Home ⎟ Hikes & Wanderings ⎟ New Jersey ⎟ Surprise Lake

Distance: 4.75 mile out and back (shorter route: 2 miles out & back & about 1 hour)

Time: 2-3 hours

Difficulty: Moderate

Elevation Gain: 700 feet

Dog Friendly: Yes.

This hike begins in Warwick, New York at Cascade Lake Park and rides the ridge of Bearfort Mountain on the Appalachian Trail before reaching Surprise Lake, a quiet  mountain lake in northern New Jersey.

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Hike Directions: Beginning at Cascade Lake Park in Warwick, NY, follow BLUE BLAZES (left if you’re facing the lake) for 1 mile to the Appalachian Trail. Turn RIGHT onto the Appalachian Trail and follow for 350 feet to the Prospect Rock lookout.  Continue beyond Prospect Rock, following the WHITE BLAZES along the ridge.  0.39 miles beyond Prospect Rock you’ll come to an intersection with the BLUE BLAZED State Line Trail to your LEFT. Turn LEFT and follow the BLUE BLAZES 0.39 miles to its intersection with the YELLOW BLAZED Ernest Walter Trail. Follow the YELLOW BLAZES across and eventually off the ridge and back into the woods to the RIGHT to Surprise Lake, 0.38 miles from the State Line Trail.

The Full 5.3 mile Loop Hike: Follow the hike directions to Surprise Lake, then from the central intersection at the lake/swim area, take the yellow blazes south, descending a bit before entering a tunnel of mountain laurel. Continue straight on the yellow blazes as you pass the intersection with the white blazed Bearfort Ridge Trail. About a half mile after departing from Surprise Lake, you’ll reach West Pond. Before descending to the pond you’ll notice a small path coming in from the right on top of the rise. Turn right here for 100 feet to a beautiful vista and break spot over West Pond. Return to the trail and continue on the yellow blazes as they send you downhill to water level, then across the swampy southern terminus of the pond. You’ll continue on the yellow blazed Ernest Walter trail as it takes you up onto a small ridge on the west side of West Pond, leaving you eventually at an intersection with the Appalachian Trail. Turn left on the Appalachian Trail and continue for about a mile to an open carriageway beside Longhouse Creek. Turn right at the carriageway, onto and unmarked path which will lead you to a creek crossing in less than a mile. After crossing the creek, turn left onto the red blazes and follow them for less than a half mile back to Cascade Lake and soon, the parking area.

Shorter Route – “The Lake-to-Lake”: This route begins right on the state line of New York & New Jersey on Route 210 in Greenwood Lake (diagonally across from the marina). The trailhead parking is up a dirt path beside an auto repair shop on the mountain side of the road). It’s recognizable by the posted trail map kiosk. From here, follow the BLUE BLAZED State Line Trail into the woods, ascending for 0.63 miles to an intersection with the YELLOW-BLAZED Ernest Walter Trail.  Turn LEFT here and follow the Yellow Blazes across a rocky ridge overlooking Greenwood Lake and after 0.3 miles watch closely for the yellow blazes and re-enter the woods to your RIGHT.  Stay on the Ernest Walter Trail for another tenth of a mile before reaching Surprise Lake.

Scenery: 8/10