Backslope Trail

Backslope Trail is a loop in Campgaw Mountain Reservation, a county-managed preserve in New Jersey, about a mile from the town of Mahwah. The trail is rated easy and covers about a mile, with a total elevation gain of 322 feet and a high point of 691 feet. The route is a loop that begins and ends at roughly the same place. It is back-loaded, meaning the climb comes later in the walk, and the steepest stretch is about three-quarters of the way through, with a grade of 16 percent. That part makes the trail feel a little more demanding than the distance might suggest. Late spring and early fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Wanaque Raymond Dam show May highs around 71°F and September highs around 76°F. That station sits about 450 feet below the trail, so temperatures on the higher ground run cooler. The Old Cedar Trail starts just 0.1 mile away, and the Rocky Ridge Trail and Hemlock Trail are both within half a mile. Climbers can head to Easter Island Boulder, about 1.7 miles off.