Hiking Lake Sonoma and Overlook Trails in March

Hiking the Lake Sonoma and Overlook trails for the first time.

We hiked in the northern section of Norvin Green State Forest, located to the southwest of Monksville Reservoir in West Milford.

There are two newer (2008-ish I believe) trails there we wanted to check out, Lake Sonoma and Overlook.

This isn’t a really long hike but with a decent amount of rugged up/down, several stream crossings, we’d rate it on the low end of “challenging”.

8.1 challenging miles and 70 degrees, sunny and perfect… such a nice change after this crazy winter.

Complete hike details on our main Horse Pond Mountain to Lake Sonoma Loop page.

The new trails were very pleasant, with some really nice vistas. You may want to save this one until the trees are green, or even better, for fall foliage.

Map: You’ll want the Northern New Jersey Highlands Trails Map, don’t think there is a map online. If you have the map earlier than the 2009, Sonoma/Overlook and the parking are not on there.

Route: The trails are very well marked, with frequent blazes – just pay attention as there are many unmarked paths to amble down if you get distracted.

Since we parked a bit down from the parking, we started with the RED Stonetown Circular trail near where we parked, up Harrison Mountain…

…took a left onto WHITE Horse Pond Mountain for some ridge views, then left and steeply down YELLOW Burnt Meadow.

Burnt Meadow trail starts at a steep drop down:

Burnt Meadow trail starts, drop down steeply here.

Gotta have the requisite abandoned car along the trail. One of 4 along this route.

Hit Burnt Meadow Rd and turn right, walk down the road a bit, then turn left back into the woods for a level section that’s a bit of a break.

View on Horse Pond Mountain trail

When you get to BLUE Hewitt Butler, turn left and follow that south for a while.

Stream crossing on Horse Pond Mtn Trail

Ridge view along Horse Pond Mountain trail

Take a left onto WHITE Overlook, cross a power line cut, and follow until you get to a large rock that is Overlook Rock for a very nice view.

Follow the ORANGE blazes for Lake Sonoma after this, it requires a bit of a backtrack. Take Sonoma all the way back, with views of the Lake, then skirting near it.

Yet another car