Hike of the Week 11/06/03

Description:

From the southern entrance to the parking area, proceed west, crossing the park entrance road. You’ll notice three yellow blazes and three blue blazes on a utility pole to the right of a chained-off gravel road. These blazes mark the start of the Indian Trail (yellow) and the Rocky Ridge Trail (blue). You’ll be following the blue-blazed Rocky Ridge Trail for the first part of the hike.
        Continue ahead along the gravel road, reaching overhead high-voltage power lines in 100 feet. Turn left along the power lines, following the blue blazes of the Rocky Ridge Trail. At a yellow gate, turn right and follow the blue blazes as the Rocky Ridge Trail descends to cross the red-on-white-blazed Old Cedar Trail. After passing a swampy area to the left, the Rocky Ridge Trail ascends along the wide route of an abandoned bobsled run. Halfway up the hill, you’ll notice an old shack to the right that once housed machinery used to make snow for the bobsled run.
        In about half a mile, as it approaches the ridge, the Rocky Ridge Trail bears right and climbs steeply on a winding footpath. At the crest of the ridge, it turns right to join the Old Cedar Trail. The two trails follow a joint route for only 25 feet. When the trails split, turn left and follow the red-on-white blazes of the Old Cedar Trail, which begins to descend. After leveling off and winding along the backslope of Campgaw Mountain, it again climbs to the summit ridge.
        As it nears the crest of the ridge, the Old Cedar Trail crosses two stone walls. Just beyond, a building at the top of the ski area may be seen through the trees on the right. Here, you’ll notice a triple yellow blaze that marks the start of the Indian Trail. Turn right and follow this trail for 500 feet to an expansive east-facing viewpoint at the top of the ski slope. To the left are the hills of Harriman Park, and in the center is northern Bergen County, with Mahwah in the foreground. The Palisades can be seen on the horizon, and the Manhattan skyline is visible to the right on a clear day. This is a good place to take a break.
        When you’re ready to continue, retrace your steps along the yellow trail to the red-on-white-blazed Old Cedar Trail. Turn right and follow the Old Cedar Trail as it curves to the east and descends gradually. In about half a mile, it reaches the north end of the large parking area for the ski area. The trail follows a berm along the edge of the parking area. At the end of the berm, the trail bears left  and reenters the woods. After descending along a hillside, it turns left and, at 2.6 miles, crosses Fyke Brook on a wooden bridge. The Old Cedar Trail then curves to the right and gradually ascends to reach a junction with the white-blazed Dogwood Lane Trail.
        Turn right, and follow the joint Old Cedar/Dogwood Lane Trail, which parallels a stone wall to the left. After crossing the paved ski area access road, it follows a wide path parallel to the park entrance road, with Fyke Pond visible through the trees on the right. In about 500 feet, you’ll reach a complex trail junction, marked by several signs. Turn sharply left here and follow the white-blazed Dogwood Lane Trail for 300 feet to the park entrance road, where the trail ends. Continue across the road to the main parking area and turn right to reach the southern end of the parking area where you began the hike.

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