West
Photo: Hello Turkey Toe, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- 0.6 mi
- one way
- 190 ft
- climb
- 545 ft
- high point
- Point to point
- route
- Apr–Jun, Aug–Oct
- best months
West is a short, easy hike in South Mountain Reservation in New Jersey, on county land about 0.6 miles long. It rises from a low point of 297 feet to a high of 545 feet, with a total gain of 190 feet. The climb is back-loaded, and the steepest stretch comes early, at about 0.16 miles in, with a grade of 39 percent. Late spring and early fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Canoe Brook show May highs around 72°F and September highs around 78°F, while July averages about 86°F. That station sits roughly 365 feet lower than the hike's high point, so temperatures on the summit run cooler. The hike takes about half an hour. Elmdale Trail starts just 0.1 mile away, and Orange Trail is about 0.3 mile off. West Ridge Trail and the South Mountain Reservation climbing area are each about half a mile away.
Local outfitters
- Pier 13 Hoboken15 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
- Elmdale TrailHikingPhoto: Hello Turkey Toe, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)0.1 mi
Orange TrailHikingPhoto: Hello Turkey Toe, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)0.3 mi- Rahway Low ExtHiking0.5 mi
West Ridge TrailHikingPhoto: Doug Orleans, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)0.5 mi- South Mountain ReservationRock climbing0.7 mi
- Eagle Rock ReservationRock climbing5.1 mi
- Great BrookCanoeing9.6 mi
- * bouldering Northeast NJRock climbing9.9 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
- Orange TrailHiking · Next doorPhoto: Hello Turkey Toe, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
- Turtle Back TrailHiking · ~1 min drivePhoto: Doug Orleans, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
- Liberty - Water GapHiking · ~6 min drive
- West Ridge TrailHiking · Next doorPhoto: Doug Orleans, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
- Summit TrailHiking · ~2 min drivePhoto: Doug Orleans, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
- Oakdale TrailHiking · Next doorPhoto: Hello Turkey Toe, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
Yellow TrailHiking · ~10 min drivePhoto: P_Linehan, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- TurtlebackHiking · ~2 min drivePhoto: Hello Turkey Toe, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
- Lenape Trail - SmrHiking · ~3 min drive
Red TrailHiking · ~10 min drivePhoto: P_Linehan, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
Best time to visit West
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
39° / 22°
9 wet
Feb
42° / 23°
8 wet
Mar
50° / 31°
10 wet
Apr
62° / 40°
11 wet
May
72° / 50°
12 wet
Jun
82° / 60°
11 wet
Jul
86° / 66°
11 wet
Aug
85° / 64°
11 wet
Sep
78° / 56°
10 wet
Oct
66° / 44°
10 wet
Nov
54° / 35°
9 wet
Dec
44° / 28°
10 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Canoe Brook, NJ, 2.6 mi away at 180 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
