High Mountain Preserve

Take Hamburg Turnpike [County 502] to William Paterson University's Entrance #5, College Road, in Wayne, NJ.  The trailhead for the Woodland Trail (Red blaze) is west of Parking Lot #6 at a 13-space hikers' parking area.  GPS Coordinates: 40.952076, -74.200385

Other trailhead access points include:

Reservoir Drive Circle:  Summit Trail [Yellow] --  Trailhead Access
GPS Coordinates: 40.980025, -74.211951

Indian Trail Drive/Dakota Trail [Drive]:  Beech Mountain—Clove Trail [Orange] -- Trailhead Access
GPS Coordinates: 40.983163, -74.228935

Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve: Shoreline Loop Trail west to Woodland Trail [Red] -- Parking and Trailhead Access
GPS Coordinates: 40.978565, -74.195532

The Pancake Hollow Trail [Blue] can be accessed from Hamburg Turnpike: Turn north onto Valley Road and then right turn onto Point View Parkway and a quick right turn onto Chicopee Drive.    Approximate GPS:  40.974460, -74.229404

NJ Transit bus routes 744 and 748 service the William Paterson University campus. 

High Mountain Park Preserve features a stunning view of New York City on a clear day. The basalt knob on the western descending section of the Summit Trail yields a long view over a valley, a reservoir, and occasionally magnificent sunsets

The park preserve has five trails ranging from 1.80 to 2.59 miles, plus a short Waterfall Spur. The trail network, which can be viewed by using the Web Map link on this site, facilitates planning loop or lollipop hikes.  

• The Woodland Trail [red blaze; 2.23 miles] begins at a trailhead on the campus of William Paterson University [see Directions to Trailhead].  It is also accessible at its northern end from Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve, identified as “Haledon Reservoir” on the trail map, where a 0.3-mile segment along Reservoir Road connects the two parks. 
• The Summit Trail [yellow blaze; 2.54 miles], which branches off the Woodland Trail, features views from High Mountain 

Click for a detailed description of a 4-mile lollipop hike in the preserve.  It combines portions of the Woodland and Summit Trails.

High Mountain Park Preserve contains nearly 1,300 acres located in the Preakness Range, a northern continuation of the Second Watchung Ridge.  The Preserve includes High Mountain itself, which features excellent views of New York City. Much of the rest of the Range is occupied by William Paterson University, a golf course and private homes.

The Nature Conservancy, Wayne Township, and the NJ Department of Environmental Protection [Green Acres Program] cooperated in protecting this open space.   NY NJ Trail Conference volunteers maintain its trails.