Description:

From the parking area, cross Skyline Drive and follow the yellow blazes of the Hoeferlin Memorial Trail, which curves to the north and parallels Skyline Drive. Soon, you will notice a sign which points the way to an Indian shelter, believed to have been used by the Native Americans during their hunting season. The trail steeply ascends a rock outcrop, then descends through mountain laurel. In 0.3 mile, the Cannonball Trail, marked by a white "C" on red, joins from the left, and both trails proceed north on a wide woods road.

In another half a mile, the trails cross a stream in a wet area and emerge from the woods onto Skyline Drive, where they cross a gas pipeline. Continue ahead along the shoulder of the road for about 350 feet, then bear right, following the yellow and red trails as they pass through a boulder barrier and reenter the woods.

After 0.4 mile, the trails briefly turn left onto a wide gravel road (which leads ahead to a radio tower). About 60 feet before this turn, you'll notice a woods road to the left. Turn left and follow this road, blazed intermittently with various faded blazes, to its end at Matapan Rock. This rock ledge, which directly overlooks Skyline Drive below, affords an expansive view to the west. After resting here for a bit, retrace your steps to the main trail, turn left, and proceed north along the joint Hoeferlin/Cannonball Trail. The trails soon bear left, ascending to the ridgeline, and passing a large glacial erratic to the right. Upon reaching the ridgeline, then trails turn sharply right onto an old woods road.

A quarter of mile beyond, the two trails split. Bear right and follow the white-on-red-blazed Cannonball Trail as it descends from the ridge. The trail passes through a boulder field and, after another quarter of a mile, it turns left onto a woods road. Ignore the blue blazes (they mark the History of the Glen Trail which circles Camp Glen Gray) and follow the white-on-red blazes, which head north on the woods road. You are now following the route of the historic Cannonball Road, used during the Revolutionary War to transport munitions without being intercepted by the British.

After half a mile on this historic route, you'll pass a 25-foot-square abandoned concrete swimming pool to the right. You've now entered Boy Scout Camp Yaw Paw. About 900 feet beyond the ruin, you'll notice a triple yellow-blaze to the right. (If you come to a small log lean-to on the right side of the white-on-red trail, you've gone too far, and you should retrace your steps for 100 feet to find the yellow blazes.) Turn right onto this Yellow Trail, which immediately passes the camp's Dogwood Cabin (also known as the Scoutcraft Lodge) and descends to cross a stream and swampy area on wooden planks. It joins a woods road and crosses a gas pipeline and then a stream. About half a mile from the start of the trail, it turns right and begins a steady ascent on a narrower woods road. Pay careful attention to the yellow blazes, some of which may be faded.

At the crest of the ridge, the Yellow Trail bears right and heads south. You'll again encounter the blue-blazed Scout trail, but continue ahead, following the solid yellow blazes (ignore the black-on-yellow disks that mark the Teepee Trail, another Scout trail). When you reach the highest point on the ridge, head left to a rock outcrop which offers an outstanding view over northern Bergen County, with the Manhattan skyline visible on the horizon to the right. This is a good place to take a break.

When you're ready, continue south on the Yellow Trail, which now begins to descend. After passing a stone foundation on a rock ledge, the trail comes to a T-intersection with a woods road. Turn left and follow the yellow markers along the road, which descends on switchbacks. At the base of the descent, turn right, following the Yellow Trail as it proceeds south through a valley on a wide woods road, paralleling a stream on the left. It bears left to cross the stream, and soon reaches two metal gates, which hikers can bypass to the left. Continue ahead (south) on the road, which is now paved, as it passes through a private residential area. (The blazing is poor in this area, but you should follow the paved road despite the absence of blazing.)

At the next T-intersection, turn right and follow paved Midvale Mountain Road uphill for 0.2 mile, then follow the yellow blazes as the trail turns left, leaving the road, and heads uphill on a woods road. Ignore the red-on-silver blazes of the Millstone Trail, which soon leaves to the right, and continue ahead on the Yellow Trail. Near the crest of the hill, the trail passes a stone foundation to the right and several stone walls. It descends steadily to cross a stream in a wet area, then climbs rather steeply and reaches the north end of Todd Lake. The trail proceeds along the west shore of the lake, passing a rock ledge to the left, with a good view over the water. At the southern end of the lake, the trail bears right, away from the lake, and soon ends at a T-intersection with a woods road.

Turn right at this intersection, now following the white blazes of the Todd Trail. This trail bears right onto another woods road, then turns left and descends into the woods. It soon reaches a level area from which it steadily ascends on a winding route, including switchbacks through ravines, reaching Skyline Drive in about half a mile. The parking area where the hike began is just across the road.