Tranquility Ridge County Park
Directions
From I-287 South take Exit 57 turning right to Skyline Drive [County Route 692]. From I-287 North, take Exit 57, turn left on W. Oakland Avenue, which becomes Skyline Drive. When it terminates at Greenwood Lake Turnpike [County Route 511], turn right to find Beech Road in the vicinity of Monksville Reservoir.
Approximate GPS coordinates: 41.14433, -74.298822 [111 Beech Road, Hewitt NJ 07421]
In the Location Tab click to enlarge the map, then select the blue parking area balloon identified as “Parking - Beach Road north to Yellow trail” [it is at the top of the list on the left hand side of the page]. Otherwise use an online map service by entering “Beech Road, West Milford, NJ.”
Park Overview
Tranquility Ridge County Park [NJ] is deeply forested woodland that was originally part of a Sterling Forest [NY] Corporation's tract.
Trail Overview
In addition to the aforementioned blazed trails, the park includes unmarked woods roads, making loop hikes possible. Use the Web Map link for a trail map that includes most of this park. Click to view photos taken along a hike in the park (November 2011)
Direct access to the park can be had from a dirt parking area at the north/gate end of paved Beech Road on the Ringwood/ West Milford border. Otherwise, park at the boat launch area along Beech Road and walk north through the gate.
Park Description
Tranquility Ridge County Park
The Hasenclever Iron Trail [yellow blaze] traverses Tranquility Ridge, roughly following an old, deteriorating woods road that connected two ironworking operations, Long Pond and Ringwood. In addition, the Monks Connector links the Monks Trail with the Hasenclever Iron Trail.
The Hasenclever Iron Trail is claimed to be the first historical interpretive trail in Northern New Jersey. National park-type photo-signs have been installed at many of the thirteen numbered marking points along the trail.
Alert [Updated May, 2017]:
- Hiking towards Ringwood Manor: The Hasenclever Iron Trail is closed for a quarter-mile section about four miles in at Peter's Mine - it is a Superfund clean-up site -- before reaching Ringwood Manor. There is no marked detour.