Carris Hill and Wyanokie High Point Loop from the New Weis Center
Directions to trailhead
Take Skyline Drive to its northwestern end at Greenwood Lake Turnpike (County Route 511). Turn left and proceed south for 1.6 miles to West Brook Road. Turn right onto West Brook Road and cross the Wanaque Reservoir on a causeway. At the next intersection, turn left, then take the second left onto Snake Den Road, following signs to the New Weis Center. In 0.3 mile, bear left at a fork, and continue for another 0.3 mile to a large dirt parking area on the right, just before the entrance to the New Weis Center.
Hike Description
From the southwestern end of the parking area, head uphill on the paved Snake Den Road, following the light green blazes of the Otter Hole Trail. In 0.3 mile, the pavement ends and you continue on a dirt and gravel road. In 200 feet, you'll reach the Richard N. Warner kiosk on the left. Here, you should turn left, leaving the road, and begin to follow the joint Mine (yellow-on-white) and Hewitt-Butler (blue) Trails. The joint trails ascend on a footpath through mountain laurel and then climb more steeply through a rocky area, with rock steps provided for part of the way.
After leveling off, the trails reach a junction, where they split. Here, you should bear left, following the yellow-on-white blazes of the Mine Trail. Continue along the Mine Trail for about three-quarters of a mile, passing a junction with the orange-blazed Roomy Mine Trail on the left. When you reach a junction with the red-on-white-blazed Wyanokie Circular Trail, turn right and follow the red-on-white blazes (as well as the teal diamond blazes of the Highlands Trail). Immediately after crossing another stream, the white-blazed Lower Trail begins on the left.
Turn left onto the Lower Trail, which climbs on an old woods road to an east-facing shoulder of the Wyanokie High Point-Carris Hill Ridge. After bearing left and crossing two streams on rocks, the trail levels off. Soon, it proceeds through a shallow valley, with a series of rock outcrops on the right. After a while, the trail begins to descend gradually and traverses a series of open rock outcrops.
After descending some more through mountain laurel thickets, the Lower Trail reaches a junction with the yellow-blazed Carris Hill Trail. This is the most southerly point of the hike, and you’ve hiked about 2.5 miles to reach this point. Turn right and begin to follow the yellow blazes.
After traversing a level, rocky area, the Carris Hill Trail crosses a stream and begins a rather steep climb. The grade soon moderates, but after a third of a mile, the trail again climbs steeply over rocks, coming out at a viewpoint to the southeast from a rock outcrop just to the right of the trail. It continues to climb to another rock outcrop, with a somewhat broader view. Here, the trail bears right and ascends to the left of a 40-foot-high massive rock face. At the top of the ascent, a short detour to the right leads to a magnificent viewpoint to the east. The Wanaque Reservoir, contained by the Raymond and Green Swamp dams, is in the foreground, with a long viaduct of I-287 visible in the distance. On a clear day, the New York City skyline may be seen on the horizon. This is a good place to pause and enjoy the spectacular view.
The yellow trail now climbs more gradually, soon reaching another viewpoint, where a ten-foot-high balanced glacial erratic is silhouetted against the sky. The trail curves to the right and reaches a fifth viewpoint, this one to the south, with pitch pines and a large glacial erratic. It proceeds through laurel to end, on a rock outcrop with views to the north and west, at a junction with the blue-blazed Hewitt-Butler Trail and the teal-diamond-blazed Highlands Trail.
Follow the blue and teal blazes, heading north (towards “Weis”). The trail descends steeply through mountain laurel thickets, climbs a little, and then levels off along the ridge. In about half a mile, you’ll reach a rock outcrop with a view ahead of Wyanokie High Point – a rocky dome with pitch pines. This location is known as “Yoo-Hoo Point” – the name apparently derived from the fact that, from here, one can see hikers standing atop High Point and call out to them!
The joint Hewitt-Butler/Highlands Trail now descends to a junction, where the red-on-white-blazed Wyanokie Circular Trail joins. Continue ahead (in the directions of the “Hi-Point” sign), now following the route of three trails. After crossing a stream, the trails begin a rather steep climb.
At the next junction, turn right, again following the sign to “Hi-Point.” You’re now following the red-on-white blazes of the Wyanokie Circular Trail and the teal diamond blazes of the Highlands Trail, which climb steeply through mountain laurel thickets and across open rock ledges. In a short distance, you’ll reach the summit of Wyanokie High Point, marked by a bolt drilled into the rock. The summit features a panoramic 360̊ view, with the Wanaque Reservoir below, and the New York City skyline visible to the east on a clear day. To the north and west, one can see Saddle, Assiniwikam and Buck Mountains..
After spending some time savoring the views from this magnificent location, surrounded by pitch pines, retrace your steps, following the red-and-white blazes as they descend very steeply over bare rock. Extreme care is required here during wet weather, or when the trail is covered with snow and ice. When you reach the junction with the Hewitt-Butler Trail, turn right and follow the blue blazes.
After a short, gradual climb, the trail reaches a balanced boulder on a rock ledge. It then descends slightly to a mountain laurel thicket, where the white-blazed Macopin Trail leaves to the left. Continue ahead on the blue trail, which soon arrives at a rock ledge surrounded by pitch pines, with a view over Saddle Mountain to the north and Assiniwikam Mountain to the west. A short distance ahead, there is another viewpoint from a rock ledge just to the left of the trail.
The trail now begins a steep descent on a wide path. The descent eventually moderates, and the trail reaches a junction with the Mine Trail in a mountain laurel thicket. Bear left here, now following both blue and yellow-on-white blazes, and descend steeply to Snake Den Road, here a dirt road. The Hewitt-Butler and Mine Trails end here. You should turn right and follow the green-blazed Otter Hole Trail along Snake Den Road back to the parking area where the hike began.