August 24, 2025 – Bloomingdale, New Jersey
Issue: Average
Size: Roughly 3 miles
Max elevation: 1,116 ft.– complete elevation acquire roughly 620 ft.
Route kind: Determine-Eight Loop
Purchase Maps (Paper & Avenza): Northern New Jersey Highlands (Mixed Map)
Free Internet Map: Norvin Inexperienced State Forest Path Map 2023
Trailhead parking: 582 Glenwild Ave, Bloomingdale, NJ 07403
Small dust parking zone for about 10-12 vehicles – No bogs on website
Park Overview:
Norvin Inexperienced State Forest spans roughly 5,416 acres in Passaic County, New Jersey, close to Bloomingdale and Ringwood, adjoining to the Wanaque Reservoir. The undisturbed forest and rugged terrain is a part of the Wyanokie Wilderness Space. The Park is house to an intensive path system constructed from previous logging roads. The present trails, both previous forest roads or new trails constructed by volunteers, are excellent for these on the lookout for average to strenuous hikes.
Hewitt-Butler Path – Norvin Inexperienced State Forest
With hills starting from 400 to 1,300 ft in elevation, Norvin Inexperienced supplies the avid hiker with scenic vistas, together with the New York skyline, Burnt Meadow Brook and Lake Sonoma.
Hewitt-Butler Path – Torne Mountain
The park is operated and maintained by the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry.
Norvin Inexperienced State Forest – Otter Gap Trailhead
Historical past:
Norvin Inexperienced State Forest was named for Norvin Hewitt Inexperienced, the grandson of Ringwood Manor proprietor Abram S. Hewitt, who donated the land in 1946 to the State of New Jersey to increase Ringwood State Park. It was later designated as Norvin Inexperienced State Forest.
Trails Overview:
This Determine-Eight Loop follows two trails, the blue-blazed Hewitt-Butler Path and the red-blazed Torne Path. Each trails are comparatively effectively blazed, however there have been a number of cases the place I briefly misplaced the Blue Path and needed to double again. Each trails are extraordinarily rocky with some uncovered roots. And in a number of locations you’ll have to make use of each your palms and ft.
On this hike, the Hewitt-Butler Path (2.1 miles) crosses Glenwild Avenue and traverses the southern portion of Norvin Inexperienced through Torne Mountain and Osio Rock, earlier than terminating by a small stream on the southern base of Osio Rock.
Hewitt-Butler Path – Osio Rock
The red-blazed Torne Path (.75 mile) begins on the terminus of the Hewitt-Butler Path and heads north, splitting Torne Mountain and Osio Rock. There’s a brief part the place the path climbs over jumbled boulders.
Torne Path – Norvin Inexperienced State Forest
Trails on this park are maintained by volunteers by way of the New York-New Jersey Path Convention.
Hike Overview:
The parking zone is small, holding about 10-12 vehicles. This lot fills up early most weekends and an early begin is crucial. We arrived on the trailhead at about 8am on a Sunday morning and there have been about 2 areas left. Once we returned after the hike, the lot was full.
Otter Gap parking zone – Norvin Inexperienced State Forest
This hike is surprisingly rugged with some steep sections, rocky trails, open rock slabs and a few minor scrambling. The paths are largely shaded aside from the areas across the viewpoints that are uncovered. This appears to be a lesser used space of Norvin Inexperienced as we didn’t encounter any hikers throughout our time there.
There’s a bailout possibility after descending Torne Mountain. As an alternative of climbing to Osio Rock, flip left on the junction with the red-blazed Torne Path which is able to lead you again to Glenwild Ave.
The path traverses over open rock and there are ankle-breaker kind rocks and uncovered roots all through. Most likely not an excellent hike to do if the bottom is moist. A superb pair of sturdy climbing boots and trekking poles are really helpful.
This Determine-Eight Loop climbs Torne Mountain in a counterclockwise course, descends, then climbs Osio Rock earlier than descending to satisfy the red-blazed Torne Path at its southern finish and returning north, again to the beginning.
Torne Mountain and Osio Rock Loop – Norvin Inexperienced State Forest
The graph beneath exhibits the ups and downs of this hike. There’s a complete elevation acquire of roughly 620 ft, but it surely felt like extra.
Elevation Profile – Torne Mountain and Osio Rock Loop
The Hike:
From the Otter Gap parking zone, cross the highway diagonally to the left to the trailhead subsequent to a highway signal, “Start 700 Passaic County.” Begin following the blue-blazed Hewitt-Butler Path because it ascends on a rocky footpath and curves to the proper, paralleling the highway for a bit.
Hewitt-Butler Path – Torne Mountain
Hewitt-Butler Path – Torne Mountain
Hewitt-Butler Path – Torne Mountain
Hewitt-Butler Path – Torne Mountain
Hewitt-Butler Path – Torne Mountain
The path quickly dips down and after about 350 yards, the blue-blazed Hewitt-Butler Path involves a junction with the red-blazed Torne Path, which begins on the left. The Crimson Path is your return route, and the paved highway that you simply crossed initially of the hike may be seen by way of the bushes on the proper. Proceed following the blue blazes because it ascends Torne Mountain over a rocky path floor.
Hewitt-Butler Path – Torne Mountain
Hewitt-Butler Path – Torne Mountain
Hewitt-Butler Path – Torne Mountain
Hewitt-Butler Path – Torne Mountain
Hewitt-Butler Path – Torne Mountain
Hewitt-Butler Path – Torne Mountain
On the high of the rise, the Hewitt-Butler Path reaches an open space marked by a cairn, then geese again into the woods briefly earlier than popping out at one other open space. Look to your left for a faint footpath on the left that results in the Stone Residing Room. It’s simpler to identify the Stone Residing Room throughout leaf-off season.
Hewitt-Butler Path – Torne Mountain
Hewitt-Butler Path – Torne Mountain
Stone Residing Room – Torne Mountain
After trying out the Stone Residing Room, retrace your steps again to the primary path, flip left and proceed following the blue blazes in a southerly course. As you proceed, the path quickly reaches the peak of land and views start to look.
Hewitt-Butler Path – Torne Mountain
Hewitt-Butler Path – Torne Mountain
Hewitt-Butler Path – Torne Mountain
Hewitt-Butler Path – Torne Mountain
Hewitt-Butler Path – Torne Mountain
Hewitt-Butler Path – Torne Mountain
Hewitt-Butler Path – Torne Mountain
Hewitt-Butler Path – Torne Mountain
While you arrive at this junction, it’s as much as you to determine which option to go. We selected the “Alternate & Simpler Route.” Each trails meet up farther down. It’s nonetheless steep in spots however not a straight shot over rock slabs just like the black-dot-on-blue blazed path.
Bear left to stay on the Hewitt-Butler Path
Because the Hewitt-Butler Path descends, it’s barely overgrown on this space and turns into tougher to comply with. I needed to seek the advice of my Avenza Maps app just a few instances to get again heading in the right direction. The path basically zig-zags down the hill and at instances is usually a bit laborious to find out in some spots.
Hewitt-Butler Path – Torne Mountain
In a brief distance, the Hewitt-Butler Path involves the most effective viewpoint (for my part) on this hike.
Hewitt-Butler Path – Torne Mountain
Hewitt-Butler Path – Torne Mountain
Hewitt-Butler Path – Torne Mountain
Because the path leaves the point of view, it makes a tough proper and descends just under the point of view. This flip is straightforward to overlook.
Hewitt-Butler Path – Torne Mountain
Hewitt-Butler Path – Torne Mountain
Quickly the path descends extra steeply, passing the opposite finish of the black-dot-on-blue blazed path then reaches a junction with the red-blazed Torne Path.
Hewitt-Butler Path – Torne Mountain
While you attain the rock pictured beneath, you may have hiked simply over a mile. If you wish to reduce this hike brief, flip left and comply with the purple blazes again in the direction of the parking zone. To proceed on, stay on the Blue Path because it ascends considerably steeply to the summit of Osio Rock.
Junction of Hewitt-Butler and Torne Trails
Hewitt-Butler Path – Osio Rock
Hewitt-Butler Path – Osio Rock
Hewitt-Butler Path – Osio Rock
Hewitt-Butler Path – Osio Rock
While you attain the open summit of Osio Rock, there are views over the encompassing mountains with the Wanaque Reservoir seen within the distance.
Hewitt-Butler Path – Osio Rock
Hewitt-Butler Path – Osio Rock
Proceed following the blue blazes by scrambling down the opposite facet of Osio Rock. There are extra views because the path heads downhill.
Hewitt-Butler Path – Osio Rock
Hewitt-Butler Path – Osio Rock
Hewitt-Butler Path – Osio Rock
Hewitt-Butler Path – Osio Rock
Hewitt-Butler Path – Osio Rock
Hewitt-Butler Path – Osio Rock
Hewitt-Butler Path – Osio Rock
Hewitt-Butler Path – Osio Rock
Hewitt-Butler Path – Osio Rock
After about 3/4 of a mile from the junction with the Crimson Path, the blue-blazed Hewitt-Butler Path ends on the southern finish of the red-blazed Torne Path alongside a small stream.
Terminus of Hewitt-Butler Path – Osio Rock
Begin of Torne Path – Norvin Inexperienced State Forest
Flip proper and comply with the purple blazes alongside a comparatively stage route. Quickly the grade steepens and the path turns into extra rocky and root stuffed. This path travels the saddle between Torne Mountain and Osio Rock.
Torne Path – Norvin Inexperienced State Forest
Torne Path – Norvin Inexperienced State Forest
Torne Path – Norvin Inexperienced State Forest
After passing the junction with the Hewitt-Butler Path, there’s a brief part the place you’ll should scramble up by way of some giant rocks and boulders.
Torne Path – Norvin Inexperienced State Forest
The Torne Path quickly reaches its excessive level then descends steadily.
Torne Path – Norvin Inexperienced State Forest
Torne Path – Norvin Inexperienced State Forest
Torne Path – Norvin Inexperienced State Forest
After about 3/4 of a mile (earlier than reaching the paved highway), flip proper on the blue-blazed Hewitt-Butler Path, now retracing your steps. Observe the blue blazes for a couple of 1/4 mile, again to the parking zone, the place the hike started.
Hewitt-Butler Path – Norvin Inexperienced State Forest
Hewitt-Butler Path – Norvin Inexperienced State Forest
Hewitt-Butler Path – Norvin Inexperienced State Forest
Otter Gap parking zone – Norvin Inexperienced State Forest
Evaluate:
This can be a very nice hike by way of a lesser used space of Norvin Inexperienced State Forest. The paths are rocky all through and there are giant rock formations that the path climbs over or round. The views are good, however the solitude made it a worthwhile hike. The paths are largely shaded except the open rock summits. There are loads of slanted rock slabs that the paths journey over and a few jumbled boulders on the Torne Path to climb over. I wouldn’t advocate this hike if the bottom is moist.
Execs:
Good views, Stone Residing Room, effectively marked trails, attention-grabbing rock formations little foot site visitors.
Cons:
None.
Take a hike!
Torne Mountain and Osio Rock Loop – Norvin Inexperienced State Forest
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