Trail Improvements in Abram S. Hewitt State Forest

September 17, 2020
Kylie Yang, Program Coordinator
New York-New Jersey Trail Conference

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Trail Improvements in Abram S. Hewitt State Forest

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Several trail improvements, which aim to make the trails easier to follow, have been completed throughout Abram S. Hewitt State Forest. The improvements include changing blaze colors and creating new trails.

 

This "Completed Major Trail Changes" map shows the trail system in Abram S. Hewitt State Forest as completed on September 17, 2020. Please take a moment to review this map, and photograph or print it for easy reference during your outing.

This "Old Trail System" map shows what the trail system looked like before the 2020 changes. 

As of September 17, 2020 changes include:

  • New Bearfort Ridge Connector (blue-square-on-green blazes) to connect with the Warwick Turnpike access point
  • New Bearfort Ridge Loop (green blazes) which uses existing trails to create a loop hike option from the parking lots on Warwick Turnpike
  • New Bearfort Ridge Spur (black-square-on-green blazes) to connect with the Warwick Turnpike access point
  • New West Ridge Trail (pink blazes) which uses existing trails to create a new hike option from the Bearfort Ridge Loop or the Ernest Walter Trail

The changes being made to the trail system In Abram S. Hewitt State Forest were sparked by a rise in visitation, which has been accompanied by a rise in lost hikers, leading to a persistent need for the services of local search and rescue. This concept of reinvisioning trail systems to create loop trails has already been successfully introduced at Ramapo Valley County Reservation in New Jersey, where reports of lost trail users have been drastically reduced and the overall hiking experience has been greatly improved.

The improved trail options at this very popular day-hike destination consist of the green-blazed Bearfort Ridge Loop and the pink-blazed West Ridge Trail.