History and Views at Apshawa Preserve

The Apshawa Preserve is a rugged 576-acre tract owned by Passaic County and the New Jersey Conservation Foundation. About seven miles of trails traverse this preserve, and this hike features the trails in the southern section of the preserve. The trails are blazed with colored plastic diamond blazes that incorporate the logo of the New Jersey Conservation Foundation, and occasionally with older rectangular paint blazes.

At the northern end of the parking area, you'll see three white blazes, which mark the start of the White Trail. Follow this trail as it enters the forest on a woods road, but soon continues on a footpath. A short distance ahead, you'll notice three green blazes on a tree to the left. The Green Trail, which ends here, will be your return route, but for now, continue ahead on the White Trail.

Just beyond the intersection with the Green Trail, the White Trail bears left and descends to cross a stream, then climbs a hill on a woods road. It bears right at a high point and soon passes interesting rock formations on the left. Just beyond, the trail turns left, leaving the woods road, and descends steeply into a ravine, where it joins another woods road.

A short distance ahead, the White Trail turns right, leaving the road, but you should continue ahead along the level woods road, now following the Green Trail, which begins here. You will be following the Green Trail all the way to its end. In a short distance, you'll come to a junction where the Yellow Trail begins. Here, you should turn right, leaving the road, and continue along the Green Trail, which climbs a little on a footpath, descends rather steeply, and levels off.

After turning right onto another woods road, the trail crosses a broad expanse of open rock and descends to Apshawa Brook. It turns right and briefly parallels the brook, then turns left and crosses the brook on rocks just below the dam of the Butler Reservoir (this stream crossing can be difficult in times of high water). Due to safety concerns, the historic stone dam has been breached and a concrete spillway constructed to lower the water level of the reservoir.

The Red Trail joins briefly, but follow the Green Trail when it turns left, descends to a woods road, then turns right onto the road. Soon, the trail turns left onto a wide gravel road, and in a short distance it turns left again onto a narrower woods road.

The Green Trail now begins a gradual but steady climb on the woods road. Along the way, it joins and crosses several other woods roads, so pay careful attention to the blazes. After passing through mountain laurel thickets, the trail nears the summit of a hill and bears right onto a footpath. To the right, at the summit, rock outcrops afford views to the south and west.

After pausing to take in the view, continue ahead on the Green Trail. You'll pass interesting rock formations to the left and begin a steady descent on a rugged, winding footpath. Parts of the descent are rather steep.<

At the base of the descent, the trail turns left onto a woods road which parallels Apshawa Brook and passes beautiful cascades in the brook, below to the right. A short distance ahead, you'll come to a fork. Bear right, following the green blazes, and descend to the brook.

To your right, you will notice four huge rusted tanks. These, as well as several small stone buildings on the opposite side of the brook, were part of a water purification system constructed in the early 1900s.

The trail crosses the brook here, but the crossing can be very difficult, especially if the water is high. If you have difficulty crossing the brook at the designated trail crossing, continue upstream until you come to a large tree that has fallen across the brook and can be used to cross it.

Once you've reached the opposite side of the brook, turn left and follow the green blazes upstream along the brook. Soon, you'll come to the base of a curved concrete dam, also built in the early 1900s to regulate the flow of water in the brook. The trail bears right and climbs to the top of the dam, with a nice view over the small reservoir that has been impounded behind the dam.

The Green Trail climbs through mountain laurel and hemlock, then bears left and levels off. For the next half mile or so, the trail traverses relatively level terrain, with some minor ups and downs. At one point, High Crest Lake, surrounded by homes, is visible through trees to the right.

After passing a long rock outcrop to the left, you'll reach a fork, where the Yellow Trail ends to the left. You should bear right and continue along the Green Trail, which descends rather steeply on a woods road. At the base of the descent, a small pond is visible to the right. The Green Trail now turns left and climbs briefly, then turns right, leaving the road, and descends to cross a stream. It climbs the opposite bank to end at a junction with the White Trail. Turn right and follow the White Trail a short distance back to the parking area where the hike began.