Posted in New Jersey Hiking, Nature, State Parks February 07, 2023 by

The Marvelous 8-Mile Trail In New Jersey Leads Adventurers To A Little-Known Overlook

New Jersey might be a densely populated, highly urban state, but that doesn’t mean it lacks stunning natural havens where you can get away from it all. One of those is Abram S. Hewitt State Forest in West Milford, a relaxing escape into the woods with an amazing underrated trail in New Jersey. Bearfort Ridge and Surprise Lake Loop is an eight-mile trail that’s considered moderately difficult, and it will take you past beautiful scenery to an incredible overlook of one of the state’s most beautiful bodies of water. The trail is accessible during all times of the year, and can be explored in under four hours. Whether you’re there for spotting wildlife, taking photographs, or just having a leisurely day hike, this hidden gem of a hike is a wilderness adventure you won’t soon forget.

The eight-mile hike on the Bearfort Ridge and Surprise Lake Loop is a charming adventure with some unique surprises.
L Gold/AllTrails
The hike will take you to one of the state's best overlooks, without the challenging and rocky trails that many of the state's best hikes require.
Zi Zhang/AllTrails
Considered a moderate hike, one of the highlights is the overlook of "Surprise Lake" - an aptly named body of water many people don't know about.
Dean DeStefano/AllTrails
This is considered a pet-friendly loop, although your four-legged friend must be leashed to take the trail.
Eugenia Tang/AllTrails
While most of the visitors come in the spring, summer, and fall, the forest has its own unique charm during the winter.
Kanus Li/AllTrails
The many small creeks and streams you'll encounter might be frozen over, giving you amazing sights you can only see at this time of year.
John Branche/AllTrails
Some of the trails might be impassable during heavy snowfall, but during most times of the winter you should be able to have a memorable hiking adventure.
Madeline F/AllTrails
No matter the time of year, it's worth hiking to the end of the trail for that stunning sunset view over Surprise Lake.
TAS Ski/AllTrails

Have you explored the Bearfort Ridge and Surprise Lake Loop in Abram S. Hewitt State Forest? Let us know about your trip on this underrated trail in New Jersey in the comments section. You can visit the state website for more on what to expect at this state forest. For another wilderness adventure in New Jersey, why not explore this underrated reservoir?

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Address: Abram S Hewitt State Forest, West Milford, NJ 07421, USA