Otter Hole, Chikahoki Falls, Caris Hill, Hi-Point (Norvin Green State Forest)

Otter Hole, Chikahoki Falls, Caris Hill, Hi-Point (Norvin Green State Forest)

Hike Type: Lollipop Loop 
Distance: 5.94 miles
Elevation: 1,125 feet
Time: 3 hour, 1 minute (2 hours, 51 minutes moving)

Hiking Challenges: 52 Hike Challenge

The Hike

Back to what I believe to be my favorite park in New Jersey, Norvin Green State Forest! I was over here in the winter to hike the Wyanokie Tourne/Osio Rock loop, now I wanted to explore a few new spots while hitting some well-loved classics. I made it to the Otter Hole parking lot with no problems, got suited up, and off I went!

I knew there was a lot of rain up north, and I wasn't sure how much of it hit this area, but I was thrilled to see that the Otter Hole wasn't totally flooded and the rock hops were in great shape. There was some new reflective signage where the Highlands Trail joins the Hewitt-Butler Trail which was fun to see. Everytime I do these hikes in NJ I realize I'm officially of the age where I notice things changing which is strange, but cool. 

A little ways down an unmarked trail continues straight while the Hewitt-Butler/Highlands Trails turn, and it did take me a minute to notice that I messed that one up (oops). Regardless, I was thrilled with how dry the trail was! Also minimal bugs so far - much to be greatful for. I passed a lovely hiker who was questioning her life choices coming up this trail - I understood greatly, I made the same mistake a few years ago. The grade is moderate at its worst, but it packs a punch! 

I continued on, admiring the tea-stained water and occasional stream running in to join. You know you're getting closer to the falls when the current picks up and there are a few cascades, ultimately leading to Chikahoki Falls. Unfortunately, the best view of the falls is from the other side of the basin pool, and there was no dry way to make the crossing on this day. Lovely, nonetheless!

I couldn't help but notice I had only descended up until this point, and I know the Wyanokies love their steep ascents, so I started to mentally prep for what was to come, also while realizing that I had a quite a full lunch... whoops. I continued along, noticing that the trail may have been blazed in a different color in the past due to peculiar markings on the trees. There was a medium climb to a grassy ridge after the falls which led to a stunning fern-filled forest near the Carris Hill trailhead. 

As predicted, once on the Carris Hill Trail we were climbing. My lunch sure did not feel fantastic heading straight up on a hot July afternoon, but nevertheless, I persisted. The geology of the area was very unique and beautiful, the glaciers really did a great job here! There was a daunting headwall the trail skirted around which led to the first of many lovely views. 

The steepness was far from over after the first view, but at least there were a bunch of cute little mushrooms to keep me company as I was fighting for my life! The next vistas had great views of NYC and the Wanaque Reservoir, which I enjoyed while wiping the sweat from my eyes. Thankfully there was a slight breeze to make a feeble attempt at survival. 

The trail was a little more grown-in higher up with a few baby blueberries scattered about, in addition to many false summits. This was quite a challenging climb by New Jersey standards, but thankfully it was consistently rewarding with views! Finally up on Carris Hill I took a nice break to enjoy the view into the forest and the dragonflies zooming above (and to wring the sweat out from my shirt). 

Continuing on toward Hi-Point, the trail heads back into the woods through some lovely rhododendron/moutnain laurel (my goal is to learn the difference when not in bloom) and just a few hungy mosquitos. There was a small stream crossing where I saw my second and third people of the day, and eventually came to Yoo-Hoo Point, which was a rather open area with a cool view toward Hi-Point. 

Throughout all of this I couldn't help but think about the defunct NJ1k Challenge. The originaly challenge never took off, and the creators officially disbanded it a couple years ago. I think a main issue was how inaccessible many of the peaks were (either bushwhacking, private property, or both). Maybe a new version would only include peaks on parklands or non-bushwhacking peaks? Maybe a "gold version" could be unique summits versus peakbagging? We'll see what/if I come up with anything!

Back to reality, there was a fantastic breeze at Yoo-Hoo Point, and I decided to make the steep final climb to Wyanokie Hi-Point, which has always been a beautiful, favorite spot, and I made the right choice. Somehow the temperature was 10 degrees cooler on this open rock with a PERFECT breeze and many butterflies. I took a nice long break here and dried out my sopping wet shirt. I finally saw my fourht person just as I was heading back to continue on my hike.

Now mentally I was ready to be back, but I was FAR from actually being back. I was horrified to realize I still had a moderate climb to a featureless ridge that truly took my breath away (deragatory), plus I had found all of the bugs! There were some open areas with lush vegetation and an occasional swamp that did make this a pretty trail, but I was deep in my own crankiness. 

I started to zone out in my last couple of miles. There were an insane amount of moths near the orange/yellow junction in a really beautiful forest, and just a little commotion in the woods that could truly have been a mammal of any size. I enjoyed one last view before landing on the green Otter Hole Trail, which was a comfortable road grade leading back to the Hewitt-Butler Trail, and back to the car. 

Step-By-Step

- Park at Otter Hole Parking.

- Enter woods at blue-blazed Hewitt-Butler Trail.

- Cross Otter Hole, turn right at jct. to continue on Hewitt-Butler Trail (coincides with teal-blazed Highlands Trail).

- In two junctions, continue right onto white-blazed Posts Brook Trail.

- At next junction, turn left onto white-blazed Lower Trail.

- Soon after, turn left again onto yellow-blazed Carris Hill Trail.

- At Carris Hill, continue right onto blue-blazed Hewitt-Butler Trail/teal-blazed Highlands Trail.

- Follow Hewitt-Butler/Highlands to Wyanokie High Point.

- From Wyanokie High Point, turn around and retrace steps to junction with red-blazed Wyanokie Circular Trail.

- Follow red-blazed Wyanokie Circular Trail.

- At next junction, turn left onto orange-blazed Outlaw Trail.

- At terminus, turn right onto yellow-blazed Wyanokie Crest Trail.

- At next junction, turn left onto green-blazed Otter Hole Trail.

- At terminus, return to car via blue-blazed Hewitt-Butler Trail.

Map of Norvin Green State Forest South (NYNJTC)

Map of Norvin Green State Forest (NJ DEP)

Photo Album

Wyanokie Torne & Osio Rock (Norvin Green State Forest)

Wyanokie Tourne to Osio Rock (Norvin Green State Forest)

Hike Type: Lollipop Figure-8

Distance: 3.11 miles

Elevation: 728 feet
Time: 1 hour, 40  minutes

Hiking Challenges: N/A

The Hike

I had the day to myself in New Jersey while everyone else in my life is working, so I headed over to one of my favorite spots in the state - Norvin Green State Forest! I had been eyeballing this figure-8 loop with the Tourne Mountain for a couple years, but my AT challenge last summer took over my priorities. It wasn’t until I was pulling into the parking lot when I realized I had been here before, multiple times! The top part of the figure-8 is the Stone Living Room, a classic NJ hiking destination, and the lower half is Osio Rock, where I had been at least once before. I parked at the Otter Hole Parking area with three other cars, crossed the street, and got started on the blue-blazed Hewitt-Butler Trail. 

Right away the trail follows one of the defining characteristics of the trails at Norvin Green, rocky and right on up. It climbs a small hill before descending, both steeply, and then comes into a col where the blue and the red Torne Trail meet. I hiked the small spur of the Torne Trail to the road and back, just inches I decide to hike all the trail this summer(?!), remembered when I was young in college me and two friends hiked up to the stone living room, but we missed our fourth friend, so we printed out a photo of her and taped it to a piece of cardboard to bring her with us. Sadly, when we crossed the footbridge to the road, we dropped her into a stream (RIP). 

The Hewitt-Butler Trail has been rerouted in recent years, I assume to account for erosion. The trail moderately climbs through some nice, rocky woods in some dense humidity. It was 34 degrees when I started but was quickly climbing into the 40s, then 50s, and eventually topping out in the 60s. Nearing the top, I poked the height-of-land in case I decide to start working towards a modified NJ1k Challenge (?!), and then leapt toward the Stone Living Room, which seems smaller than I remember? I also realized that the Stone Living Room isn’t on the Hewitt-Butler Trail, which I can’t remember if that’s a new thing or if it's always been that way (I’ll need to check some old photos). 

Coming down from the Stone Living Room, there are some nice views away from NYC/Wanaque Reservoir, but I wanted to get that specific view. There is a trail split where the blue trail turns left for an easier descent and the blue-dot trail follows the original footbed steeply down - I chose the easier route as it ventured in the direction of the view that I wanted - and thankfully I got it! There was a great view of Osio Rock, the fog-covered Wanaque Reservoir, a town center (maybe Bloomingdale’s?), NYC, and the rest of Norvin Green. I was equally impressed with how well-blazed this trail was.

The easier route rejoins the steeper route, and then continues to descend into a daunting col, which doubles as the intersection with the red-blazed Torne Trail. Very rocky with a drainage going through the middle. Continuing on the Hewitt-Butler Trail, the good blazing continued up through the cool and moderately as the Hewitt-Butler Trail ascended to Osio Rock. The one positive of the humidity was that the forest smelled of spring, which of course is false hope, but exciting nonetheless. There are a few viewpoints in the upper stretches of the trail, but the best views are from Osio Rock, which doubles as the high point (I think… there was an impressive boulder just before the summit also…). 

There is a short scramble coming down from Osio Rock and then the trail follows a narrow footbed down the hill, descending into a dry wetland area. The Hewitt-Butler trail used to continue over a bridge further on, but it has since been closed (in the past 10 years at least). Here, I turned right onto the red-blazed Torne Trail which started by following the peaceful, quiet forest floor, before ascending to the same impressive col as before. Through the col and drainage, footing can be a bit sketchy and confusing, but nothing absurd. Soon enough I topped out at the height-of-land on the trail and began to descend to the original junction with the Hewitt-Butler Trail.

I turned right back onto the Hewitt-Butler Trail to complete the figure-8, and now completing the lollipop. Two people were right behind me, so I gunned it up and over that little hill. When I got back to the Otter Hole parking lot, I had grand plans to then travel down to the falls and to Wyanokie High Point, but “plans with a friend” took priority - I took a short side trip to the Otter Hole, and then back to the car to get home and cleaned up! I’m looking forward to exploring the forest much more this upcoming summer. My final take on this hike is that it’s like a chihuahua, small but mighty. The mileage wasn’t rough at all, but I was beat from the ups and downs. 

Step-by-Step

• Park at Otter Hole parking area, cross road to start hike on blue-blazed Hewitt-Butler Trail.

• Follow blue-blazed Hewitt-Butler Trail up a hill and back down.

• Hike out-and-back on small spur of red-blazed Torne Trail to road and back.

• Continue to follow blue-blazed Hewitt-Butler Trail up the Wyanokie Torne Mountain, with a side trip to the Stone Living Room.

• From Torne Mountain, follow the Hewitt-Butler Trail down, and take the easier route bypass for a great view of NYC and a bit of the Wyanokie Reservoir. 

• Continue along the Hewitt-Butler trail to interesting and rocky col, and then climb up to Osio Rock.

• From Osio Rock, continue to follow Hewitt-Butler Trail down to a stream where it terminates.

• From terminus, turn left onto red-blazed Torne Trail. 

• Follow red-blazed Torne Trail back to original junction with blue-blazed Hewitt Butler Trail.

• Turn right onto Hewitt-Butler trail and return to parking lot, with a side trip to the Otter Hole.

Map of Norvin Green State Forest South (NYNJTC)

Map of Norvin Green State Forest (NJ DEP)

Photo Album