April 18, 2021 – Ringwood, New Jersey
Issue: Average to Strenuous
Size: Roughly 3.2 miles
Max elevation: 1040 ft.– complete elevation achieve roughly 759 ft.
Route sort: Out and again
Purchase Map: North Jersey Trails Map #115 – NYNJTC
Trailhead parking: Stonetown Recreation Complicated – Mary Roth Drive, Ringwood, NJ 07456
Overview:
Windbeam Mountain is a part of the easternmost part of the New Jersey Highlands. It’s situated north of Wanaque in Ringwood. To the east, it’s bounded by the Wanaque Reservoir, separating it from the Ramapo Mountains. To the north, is the 920-ft. Bear Mountain and Little Windbeam (720-ft.) to the south. The Stonetown Recreation Complicated lies at its western base.
Windbeam Mountain from Stonetown Recreation Complicated
At an elevation of 1040 toes above sea stage, Windbeam Mountain rises in an extended steep, wooded and rocky slope 800 toes above the valley beneath. Since it’s taller than the neighboring hills, the principally flat twin summits, present broad ranging views in all instructions.
view south of Wanaque Reservoir – Windbeam Mountain
The mountain is a part of virtually 3,000 acres of land that adjoins the Wanaque Reservoir that’s owned by the North Jersey District Water Provide Fee (NJDWSC).
Historical past:
The unique occupants of this space had been the Lenape Indians, who had been drawn to the land for its numerous pure sources and abundance of freshwater sources, which they utilized for fishing, searching, and navigation. In truth, Wanaque is the identify given to the valley by the Lenape and has been translated as “valley of sassafras.”
There have been not less than fourteen totally different spellings of Windbeam all through the years. Winbeam, Windbeamus, Wimbeamus, Wiembemis, Weembemus, Weembeamus, Winbeamus, Weambemus, Weambeames, Wenbeamus, Winbbeam are a few of them.
In among the outdated deeds it’s spelled “Wimbemus.” Some say that Wimbemus means “chestnut tree.” Windbeam and the opposite mountains close by, had been coated with tall wholesome chestnut bushes. Some would counsel a derivation from wimb, coronary heart of a tree; -bi, tree; moschiwi, naked, open: a solitary tree on a bleak mountain high.
Trails Overview:
The Stonetown Round Path and the Highlands Path are coaligned as they traverse the rocky summit. These are the one official trails that summit the mountain. The path is nicely marked, however there are plenty of turns and switchbacks, so maintaining a tally of the blazes is crucial.
coaligned Highlands and the Stonetown Round Trails – Windbeam Mountain
Following the Stonetown Round Path from the Stonetown Recreation Complicated, it passes by a low mendacity moist space and it’s a steep rocky climb over Little Windbeam and as much as Windbeam summit, gaining virtually 800 toes in elevation in a few mile and a half.
Please word: The North Jersey District Water Provide Fee (NJDWSC), which owns the property that’s traversed by these trails, permits entry to their property for mountain climbing and the upkeep of the paths. Please assist to maintain these trails open by staying on the paths and respecting non-public property. Perform what you carry in.
Hike Overview:
This hike begins and ends on the Stonetown Recreation Complicated on Mary Roth Drive. There shouldn’t be any points discovering a spot within the giant car parking zone.
Stonetown Recreation Complicated
Throughout the road from the car parking zone is Windbeam Mountain. In the event you lookup in direction of the summit, you might spot the American Flag flying. That’s your vacation spot.
American Flag – Windbeam Mountain summit
This out and again hike follows the red-triangle-on-white blazed Stonetown Round Path for its entirety. First summiting Little Windbeam (720-ft.) then Windbeam (1,040-ft.), and summiting Little Windbeam from the north on the way in which again. Your entire ascent is steep and fairly rocky, as is the descent. Mountaineering poles are a plus. The start and finish of this hike passes by a moist space with a number of small stream crossings. A great pair of waterproof mountain climbing boots and bug spray is really helpful.
Windbeam Mountain from Stonetown Recreation Complicated
In keeping with the New Jersey 1K Membership, At solely 1040-ft., Windbeam is the fifth lowest mountain on our NJ1K record, however Windbeam really takes extra vertical climbing to summit than practically another mountain in New Jersey. The path’s ascent up Windbeam from the south is among the longest sustained steeps in New Jersey.
Windbeam Mountain from Stonetown Recreation Complicated
Though that is an out and again, the return route offers hikers a unique look.
The Hike:
Stroll again out of the doorway street of the Stonetown Recreation Complicated. Diagonally to the best and throughout the street you will notice two offset red-triangle-on-white blazes on a pole. That is the Stonetown Round Path which you may be following for all the hike. The path heads east into the woods, by wetlands and instantly rock hops a small stream. The path curves to the best (south) because it skirts the bottom of Windbeam Mountain. This space might be moist and muddy after rainfall.
Stonetown Round Path – Windbeam Mountain
Stonetown Round Path – Windbeam Mountain
Stonetown Round Path – Windbeam Mountain
Stonetown Round Path – Windbeam Mountain
Stonetown Round Path – Windbeam Mountain
The Stonetown Round Path involves a junction with an unmarked path and turns proper, rock hops one other stream and shortly comes near Stonetown Street earlier than veering away from it. The path descends slightly and crosses one other stream earlier than ascending steeply the southwest slope of Little Windbeam. The path quickly descends once more earlier than resuming its climb.
Stonetown Round Path – Windbeam Mountain
Stonetown Round Path – Windbeam Mountain
Stonetown Round Path – Windbeam Mountain
Stonetown Round Path – Little Windbeam
After about 0.7 mile, the path reaches a junction with the Highlands Path, which is available in from the best. Flip left on the junction (northeast) and observe the 2 coaligned trails as they climb Little Windbeam very steeply.
Stonetown Round Path – Little Windbeam
Stonetown Round Path – Little Windbeam
Stonetown Round Path – Little Windbeam
Stonetown Round Path – Little Windbeam
Because the path climbs, you might wish to cease to catch your breath and look behind you because the views begin to open up. As you proceed the steep ascent of Little Windbeam, extra views will seem. On the way in which again they are going to be extra apparent.
Stonetown Round Path – Little Windbeam
Stonetown Round Path – Little Windbeam
Stonetown Round Path – Little Windbeam
Stonetown Round Path – Little Windbeam
The path ranges off on the summit of Little Windbeam, which makes a great place to relaxation earlier than you make your strategy to Windbeam Mountain.
Stonetown Round Path – Little Windbeam
The path descends right into a col, with Windbeam Mountain summit looming simply forward.
Stonetown Round Path – Little Windbeam
Stonetown Round Path – Little Windbeam
The path begins its steep ascent of Windbeam Mountain. As you climb larger, higher views start to seem.
Stonetown Round Path – Windbeam Mountain
Stonetown Round Path – Windbeam Mountain
As you climb, there are a number of rock outcrops, to the left of the path with open views. Throughout the valley, the hills of Norvin Inexperienced State Forest are seen to the west.
Stonetown Round Path – Windbeam Mountain
Because the path continues to climb, cease to take a breather and switch round for some southwest-facing views.
Stonetown Round Path – Windbeam Mountain
Stonetown Round Path – Windbeam Mountain
Stonetown Round Path – Windbeam Mountain
Because the path nears the summit, there’s a giant rock outcrop simply off the path to the left with far reaching views south over the Wanaque Reservoir and past. For my part that is the very best view on this hike. This makes an amazing place to take a break and relaxation up from the climb.
view south of Wanaque Reservoir – Windbeam Mountain
When you’re able to proceed, observe the blazes a brief distance to the summit of Windbeam Mountain, marked with an American Flag.
Stonetown Round Path – Windbeam Mountain
Windbeam Mountain summit
Windbeam Mountain summit
If the summit is crowded, proceed to the 2nd summit. The path descends steeply a brief distance then climbs. It’s a slight scramble to the 2nd summit, however doable by most.
Stonetown Round Path – Windbeam Mountain
Stonetown Round Path – Windbeam Mountain
Stonetown Round Path – Windbeam Mountain
On the high of the 2nd summit, to the best is a rock outcrop with panoramic views northeast to southeast.
view southeast – Windbeam Mountain 2nd summit
view northeast – Windbeam Mountain 2nd summit
On a transparent day, the Manhattan skyline is seen within the distance.
view of Manhattan skyline – Windbeam Mountain 2nd summit
Proceed north a brief distance to a different rock outcrop with west-facing views.
Stonetown Round Path – Windbeam Mountain
view southwest – Windbeam Mountain 2nd summit
That is the flip round spot for the hike described right here. If you want to increase the hike, the Stonetown Round Path (the identical route because the Highlands Path) continues north to Bear and Board Mountains.
view northwest – Windbeam Mountain 2nd summit
When you’re able to proceed, retrace your steps on the Stonetown Round Path, again to the primary summit.
Stonetown Round Path – Windbeam Mountain
Stonetown Round Path – Windbeam Mountain
Stonetown Round Path – Windbeam Mountain
Stonetown Round Path – Windbeam Mountain
Previous Glory flies proudly on the summit.
Windbeam Mountain summit
Wanting west from the flagpole on the summit.
view west – Windbeam Mountain summit
A zoomed in view of the ballfields on the Stonetown Recreation Complicated.
view west – Windbeam Mountain summit
On the alternative facet from the flag, there may be one other rock outcrop with sweeping views, northeast to southeast. We missed this on the way in which up.
view northeast – Windbeam Mountain summit
view southeast – Windbeam Mountain summit
Descending the summit, you might wish to make one other cease on the south-facing viewpoint.
Stonetown Round Path – Windbeam Mountain
view south – Windbeam Mountain
plane – Windbeam Mountain
Windbeam Mountain
From there, proceed to retrace your steps on the Stonetown Round Path, descending steeply and again to the parking space, the place the hike started.
Stonetown Round Path – Windbeam Mountain
Assessment:
That is excessive up on my record of favourite hikes. The views are among the greatest round and there are many them. The path could be very steep and rocky, however the payoff makes it price it. There are quite a few rock outcrops with expansive views that make for nice picnic spots. The abundance of blazes makes the path straightforward to observe. We started this hike on a Sunday morning at about 8:30am and solely ran right into a handful of individuals all the hike. The path and the summits had been freed from any trash, let’s maintain it that approach.
Execs:
Nicely marked trails, excellent views, not extremely trafficked space, giant car parking zone.
Cons:
None.
Take a hike!
Windbeam Mountain from Stonetown Recreation Complicated
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