Yellow Trail Loop – Garret Mountain Reservation

March 30, 2025 – Woodland Park, New Jersey

Issue: Simple

Size: Roughly 3.4 miles

Max elevation: 520 ft.– complete elevation acquire roughly 350 ft.

Route sort: Circuit

Map: Garret Mountain Reservation Map

Trailhead parking: Barbour’s Pond Picnic Space, Woodland Park, NJ 07424

No charges for parking or mountain climbing, simply admission to Lambert Fortress.

Overview:

Garret Mountain Reservation is a 568-acre park positioned on First Watchung Mountain in Paterson and Woodland Park and lengthening into Clifton. Located greater than 500 ft above sea stage, it supplies sweeping views of northern New Jersey and the New York Metropolis skyline. Garret Mountain Reservation is well one among Passaic County’s most frequented parks. The unique panorama was designed by the famed Olmsted Brothers Agency.

This stunning park, operated by the Passaic County Parks Division, the park contains an equestrian heart, athletic fields, fishing, picnic grounds, jogging paths, and trails for cross nation snowboarding, mountain climbing and working.

Lambert Fortress and Lambert Tower, two of Passaic County’s historic websites, are additionally positioned inside Garret Mountain Reservation.

Historical past:

The rocks themselves are over 190 million years previous, a part of lava flows that created the Watchung Mountains that run roughly north-south in northeastern New Jersey. You possibly can see uncovered basalt in lots of locations with the marks of a glacier’s passing over the basalt, each smoothing it but additionally reducing grooves (striations) into the stone.

Earlier than contact with Europeans, the native populations used the mountain (also called Garret Rock) and traces of their lives will be present in artifacts and even drawings made on some rocky surfaces.

The Watchung Mountains have been an essential commentary publish for the Continental Military in the course of the Revolutionary Struggle. After the Civil Struggle, two of Paterson’s mill homeowners bought land atop the Mountain. Catholina Lambert bought land on the northeast nook of the mountain and constructed Belle Vista as his showplace dwelling, now often called Lambert Fortress. Lambert Tower was additionally constructed atop the mountain. Southwest of the land owned by Lambert, the Barbour Flax Mill bought a stream fed pond, and this pond was used for suppressing fires at its mills on Grand and Spruce Streets. This pond turned a spot to chop ice in addition to a swimming pond for locals.

By the mid 1920’s Lambert’s property handed to Passaic County and plans have been made for a park. By the 1930’s, Barbour’s Pond was additionally taken over by Passaic County. The mixed properties turned Garret Mountain Reservation and the land turned the placement for aid initiatives for Works Progress Administration (WPA).

Garret Mountain Reservation was designed by the Olmsted Brothers, the panorama structure agency carried on the work of Frederick Regulation Olmsted who designed Central Park in New York.

Garret Mountain Reservation opened to the general public in 1931.

In 1967, Garret Mountain was designated a Nationwide Pure Landmark.

Parking and restrooms:

There are no less than a half dozen parking areas from you to select from. All of the parking areas present entry to the Yellow Path. For this specific hike, we parked on the Pat Di Ianni Boathouse aka Barbour’s Pond Picnic Space. 

The parking zone is sizable and may match numerous automobiles.

There are consolation stations all through the park which can be open in season. Moveable bogs are offered within the parking areas to be used in the course of the off season.

Trails Overview:

The Yellow Path circles across the outer perimeter of Garret Mountain Reservation, and affords a number of panoramic overlooks. The New York Metropolis skyline will be seen from a number of overlooks alongside the Yellow Path on a transparent day. This path could be very nicely marked with yellow blazes.

The White Path traverses the middle of the park and connects at each ends with the Yellow Path, making extra loop hikes attainable. Except for the quick sections the place it overlaps the Yellow Path, I didn’t hike this path.

The Teal part of the paved Park Street is designated for joggers and walkers and loops across the park.

Hike Overview:

I did this hike in 2018 and determined it was time for a return go to. Sadly, it was fairly foggy and overcast on the day of this hike, so the views have been very restricted. Issues have modified inside the park, with important enhancements added since I used to be final right here.

This hike was carried out counterclockwise from the Barbour’s Pond Picnic Space. Except for a slight detour on the “Auto Overlook,” the whole thing of this hike takes place on the Yellow Path. This path is nicely marked and simple to observe.

There are quite a few ups and downs on this hike, however all comparatively quick.

The Hike:

From the parking space, observe the paved path downhill in direction of the southern finish of Barbour’s Pond and switch left onto one other large paved path. Proceed south alongside the paved path, passing to the left of the Pat Di Ianni Boathouse. As soon as behind the boathouse, flip left on the gravel path which is the route of the Yellow Path, which is available in from the suitable.

After paralleling a stream on the suitable, the path turns left, away from the stream and begins to climb, spending some cliffs on the suitable. Because the path nears personal properties, it climbs barely, turns left and crosses a small discipline. The path then turns sharply to the suitable, descends the hill, turns left and crosses Park Street.

The path now runs alongside a large gravel highway, and in a brief distance, the Yellow Path reaches a junction with the beginning of the White Path, which begins straight forward. TURN RIGHT on the large gravel highway and proceed following the yellow blazes.

In about 250 ft, the gravel highway bears left because the Yellow Path continues straight forward, climbing an embankment and crossing the paved Park Street once more. The Yellow Path turns proper on the entrance to the Garret Mountain Equestrian Middle and runs alongside the highway close to the sting of the woods.

Simply earlier than reaching the park boundary, the yellow blazes flip left, away from the highway and ascend into the woods on a footpath. With the entry highway to the stables seen forward, the path bears proper and passes between deserted concrete tank helps.

The Yellow Path climbs barely, then descends and turns left and enters the parking space for the Passaic County Mounted Patrol Squad. Right here, the path turns proper and begins to run alongside the ridge of Garret Mountain, with the stables to the left. On the finish of the stables, the path bears left then turns proper, persevering with alongside the ridge.

A Deer carcass close to the sting of the cliffs alongside the Yellow Path.

A brief distance past the stables, the Yellow Path reaches a viewpoint to the east from the sting of the ridge. Clifton, in addition to the southern a part of Paterson, could also be seen immediately beneath, with a lot of southern Bergen County past and the Manhattan skyline seen (on a transparent day) within the distance.

The path continues north alongside the ridge, passing a number of extra viewpoints.

A brief distance later, Lambert Tower comes into view.

Lambert Tower, a 70 foot stone commentary tower, was constructed in 1896 by Catholina Lambert. The tower was constructed on the crest of the cliffs above Lambert Fortress, which is seen by way of the bushes beneath.

The grounds across the tower and alongside the 150-foot sheer cliffs are open to guests of the Garret Mountain Reservation. Lambert Tower was present process renovations and never accessible on the time of this hike.

The tower was not open on the day we visited, however the Passaic County Parks web site states: It affords gorgeous views of the realm from Bear Mountain NY, to Northern New Jersey, the George Washington Bridge and the New York Metropolis skyline all the way in which to the Verrazano Narrows Bridge and past to Sandy Hook, NJ.

The Yellow Path passes to the suitable of the tower alongside a stone wall, however on today we needed to stroll across the fenced off building website and stroll between the fence and the wall. Simply previous the tower, the Morris Canal Greenway Path (marked with canal-boat-logo-on-yellow blazes) joins. Proceed to observe each the yellow and the Greenway brand blazes. The crushed stone path at a break within the stone wall leads downhill to Lambert Fortress.

After curving to the suitable, the path descends on a rocky path and stone steps, and it briefly parallels the paved park highway. About 0.2 mile from the tower, a aspect path to the suitable results in one other expansive viewpoint to the east from the sting of a cliff (we bypassed this since there have been no views on today).

The path quickly passes a small gravel parking space on the left, follows a footpath into the woods, then emerges onto a grassy discipline and follows alongside its proper aspect. A brand new playground and gazebo are simply to the left.

On the finish of the sphere, the Yellow Path, along with the Greenway Path, descend on a footpath to the doorway of the Auto Overlook. 

Right here, the White Path and the Greenway Path depart to the suitable, because the Yellow Path continues forward. Flip proper, leaving the Yellow Path briefly in direction of the overlook. The overlook affords a panoramic view over downtown Paterson (immediately beneath) and Excessive Mountain to the north.

Observe the paved path because it curvers to the left in direction of Park Street and switch proper, rejoining the Yellow Path, which climbs alongside the highway that results in Veterans Memorial Level, the location of a communications tower.

Simply to the left of the path is a spherical stone platform known as the “Crow’s Nest.”

The Yellow Path continues previous the guard rail and turns left, however chances are you’ll need to take a second to take a look at the view from Crow’s Nest.

Lambert Tower within the distance.

If you end up able to proceed, retrace your steps to the guardrail barrier and switch left, rejoining the Yellow Path because it descends into the woods. In a couple of quarter of a mile, after the White Path is available in from the suitable and shortly leaves to the left, the Yellow Path climbs over a small rise.

The path then descends, first progressively, then extra steeply on switchbacks. On the base of the descent, the path turns proper onto a path, then bears left and crosses the park entrance highway. The Yellow Path then bears proper and runs between Mountain Park Street and the treeline.

The Yellow Path quickly crosses a footbridge and views of Barbour’s Pond start to look on the left. The path continues alongside the west aspect of the pond, quickly passing over the small cliffs overlooking the pond.

The Yellow Path then joins a gravel highway alongside a brief stone wall, and a brief distance later, reaches the south finish of the pond.

After crossing one other footbridge, the Yellow Path bears proper on a paved path in direction of the Pat Di Ianni Boathouse. Right here, TURN LEFT and observe one other paved path throughout the dam of the pond alongside a black fence, previous one other gazebo, then climb the stone steps, again to the parking zone, the place the hike started.

If you are within the space, Lambert Fortress is price a go to. You possibly can take the trail down from Lambert Tower to the fortress in the course of the hike or you’ll be able to cease by afterwards. The pictures beneath are from 2018.

“The Fortress,” a well known landmark in Northern New Jersey, is positioned on Garret Mountain overlooking the Metropolis of Paterson. As soon as a personal residence, the constructing is common after an English fortress. Catholina Lambert, an English immigrant who made his fortune within the silk trade, constructed the Fortress in 1892-93. He named it “Belle Vista.” Many distinguished people of that period, together with President McKinley, visited the Lambert household of their luxurious residence.

Lambert’s son, Walter, bought the Fortress to the Metropolis of Paterson in 1925. The town used the constructing as a Tuberculosis Hospital for a number of years. In 1928, the title was transferred to the Passaic County Park Fee as a part of Garret Mountain Reservation.

The New Jersey and Nationwide Registers of Historic Locations awarded the Fortress Landmark Designation in 1976.

Evaluation:

A very nice hike despite the fact that there have been no views as a result of fog. The park’s scenic panorama supplies a respite from city life inside a historic and well-maintained park. If you’re on the lookout for a backwoods expertise, this isn’t the place. The paths aren’t far faraway from civilization and the park can get crowded on heat days. There are many different actions to take pleasure in within the park if mountain climbing isn’t your factor. Garret Mountain Reservation is price a go to to see and luxuriate in all it has to supply. 

Execs:

Lambert Fortress, stone commentary tower, scenic views, a lot of birds, pond. The paths have been nicely maintained and simple to observe on the day of my go to.

Cons: 

Lambert Tower was not open, can get crowded.

Take a hike!

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