 AM · sunset 7:22 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Crossover Spur Trail, heading N.
  2. 0.2 miTurn right onto Crossover Trail, heading NE.
  3. 0.3 miBear right onto Crossover/Cupsaw Brook/Ringwood-Ramapo Trail, heading E.
  4. 50 ftContinue straight onto Crossover Trail, heading E.
  5. 0.1 miBear left onto Alligator, heading SE.
  6. 50 ftSharp right onto Crossover Trail, heading S.
  7. 0.5 miTurn right onto Tennesee Gas Service Road, heading NE.
  8. 0.3 miBear left onto Crossover Trail, heading SE.
  9. 50 ftBear left onto Old Morris Road, heading SE.
  10. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Arbor Trail, heading E.
  11. 350 ftPass The Bog.
  12. 150 ftContinue straight onto Swan Pond Road/Crossover Trail, heading SE.
  13. 250 ftBear right onto Swan Pond Road/Crossover/Five Ponds Loop Trail, heading S.
  14. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  15. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  16. 350 ftPass Swan Pond.
  17. 150 ftBear left, heading S.
  18. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Defiance Road/Crossover Trail, heading S.
  19. 50 ftContinue straight onto Cabin Trail, heading S.
  20. 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
  21. 50 ftSharp left onto Five Ponds Loop Trail, heading S.
  22. 0.1 miTurn left onto Duck Pond Trail, heading SW.
  23. 0.3 miPass Duck Pond.
  24. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  25. 350 ftReach Swan Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  26. 0.4 miTurn right, heading N.
  27. 300 ftContinue straight onto Five Ponds Loop Trail, heading N.
  28. 250 ftSharp right, heading N.
  29. 100 ftTurn left onto Cabin Trail, heading N.
  30. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Defiance Road/Crossover Trail, heading E.
  31. 0.1 miBear right, heading E.
  32. 0.1 miTurn right, heading E.
  33. 50 ftTurn left onto Swan Pond Road/Crossover/Five Ponds Loop Trail, heading E.
  34. 100 ftBear left onto Swan Pond Road/Crossover Trail, heading NE.
  35. 250 ftContinue straight onto Arbor Trail, heading N.
  36. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Old Morris Road, heading N.
  37. 0.1 miBear right onto Crossover Trail, heading NE.
  38. 0.3 miTurn left, heading NW.
  39. 0.5 miSharp left onto Alligator, heading SW.
  40. 50 ftBear right onto Crossover Trail, heading SW.
  41. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Crossover/Cupsaw Brook/Ringwood-Ramapo Trail, heading N.
  42. 50 ftBear left onto Crossover Trail, heading N.
  43. 0.3 miTurn left onto Crossover Spur Trail, heading N.
  44. 0.2 miArrive 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/swan-pond-the-bog-out-back-9-lakes-8-km

Trail surface

43% dirt16% boardwalk2% gravel39% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:30 AMSunset 7:22 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.4 mi in (~43 min). Leave by 6:19 PM for the 7:22 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:15 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Crossover Spur Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Skylands, New Jersey