Eagle Rock Reservation Loop

Eagle Rock Reservation

Trail view on Eagle Rock Reservation Loop - Photo: Daniel Chazin Trail view on Eagle Rock Reservation Loop - Photo: Daniel Chazin Eagle Rock Reservation Loop memorial - Photo: Daniel Chazin Eagle Rock Reservation Loop memorial - Photo: Daniel Chazin

This loop hike circles the reservation, following footpaths and unpaved roads, and reaches a panoramic viewpoint over the New York City skyline.

40.803728, -74.237795

This hike traverses the 408-acre Eagle Rock Reservation. The reservation is located in the center of densely populated Essex County, but it is mostly undeveloped and features an extensive trail system. The Olmsted Brothers, who designed Central Park in Manhattan, contributed to the design of the reservation. The footpaths and dirt roads followed by this hike have gentle grades, and the hike is...

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Trip Reports

rate experience
November 06, 2014
0
Great hike until the blue trail
<p>I should never say to myself "wow this trail has so many markers!" because I always jinx myself. The directions above and the trail markers were great until I got to the blue trail. My first confusion was confirming that I was supposed to follow the trail at the last house. I don't know why but that tripped me up (maybe it had to do with the off-leash dog attacking my leashed dog).</p> <p>Once I started on the blue trail, I had very few problems (one downed tree made me search harder for the further marker) (switchbacks were also fine and clear) until I passed the stone bridge and ended up in a maze of trees where the trail bears left.&nbsp;</p> <p>I felt so lost that I nearly started to panic (yes an overreaction, I could have just backtracked to the other trails or the street, but I wanted to continue on). In that area of mass trees, the trail is barely clear (at least in October with leaves everywhere) and there are several possible options of similar looking ground. There is no next blue marker in sight for a while. I made 4 wrong starts and needed to backtrack to the blue left turn marker to start over before I finally tredged ahead on the correct trail for a while (after pulling up Google maps and seeing that I would at least be heading towards a road) and I finally found the next blue marker. It was a very exciting moment for me. You may have heard me yell "BLUE!" :)</p> <p>After that the trail was again obvious with markers on both trees and rocks to help you navigate your way uphill along large flat rocks.</p> <p>I found the trail to be very clean with not much debris (if you see debris when hiking, how about you pick it up and throw it away!). The trails were rocky and I did turn my ankles a bit but I blame myself because I was only wearing sneakers (that I also used to hike Macchu Picchu) but I didn't have them tied tightly. None of my minor stumbles were enough for me to bother bending down and tying them better, so the rocks must not be that bad!</p> <p>On a Wednesday morning in October, there were not many people around and it was a peaceful and mostly enjoyable hike.</p> <p>Also, the views from the 9/11 memorial area are amazing even on an overcast day. They did a very nice job with the memorial. I even saw a big buck hanging out there.</p>
aimdbest
October 15, 2012
0
Your comments on the trails in Eagle Rock Reservation
<p>I agree that the switchbacks on the blue trail can be a little confusing -- especially since the upper section of the loop nearly touches the lower loop at one point -- but I had no difficulty following the trail when I was there two weeks ago.&nbsp; Also, I am not sure what your complaint is regarding "ID the walking trails with their names to allow orientation."&nbsp; The names of all the trails are shown in the legend box on the Conservancy map.</p> <p>Regarding your comment on "the horrid condition of the majority of the hiking trails selected," with "stones littering the trails" -- all I can say is that there are stones on virtually all of the hiking trails maintained by the Trail Conference.&nbsp; Hiking trails are not designed to be as smooth as sidewalks, and maintainers are neither required nor encouraged to remove all stones from their trails.&nbsp; Having hiked many trails, I can say that the trails in Eagle Rock Reservation are in no worse condition in this regard than most other trails in the area -- and they may be in better condition that many others.&nbsp; It is always a good idea to wear "sturdy hiking shoes" on any hike, although I should say that when I did this hike two weeks ago, I wore a pair of casual shoes with rubber soles and did not get a sprained ankle.</p> <p>And, yes, I agree that hike descriptions "should advise of any trail issues that would be dangerous or reduce any pleasure on the hike," but I can only say that, to my knowledge, there are no such special issues that need to be mentioned for this hike.&nbsp; Yes, there are some stones on the trails in Eagle Rock Reservation, but there are stones on every hiking trail, and that is something that every hiker must be alert for on every hike.</p>
Daniel Chazin
October 14, 2012
0
My wife and I attempted the
<p>My wife and I attempted the hike using&nbsp;the Record newspaper instructions and the conservancy map of Jan 09.&nbsp; Some&nbsp;things stood out from the hike:</p> <p>1.&nbsp; The directions and the map got us scrambled when we reached the blue-trail switchbacks at the Broadwood Trail.&nbsp; They really should ID the walking trails with their names to allow orientation.&nbsp; We gave up and walked the Crest Trail to the Stony Brook Trail back to Kiosk 2, and then Crest Drive back to the origin.</p> <p>2.&nbsp; The reason we walked Crest Drive back to the monument was the horrid condition of the majority of the hiking trails selected.&nbsp; There were stones littering the trails and we suggest that anyone who does the hike wear sturdy hiking shoes to prevent any sprained ankles.&nbsp; And we suggest that any future hikes recommended should advise of any trail issues that would be dangerous or reduce any pleasure on the hike.</p> <p>BTW, I am a NYNJTC member.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>
Jor-el
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