Crossing state lines isn’t something that far out of the ordinary for many hikers, but hike 47 was the first time I hiked from one state into another. I headed to Abram S. Hewitt State Park on the suggestion of my wife after she randomly pointed to the Bearfort Ridge on my map.

Hike 47 stats:
Date: November 11, 2016
Distance:  9.63 miles
Time: 5:19
Total Ascent: 2,173′
Highlights: Bearfort Ridge, Appalachian Trail, Prospect Rock, Surprise Lake

I Parked in the pull-off lot along Warwick Turnpike, walked down the road to the trailhead, and started along the white blazed Bearfort Ridge Trail.

At the end of the Bearfort Ridge Trail I headed west (then north) along the yellow blazed Ernest Walter Trail, where I got my first glimpse of Lake Surprise on my way toward the Appalachian Trail.

I’ve been on many parts of the Appalachian Trail in NJ, I hit my first section in PA earlier in the challenge, and was finally on my way to hit part of the trail in NY. I took the AT over the border to Prospect Rock, I continued into NY for another mile or so before turning back.

I headed back along the AT, after crossing back into NJ I took the blue blazed State Line Trail briefly until hooking up with the other end of the yellow blazed Ernest Walter Trail, then hit the orange blazed Qual Trail which I took all the way back to where I started on the Bearfort Ridge Trail.

As I finish up documenting the last few hikes of my 52 Hike Challenge (a few months after completing the challenge) I can say that this hike was one of my favorites, and the longest of all 52 hikes. Any section of this hike is worth it on its own – and I’m glad to be able to say I crossed a state line during my challenge.