ABOUT THE PARK:
Pyramid Mountain County Park - Morris County Parks
DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates to Boonton Avenue Field Parking: 40.968198, -74.365204
(Note: The main lot for Pyramid Mountain County Park is always barricaded early in the morning and later in the day the lot is packed so I use the Boonton Avenue Field lot.)
View Larger Map
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| Park at the north end of Boonton Avenue Field. |
TRAIL MAPS:
Pyramid Mountain Trail Map - Morris County Park Commission (does not show entire hike)
Jersey Highlands Trails Map #125 - NY/NJ Trail Conference (shows entire hike)
HIKE DISTANCES:
Pyramid Mountain to Kakeout Reservoir Loop - 10.75 miles
Pyramid Mountain Loop - 5 miles
PEAK BAGGING:
Pyramid Mountain - Peakery.com
THE HIKE:
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| At the north end of the parking lot, walk beyond the barrier and follow the gravel road towards a tan shed. |
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| At the shed veer left on the grass towards the corner of the tennis courts where you will find three mint green blazes on a tree indicating the start of the trail. |
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| The green trail goes through pretty woods heading towards Tarrytown Reservoir. |
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| The orange trail will follow along Tarrytown Reservoir. |
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| Tarrytown Reservoir |
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| Tarrytown Reservoir |
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| Tarrytown Reservoir |
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| The blue trail ascends to views of the New York City skyline. |
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| Farther along the blue trail, a blue and white side trail leads to views at Lucy's Overlook. |
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| Tripod Rock along the white trail. |
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| Whale Head Rock on the red and white trail. |
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| The blue trail heading towards Kakeout Reservoir. |
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| Kakeout Reservoir |
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| Kakeout Reservoir |
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| The blue trail skirts along Kakeout Reservoir. |
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| Stone House Brook waterfall at a bridge crossing. |
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| Tree growing over an old sign. |
HIKE SUMMARY:
[ 0.00] From north end of parking lot take gravel road beyond barrier towards tan shed, veer left towards back corner of tennis courts to trailhead for mint green trail
[ 0.70] Left on white when green ends at T-intersection with white
[ 0.90] Turn left on orange when white goes right
[ 1.20] Orange trail starts to skirt Tarrytown Reservoir
[ 1.90] Turn left on yellow when orange ends
[ 2.15] Cross power cut
[ 2.25] Turn right on blue when yellow ends
[ 2.35] Cross power cut
[ 2.50] Right on blue when white goes left
[ 2.60] Right on blue when red goes left
[ 2.75] At top of ascent when blue trail turns left, turn right briefly to view; retrace
[ 3.05] Left on blue/yellow when yellow goes right
[ 3.10] Right on blue when yellow goes left
[ 3.15] Left on blue/white at sign to Lucy's Overlook; retrace and continue left on blue
[ 3.40] Straight on white when blue goes left
[ 3.45] Tripod Rock on left
[ 3.85] Left on red/white when white goes straight
*** stay on white to right on mint green back to parking for 5 mile hike ***
[ 4.10] Eagle Cliff
[ 4.30] Whale Head Rock on left
[ 4.45] Turn right on blue when red/white trail ends
[ 4.75] Cross footbridge
[ 4.95] Right briefly on paved road then left across road back into woods
[ 5.30] Turn left on paved road beyond chain link gate
[ 5.40] Turn left leaving paved road directly across entrance of Shepard School; walk along right side of large boulders; at end of boulders trails goes right into woods
[ 5.50] Blue turns right on narrow gravel road; when road veers left, turn right into field (turn not marked) towards blue blaze in the distance on tree (VERY EASY TO MISS THIS TURN!)
[ 5.85] Kakeout Reservoir
[ 5.95] Cross paved Fayson Lake Road
[ 6.35] Cross 3 bridges; after 3rd bridge with waterfalls, immediately turn right (unmarked)
[ 6.85] Rock hop over creek
[ 6.95] Rock hop over creek
[ 7.05] Blue trails veers left, turn right briefly to view over reservoir; retrace
[ 7.45] At dam blue goes straight, turn right and cross dam on blue/white blazed trail (3 blazes on guardrail)
[ 7.50] Stay left on blue/white when unmarked woods road goes straight
[ 7.75] Right on white at Pyramid Mountain sign when blue/white ends
[ 7.85] Stay left on white when unmarked goes straight
[ 7.95] Stay right on white when unmarked goes left
[ 8.40] Cross second dam and keep straight into woods to right of huge boulder (no blazes going across dam)
[ 8.55] Cross over unmarked trail
[ 8.70] White trial turns left just before a back yard then turns right on paved road
[ 8.85] Turn left on next paved road; turn right into woods beyond 20 mph sign
[ 9.20] White trail turns right on paved road; turn left on next paved road (Brentwoood Dr.)
[ 9.35] Left on Glenrock; left at next street
[ 9.50] Left at next intersection then almost immediately right into woods leaving paved road
[ 9.90] Obstructed view at top of hill
[10.10] At bottom of hill after descending and before white trail ascends, look for mint green trail around boulder on left; turn left on mint green trail
[10.75] Back at car
