Tory Rocks Signal Rock Loop

North Jersey District Water Supply Commission
Passaic Co.,
New Jersey

Hiking Trails:
Burnt Meadow Road: Unblazed
Stonetown Circular Trail: Red blaze
Signal Rock Trail: Unblazed

Total Time: 2:25 hour
Estimated Distance: 4.7 Miles

Pros: Good climb, remote area, and good view
Cons: None
Hike Type: Lollipop Loop
Level of Difficulty: Difficult

Google Maps of Parking:
https://goo.gl/maps/9H4udEqRKzSH5XrC9

This was an interesting hike. I took a dirt road that felt like I was in middle of nowhere at the start of the hike, and I didn't see a single person the entire hike on a nice Sunday in the spring, which was very unusual. However, this was a really beautiful hike with great scenery. It's more intense than it looks like on the map. I was also disappointed with the Tory Rocks formation, as it wasn't quite as dramatic as I envisioned, but then the hike improved as I continued along the route.

I parked on Burnt Meadow Road, on the dirt road part where a sign was posted that the road is no longer drivable. I walked along the dirt road until the Stonetown Circular Trail, and took the trail to Tory Rocks. Tory Rocks is a large rock formation with a scramble which I took down. I then continued along the trail and took a detour along the unmarked trail up to Signal Rock. It was hard to follow the trail at first but once I was halfway up the mountain the trail became more clear.

I took this trail to the end, where there is a south-facing view towards Wyanokie High Point. There is also a cool bench at this viewpoint. After admiring the view on this hazy day, I descended back along the same route and then continued along the Stonetown Circular Trail, passing another scramble and then descended the mountain, where I reached the next intersection with an unmarked trail that goes parallel to the Burnt Meadow Brook. I met two different turtles on the trail about 1000 feet away from each other. The first was a wood turtle and the second one was a box turtle. I was able to come close and take a picture of both of them.

I continued along this trail back to where it met the Stonetown Circular Trail which I took back to Burnt Meadow Road and then back to my car.

Map of the Route

Sign Where Burnt Meadow Road Ends Being Drivable

Monarch Butterfly on the Trail

Rock Formation Approaching Tory Rocks

Passaic River Coalition Land Trust Sign on the Hiking Trail

View above Tory Rocks

Descending Tory Rocks

Tory Rocks

View at Signal Rock

Rock Scramble While Descending the Stonetown Circular Trail

View of Windbeam Mountain on the Descent

Box Turtle (Hiding his Face from me)

Wood Turtle