Hiking Torne Mountain! (Norvin Green State Forest)
Norvin Green State Forest
Welcome to Norvin Green State Forest’s Torne Mountain!
Torne Mountain
Torne Mountain, standing at 1,120 feet and located in Passaic County NJ, is situated in the southern section of the estimated 4,982 acre Norvin Green State Forest. The land comprising the forest was donated to the State of New Jersey by the nephew of Ringwood Manor’s Abram S. Hewitt in 1946.
Torne Mountain Norvin Green State Forest
Norvin Green State Forest has the largest concentrations of trails in the state of NJ. Most of the trails date back to the 1920’s when members of a local organization known as the Green Mountain Club constructed them.
Geology
NJ Highlands Geology
Many of the rocks that are encountered during this hike have a rounded appearance due to the Wisconsin Glacier which came through the area around 10,000 years ago. This event is relatively recent as the Highlands rocks were formed over four billion years ago.
The rocks are “basement rocks” as the younger rocks which originally had covered them eroded away over time. Most of the rocks are thought to be comprised of ancient granite-gneiss.
Trails
Below is a brief virtual tour of a section of the 0.4 of a mile Torne Trail and a portion of the 6.4 mile Blue Blazed Hewitt-Butler Trail. Stops include outstanding views and an interesting man-made Stone Living Room. Ready? Let’s do it!
The hike is an estimated 1.5 miles from Otter Hole Road.
Entrance to Torne Trail
Starting from near the Otter Hole Road Parking area, head south to the trailhead of the red blazed Torne Mountain Trail.
To the Blue Trail (Hewitt-Butler Trail)
Once on the Torne trail, signs advertising the blue-blazed Hewitt-Butler Trail will appear.
Hewitt Butler Trail Blaze
Head southwest then south on the blue blazed Hewitt-Butler Trail to Climb Torne Mountain.
View towards Buck Mountain
The first view will be of Buck Mountain to the north. Continuing southeast views of the Newark Pequannock Watershed land appear to the west.
Stone Living Room
Near the western viewpoint, a short unmarked trail appears to the left leading to a man-made Stone Living Room. “Chairs” & “Sofas” have been constructed from surrounding rocks. The Stone Living Room is an excellent place to stop for lunch and rest while taking in views.
View from Stone Living Room
From the Stone Living Room, head back to the Hewitt Butler Trail. Continuing south, descend Torne Mountain passing a stand-alone Stone chair.
Stone Chair
Here you will reach a ravine at the bottom of Torne mountain and the southern trailhead of the red blazed Torne Trail which will be your return back to Otterhole Road.
Rocky Ravine Torne Trailhead
For now, pass the southern trail-head of the Torne Trail and continue southeast on the blue blazed Hewitt-Butler trail climbing to Osio Rock.
Osio Rock
From here, views of the Wanaque Reservoir, the NYC Skyline (on a clear day) and High Mountain of the 2nd Watchung Mountain range may be viewed to the east.
Distant Wanaque Reservoir View from Osio Rock
After taking in the views, turn around and head north west to retrace your steps back to the ravine to the red blazed Torne trail trailhead.
Torne Trail
Here you will take the Torne trail north back to Otterhole Road where the trail began.
Flora
Flora found along the trail includes the below among others:
Sassafras
American Chestnut
Pitch Pine
Eastern Red Cedar
Fauna:
Eastern Phoebe Nest Torne Trail
Toad
Directions: (as taken from localhikes.com)
Hamburg Turnpike to Glenwild Ave. Parking area is next to Bloomingdale/West Milford border (look for Welcome to West Milford sign, or Welcome to Bloomingdale sign depending on which direction you are traveling.
Feel free to e-mail NJUrbanForest at NJUrbanForest@gmail.com with any comments, memories or suggestion! Thank you and have fun exploring!
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10 Responses to “Hiking Torne Mountain! (Norvin Green State Forest)”
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Great descriptions and photos.
________________________________
Thank you!
So nice to take a virtual hike no matter where you are (or what kind of shape you’re in!)
Thank you!
Thank you so much!
Hiked this many times it’s a great short hike with nice views.
I’m glad you enjoy the trails Nick!
I grew up on GlenWild Lake and took the bus from school every day to Kampfe Lake but didn’t know this trail existed; looking forward to taking the trail next time I’m back east (live in Colorado now). What other trails are in the forest?
Jim Bowlby
It’s a great trail-I highly recommend it when you are in the area! Check out NYNJ Trail Conference http://www.nynjtc.org/park/norvin-green-state-forest-7 for details on other hiking trails found here!
How do I enter the Norvin Forest … through or off what roadway. I am new to the area.
greggombash@earthlink.net
Hi Greg! Thanks for writing. Here are additional directions to Norvin Green State Forest as taken from the NYNJ Trail Conference Web Site:
South of West Brook Road
To reach the Weis Ecology Center take I-287, Exit 57, to Skyline Drive. At end of Skyline Drive turn left on Greenwood Lake Turnpike, right on West Brook Road to Snake Den Road [east]. [Google Maps: 150 Snake Den Road, Ringwood, NJ 07456]
Otter Hole parking area [at southern end of this section] is on Glenwild Avenue, where the Hewitt-Butler Trail crosses. To reach this parking area, take I-287 to Exit 53. At the bottom of the ramp, turn onto Hamburg Turnpike toward Bloomingdale. Upon entering Bloomingdale, the name of the road changes to Main Street. After 1.3 miles [from Route 287], bear right at a fork in the road [following the sign to West Milford], and in another 0.1 mile, turn right [uphill] onto Glenwild Avenue. Continue ahead for 3.2 miles to the parking area on the right side of the road. There is also parking for the Wyanokie Crest Trail [yellow] along here at the Fire Gate lower down the hill. [Google Maps: Glenwild Avenue & Otterhole Road, Bloomingdale, NJ Will show approximate location of parking area]
North of West Brook Road
Take I-287 Exit 57 to Skyline Drive. At end of Skyline Drive turn right on Greenwood Lake Turnpike [County 511] to East Shore Road. [Google Maps: Greenwood Lake Tpke. & East Shore RD., Hewitt, NJ]
A large parking area is at the Stonetown Recreation Complex on Mary Roth Drive. The trailhead for the Stonetown Circular Trail [red tringle on white] has been moved to directly across Stonetown Road from the Mary Roth Drive entrance and the trail has been relocated into the woods from the road. The Highlands Trail [teal] now parts from the Stonetown Circular Ttrail at a junction up along Windbeam Mountain, and follows its own trail south to Weis Ecology and beyond. On West Brook Road take first right to Stonetown Road. [Google Map: Pinewood Dr. & Stonetown Rd., Ringwood, NJ. Select "Satellite" to see the athletic field; Mary Roth Drive will not be named]
Public transportation: NJ Transit bus #197 for northern trailhead of Hewitt-Butler Trail/Highlands Trail [Greenwood Lake Turnpike & East Shore Drive].
I hope this helps!