Pyramid Mountain Letterbox Series (3)
Pyramid Mountain Natural Historical Area
Placed by Wingfoot on 05/28/01
Montville, Morris County, New Jersey

Clues: Easy
Terrain: Moderately Easy with a steep climb
Time: Approximately 1 1/2 - 2 hours

Please be discreet, as some areas of this park are heavily traveled.

Established after a lengthy grassroots effort to preserve the area from
development, the Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area is over a thousand
acres of open space rich in natural and historical resources.

The broad mountains, flat-topped ridges and narrow valleys of Pyramid
Mountain are not only beautiful but also vital in feeding downstream
reservoirs, supplying needed aquifers and supporting flora and fauna. The
wide variety of natural habitats found within Pyramid Mountain include
fields, forests, streams, swamps, and ponds, which support a number of plants
considered uncommon to New Jersey as well as threatened and endangered plants
and animals. Bears, snakes, foxes, and bobcats have all been seen in the
park. Historically, Pyramid Mountain is important for its lessons about the
Lenape Indians, who flourished in this area, and the early European settlers,
who came to the area to take advantage of its rich natural resources.

DIRECTIONS

FROM INTERSTATE 287 NORTH
Interstate 287 North Bound, Exit 44 Main Street Boonton. Proceed to Boonton
Avenue (County Road 511). Turn RIGHT. Proceed 3.3 miles on Boonton Avenue.
Visitors Center on LEFT (Opposite Mars Court)

FROM ROUTE 23 NORTH BOUND
Take U-turn for right on Boonton Avenue (County Road 511S). Proceed 4.4
miles. Visitors Center on RIGHT. (Opposite Mars Court)

FROM ROUTE 23 SOUTH BOUND
Turn RIGHT on Boonton Avenue (County Road 511). Proceed 4.4 miles. Visitors
Center on RIGHT. (Opposite Mars Court)

This hike takes you through the park and highlights some significant areas.

PYRAMID MOUNTAIN LETTERBOX

Begin at the parking area across from Mars Court. If a map is available take
one. Take and follow the blue trail. The blue trail forks before a walk over
bridge, take the fork west over the bridge. If you come to a road, you've
taken the wrong fork. Follow blue trail until you see the start of the white
trail. Take and follow the white trail. After the trail reenters woods
you'll see the ruins of the Morgan place on the right. Next you'll come to
the start of the red trail, take the trail heading north, not the red trail.
You will come to a gigantic boulder on the left of the path. This is Bear
Rock. It is a glacial erratic. Take the blue trail heading north. When you
come to the intersection of the blue and red/white blaze trails look for a
sign on a tree pointing you to the "Visitor's center". Take 3 paces
northeast from that tree with the sign. There will be a downed tree. Follow
tree uphill to its stump. Under a pile of rocks, at the tree's stump, is
what you are searching for.

WHALE HEAD ROCK LETTERBOX

Now take the red/white trail. Watch out for stepping on the orange
salamanders here. There is a steep rocky climb along the trail. Once you
reach the top continue along the trail. On the right you'll see a massive
boulder. After passing the boulder continue along trail. You'll see a
red/white blaze directing you to a left turn. From the tree with that blaze
you'll be able to see a big split tree behind a rock at 130 degrees. Take 25
paces to that tree. From tree take 16 paces at 60 degrees. There will be a
stump with a pile of rocks behind it; within the pile of rocks is what you're
searching for.

TRIPOD ROCK LETTERBOX

Now continue along red/white trail going the way you didn't come. You'll
eventually pass the Whale Head Rock on the right. When you come to the white
trail take the south fork. Continue along white trail until you come to
Tripod Rock. Tripod Rock, perched on a bluff, this megalith seems like a
freak of nature, its 140-ton boulder resting precariously atop three small
rock feet. Geologists believe a receding glacier created it some 18,000 years
ago during the Ice Age. Some super naturalists suspect it was an Indian
version of Stonehenge, used to pinpoint the summer solstice. (Reportedly some
devotees gather each June 21 at sunset to burn candles and beat drums in
tribute.) The planter of this box has not taken in part in these ceremonies.
After examining Tripod Rock continue along white trail. When you come to
the blue trail, take the south fork. Eventually you'll come to the
blue/white trail on your right. If you want to take a quick detour for an
overlook take this trail to the end and you'll arrive at Lucy's overlook.
Enjoy view and when done continue along blue trail. Blue trail meets up with
yellow trail. Take the merged blue/yellow trail. When trail splits, take
blue trail once again. Eventually you'll come to an overlook on the left of
this trail. Enjoy the view. Once back on blue trail you'll shortly come to
yet another overlook. Just before the overlook there will be a big rock with
a blue blaze on the right of the trail. From the rock take 4 paces at 330
degrees. Underneath a rock outcrop there, is what you're searching for. Use
a stick, just in case.

Continue down hill on blue trail to parking lot.