Big Beech Mountain

Big Beech Mountain, Long Pond Ironworks (1/12/2008)

I came up with this lollipop hike in real time. We were prepared to climb Big Beech Mountain by going north along the Highlands trail from Route 511 in West Milford and then turn around and just head back to the car (in fact, this is the exact path of a hike in at least two hike books for this area). But we were making such good time I decided to add more to it. Here's what we did.

Travel north on the Highlands trail from Route 511 (just west of the visitor's center on 511, in a dirt lot on the south side of 511). Eventually make a left on the yellow-blazed Jenning Hollows trail. At the fork (the trail goes both left and right, being a loop from this point), turn right, continuing along the Jenning Hollows trail. Near the northern most tip of the trail, and a bit after a crossing of Jennings Creek at a very beautiful part, take an unblazed path to the right (marked, just at the beginning, by blue Xs on trees on both sides). Travel on this for just about five minutes and then make a right onto the the Lake-to-Lake trail (blazed with a horizontal red line against white background). Take this to the Highlands trail, making a right. Now travel south along the Highlands trail along the ridge of Big Beech Mountain. Take this trail all the way back to Route 511.

This hike actually begins in NJ, goes into NY (Sterling Forest), then back into NJ, then NY and then finally back into NJ! I'm not sure how long it is (at least 7 miles) but it took us a bit over 4 hours (not including lunch).

(Click on the thumbnail to bring up a bigger image in a pop-up window)