Turtleback
Photo: Hello Turkey Toe, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- 0.3 mi
- one way
- 14 ft
- climb
- 527 ft
- high point
- Point to point
- route
- Apr–Jun, Aug–Oct
- best months
Turtleback is a short, easy hike in South Mountain Reservation on county land in New Jersey, about 0.3 miles long and rising just 14 feet from its low point of 498 feet to a high of 527 feet. The climb is back-loaded, with the steepest stretch at about 0.05 miles in, and the route ends with a small drop of 36 feet. Late spring and early fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show May highs around 72°F and September highs around 78°F, while July averages about 86°F. Bikes are not allowed on this route. The Longwood Trail and Turtle Back Trail both start within a third of a mile, and the Hemlock Falls Loop and River Trail are a little farther out.
Local outfitters
- Pier 13 Hoboken14 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
- Longwood TrailHiking0.2 mi
Turtle Back TrailHikingPhoto: Doug Orleans, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)0.3 mi- Hemlock Falls LoopHiking0.4 mi
- River TrailHiking0.5 mi
- South Mountain ReservationRock climbing0.6 mi
- Ball's Bluff TrailHiking0.6 mi
- Eagle Rock ReservationRock climbing4.2 mi
- * bouldering Northeast NJRock climbing8.8 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
- Turtle Back TrailHiking · Next doorPhoto: Doug Orleans, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
Oakdale TrailHiking · ~1 min drivePhoto: Hello Turkey Toe, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- Liberty - Water GapHiking · ~5 min drive
- Summit TrailHiking · ~2 min drivePhoto: Doug Orleans, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
- Orange TrailHiking · ~1 min drivePhoto: Hello Turkey Toe, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
- Lenape Trail - SmrHiking · ~4 min drive
- Elmdale TrailHiking · ~2 min drivePhoto: Hello Turkey Toe, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
- WestHiking · ~2 min drivePhoto: Hello Turkey Toe, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
- West Ridge TrailHiking · ~2 min drivePhoto: Doug Orleans, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
Red TrailHiking · ~9 min drivePhoto: Mr. George Lou, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
Best time to visit Turtleback
Best months: April–June and August–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
38° / 21°
Feb
41° / 22°
Mar
49° / 30°
Apr
63° / 40°
May
72° / 49°
Jun
80° / 59°
Jul
86° / 64°
Aug
84° / 62°
Sep
78° / 54°
Oct
65° / 43°
Nov
53° / 34°
Dec
43° / 27°
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Essex Fells Service Bldg, NJ, 5.3 mi away at 350 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
