Day Trips
Singles Mount Defiance Hike

Wonderful Workout on a Moderate 8-Mile Trail!

Trek with other active singles through Ringwood State Park, located in the heart of the Ramapo Mountains. The park boasts 5,000 acres of protected land with hundreds of miles of hiking trails and, at 1,040 feet, one of New Jersey’s highest peaks, Mount Defiance. The mountain has an extensive military history; most notably, in 1777, the British managed to drag a cannon to the summit and fire shots from above into the American fort.

On your hike to the summit, you will cross several streams and climb a rocky footpath to reach a panoramic view from Ilgenstein Rock. On clear days, the Manhattan skyline may be visible on the horizon. After traversing up and down the ridges around Mount Defiance, we will rest a lake for lunch. On the way back down the mountain, the loop trail will take us through several highland swamps and across a couple abandoned mining roads.

At the end of the trail we will explore the beautifully manicured gardens of Skylands Manor, now home to the New Jersey Botanical Gardens. Clarence McKenzie Lewis (1877-1959), the garden’s proprietor, spent 30 years collecting plants from all over the world (as well as from New Jersey roadsides) and, thus, the garden is one of the finest collections of plants in the state.

Event Intensity Level

This hike is Intensity Level 3. Read a full description of all levels.

Event Details

• Departure/Return Location Our passenger vans depart from the NE corner of 73rd Street and Broadway—meet in front of Apple Bank (Subways to 72nd Street: 1,2,3).
• Departure Time 9:00 AM (arrive at 8:45 AM for check-in)
• Return Time Approximately 6:00 PM
• Bring 2 liters water (minimum per person), lunch and snacks
• Wear Hiking boots, comfortable athletic clothing

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Experienced, Fun & Qualified Guides

From cycling across the United States to leading horse treks through New Zealand to scaling Nepalese peaks, Outdoor Bound guides have real-world outdoor experience. Collectively, they have hiked, biked, climbed and kayaked tens of thousands of miles around the globe.

Whether their professional backgrounds are as teachers, personal trainers, artists, environmentalists or business leaders, they all have an extensive knowledge of the natural world and local history. Each guide has also passed a rigorous guide certification program and is trained in wilderness first aid or as a Wilderness First Responder.

Diverse & Interesting Groups

There is no typical Outdoor Bound participant. While ages typically range from 20 to 50, those who come to experience outdoor adventure range from singles to couples, from lawyers to waiters. They are a mix of women and men. While the group is always diverse, you will certainly feel welcome. Our guides go the extra mile to make the atmosphere of each trip social and fun. Many people in the Outdoor Bound community have forged lasting friendships as a result of our trips.

New Experiences

Skydiving, ice-climbing, hot-air ballooning, skiing and hiking every weekend are just a few of Outdoor Bound’s year-round adventures. These trips are accessible to everyone, including the novice, who might feel a little uneasy, the young urban professional trying to get away and even the adrenaline junkie looking for a new rush.

Environmental Awareness

“Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but pictures,” is the Leave No Trace motto embraced by Outdoor Bound. From purchasing bamboo T-shirts to printing with soy-based inks on recycled paper, Outdoor Bound strives to create the least environmental impact possible while on trips and in the office.

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4. Backwoods Snowshoeing
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6. Black Rock Hike
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18. Diamond Mountain Hike
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