Cooper Union Trail

Cooper Union Trail is a 4.7-mile point-to-point hike in Ringwood State Park in New Jersey, managed by the State Department of Natural Resources. The route rises from about 476 feet to 678 feet, with a total elevation gain of 634 feet, and is rated easy. The trail is a straightforward outing, and it works well as a day on foot in the park. The climb is gentle overall, with the steepest stretch at about 4.1 miles, where the grade reaches 13 percent. The route also has a total descent of 752 feet, so it's a little longer on the way down than up. For comfortable weather, aim for late spring or early fall. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Wanaque Raymond Dam show May highs around 71°F and September highs around 76°F, with July the warmest month at about 84°F. That station sits roughly 430 feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures on the trail run a bit cooler. Several other trails lie within a couple of miles, including Crossover Trail at 1.4 miles and Five Ponds Loop at 1.6 miles. Monksville Reservoir, about 3 miles away, offers fishing, and the Quarantine climbing area is about 3.3 miles off.