I really cannot rave about this place enough. I have other entries here at Singletracks.com I just have to say, New Jersey has some amazing scenic places to ride. This place is definitely on the top of the list. You have to make a day of it, it is a very large state park. When you get here, there is a ranger station, where you can pick up a free map. The map is detailed, but some of the markings on the trails are missing. That's OK, get lost, you will have more fun.
Once in the trails,, you will see they are pretty wide for the most part. There are some tight singletracks,, not too many,, but most of all, there are some very scenic trails to ride on. Across and actually through swampy streams,, 6 inches deep or so,, that stretch for 100 feet or so,, muddy waters,, dry rocky hills to climb and some fast rolling hills to cruise on. When I go here,, I average about 15 miles in a day at about 4 miles per hour. That usually takes at least 6 hours with stopping to look at map, etc. ,, maybe 7 and change. We go in at one spot,, and usually come out at a different point every time. There is a paved road that winds through the park, to a lake where you can jump in a canoe after riding and cool off. Very cool place to ride.
First time posting here but I have ridden a good amount of trails in ny nj area and wawayanda is one of my favorites. Singletrack, double track, climbing, rocky technical descents. There are many loops and multiple trailhead locations.
| ThankMy favorite start is at the ranger office. Start at William hoeferlin trail to double pond to Plymouth to banker. End of banker u have multiple options. Wall is fun. I once took Ferber which is a fast flowy single track to split rock. I was not ready for split rock It is a pretty technical exposed rocky climb. The reverse would be fun! I'm sure some people can clear but I couldn't. Next take Buddha pines tombstone to pump house. Wing dam is techy from boathouse
thanks for the review. do you or do you know where I can get a GPX download of a nice route at the park?
| ThankThis is a great fun trail for riders of many skill levels. In the summer, great shade from the sun. Unique mix of rock, single track, climbs etc.
| ThankWill Be wet! lots of varied riding.
| ThankI have only raced here (never just come up for a good ride) but based on the H2H course this place is awesome. Huge rollers and highly technical trails with nothing but rocks. there are fireroads in between the technical trails that are super fun to bomb down. I will be up here soon to put together a long day of riding.
| ThankGreat trails, a lot of variety in terrain and trail, but I'd allow a good week or two after a good rain, theres a lot of "quicksand" in some areas but plenty of alternate routes
| ThankThis is by far my favorite place to ride! I grew up in warwick and just discovered the riding here this past season. Ive ridden there tons of times since and thought that this place needed an updated review and route suggestion. I believe there is alot of new trails cut since the last reviews.
Here is the link to the new JORBA Trail map.
http://www.jorba.org/sites/default/files/WW1.png
There are 2 or 3 trails not listed on this even still.
This is technical riding but not as techy as Ringwood. A lot more dirt and loam and some wonderful sections through the hemlocks. Nature Jim and Black Bears rockwork and trail cutting is excellent. Hats off gents.
So here is the Massive loop. There are 3 different variations depending on where you park:
Ill give you two. you can figure out the Hoeferlin Variation.
B) Park at the Boathouse: Follow the carriage path to the left of the boathouse. Go straight past the Furnace and past the Campground circle. This will put you on Double Pond. After a swamp and bridge. You will take a right onto Red Dot Trail. Red dot is a typical waway rocky hilly singletrack. When you come to a fork in the trail, take it! It doesnt matter which way you go, they reconnect after a bit. A short while after they rejoin, the trail splits again. This time a light green marker (new) and the old red. Again it doesnt matter which you take but i prefer the greenish one. Take either one to the end where it spits you onto Cherry Ridge. Take a right and ride all the way until you see the Cherry Ridge Parking Ciricle at the top of Banker/Cedar Swamp. From here do this loop >
Recommended Route:
| ThankC. My Favorite Loop: Bypass paying and parking in wawayanda by Turning onto Clinton Rd. Take a right onto Cherry Ridge Road at Lake Lookover. Take this to the end where it turns into dirt road and park up at the circle. May need 4WD.
The Wall starts directly ahead. Take this trail uphill and bear right at the fork. At the top of the hill take a sharp left to access the more advanced features. Take this trail all the way, Down some rollers, and past the tricky Wall section. This will put you back out on Cherry ridge. bear left on Cherry ridge. the road crosses a bridge and immediatly to your left there is a hidden trail entrance to Mojo Swamp. This trail rides the edge of the swamp and its awesome and tight. take this until you get to some open grassy singletrack. Keep an eye out for its continuation on the left. This gets a little swampy but then its heads uphill and dumps you onto Old Coal. About 10 feet to your left across the road is the Entrance to Hemlock and Load. Take the windy trail through the loamy dirt with some fun rollers and drops and go arounds. This puts you onto the road near Lake Lookout. Take a left and cross the lake where you will take a left on Pickle. This gnarly rocky trail will lead you right to Rattlesnake. Take the Rattlesnake climb up the switchbacks onto the pipeline clearing at the top. You can go left across the clearing to Pines but i prefer to go right back into the ferns on Tombstone. A nice descent back to Turkey Ridge. Take a right on Turkey ridge and follow it across the pipeline. past the bottom of pines, until it becomes SingleTrack.. You will see a sign for Buddha hopefully and take that. (Somewhere around this area is Thirsty Dog. It is a fantastic out-and-back trail with some amazing stonework and ridge riding, if you see an unmarked trail take it. It ends on a flat stone table where you turn around) Buddha will take you across Old Coal to Split Rock Trail. This trail has some awesome bridges and rockwork as well. Definetely challenging. A fun downhill and a very tight rhodendron section to get you back to the pipeline. Cross the pipeline and continue on the trail to the fireroad. Follow this back to the Cherry Ridge lot, or take Ferber on the left uphill back to the lot.
If you Parked at the boathouse and are itching for some more trail: Take a right off the parking lot onto Porcupine. Take this to a left on Rockadendron. Take a right on Cherry Ridge and follow this allll the way back to about the White Dot (Lookout) trail. A bit past this a new (unmarked/mapped) trail that starts in a clearing to your right. Follow this awesome trail to a fork and take a right. Up some challenging switchbacks. You land on Sitting Bear.(orange) take a left and follow this back to the lake parking.
I have tried Ringwood and was not as impressed as I was with the Red Dot Trail. We took the blue trail past the furnace and turned left on to the yellow trail to the red dot. We then took a right to come back on the carriage road and right again to the yellow trail and back to the parking lot. Great down hill on Yellow...I would not want to climb yellow up the other way, I think this direction best. We can't wait to return and do it again. If it were not for a family get together, we probably would have done the loop again! I'm an advanced rider and I saw some beginners out there...middle age out of shape people with no helmets. If this is you...you might want to stay on the paved path...you could chip a tooth!* Review edited 6/25/2012
| ThankIt might just be me but out of all the times ive ridden here i have hated it except for one. the trails are pretty terribly marked, ie: there would be a fork in the trail and both ways would have the same marker(same blaze and trail name), but not the same trail and one takes u back the the trail system and one takes you to clinton rd. the same thing with cherry ridge. the only two trails i feel are worth my time are wm hofferlein and red dot. the race are ok but not as good as chainstretcher or jungle
| ThankThe H2H series has their first race at Wawayanda. It's a great course, challenging rock gardens, quick steep climbs and a good mix of fire roads and single track". This is a great place for beginner to intermediate riders.
| Thank