Choose wisely. Connect locally.Add your business 
West Milford is the wild corner of North Jersey: a township of lakes and forested ridges in the Highlands, with most of its land protected as state parks, forests or watershed. It stretches north to the New York line at Greenwood Lake, and yet Manhattan is only about an hour away.
Iron, not commuters, shaped its early history. At Long Pond Ironworks in the Hewitt section, furnaces fed by local ore and charcoal produced iron from the 1760s, and the stone ruins still stand by the Wanaque River. Later came summer cottages and lake communities, and in the 1970s a Warner Bros drive-through safari park briefly drew crowds here.
Today visitors come to hike, paddle and fish. Trails climb Bearfort Ridge to Surprise Lake and lead to rock-rimmed Terrace Pond, Monksville Reservoir draws kayakers and anglers, and Wawayanda State Park offers swimming and miles of woods roads. In winter the lakes freeze for ice fishing, while fall color on the ridges is spectacular.
Stone furnace stacks, waterwheel pits and workers' houses from an ironworks begun in the 1760s stand beside the Wanaque River in the Hewitt section. A small museum opens on some weekends, and trails follow the old raceways. The site sits next to Monksville Reservoir, so combine the two.
A scenic reservoir in Long Pond Ironworks State Park, ringed by forested hills and popular for kayaking, sailing and fishing for trout, bass and walleye. Boat launches make access easy, and the water is usually calm in the morning. Autumn foliage reflections are beautiful at sunrise.
A clear glacial pond perched on Bearfort Mountain inside Wawayanda State Park, ringed by puddingstone ledges and blueberry bushes. Rocky trails make the loop a rugged half-day hike with scrambles, so wear sturdy boots. Swimming is not permitted, but the ledges are wonderful for a picnic.
In Abram S. Hewitt State Forest, a steep climb leads onto Bearfort Ridge with its pink puddingstone outcrops, pitch pines and long views of Greenwood Lake, then on to quiet Surprise Lake. The loop is about 7 miles and rugged. Start early in summer, and carry plenty of water.
A large Highlands park with a guarded swimming beach and boat rentals on Wawayanda Lake, plus over 60 miles of trails including a stretch of the Appalachian Trail. Old woods roads are good for mountain biking and cross-country skiing. Summer weekends fill the lot early, so arrive before 10 a.m.
About seven miles long and split between New Jersey and New York, Greenwood Lake is the township's summer playground, with marinas, boat rentals, lakeside bars and restaurants. Rent a pontoon for a few hours and stop for lunch at a waterfront deck. Ice fishing takes over in cold winters.
A member-run natural swimming pool in the Newfoundland section, fed by a mountain brook in the woods of Norvin Green State Forest, with a sandy edge, lawn and snack bar. Day passes are sold to visitors when space allows. Check the season dates, as it usually opens from late June to Labor Day.
No reviews yet. Been to West Milford? Be the first to share your experience.
Share what you loved, what to skip and tips for other travelers.
Log in to write a reviewBeen to West Milford? Add your best shots to the gallery.
Log in to add photosPhoto: Famartin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Mr. Matté (if there is an issue with this image, contact me using this image's C, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Famartin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Famartin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Famartin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Famartin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Famartin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: LandyFeeled, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: LandyFeeled, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Adam Moss, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: רבינו הקדוש, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Famartin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Famartin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: KForce at en.wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: The original uploader was Northlightpainter at English Wikipedia., Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 1.0
Photo: KForce at en.wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Ccrabb1948, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Famartin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Famartin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Famartin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Famartin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Famartin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Zeete, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Zeete, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: User:Mwanner, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Kritzolina, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Kritzolina, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Kritzolina, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Kritzolina, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Jasper Francis Cropsey, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
