Mahlon Dickerson Reservation Short Loop

On the southeast side of the parking area, you will notice a triple black-diamond-on-teal blaze, marking the start of a connector trail to the Highlands Trail. Follow the black-diamond-on-teal blazes, which head east along the pond, soon reaching a junction with a yellow-blazed trail. The yellow trail will be your return route, but for now, bear right and follow the black-diamond-on-teal-blazed connector trail, which crosses a footbridge over a stream and proceeds south along the eastern shore of Saffin Pond. You'll notice a number of trees that have been felled by recent beaver activity in the area.

At the southeast corner of the pond, by several picnic tables, you'll reach a junction with the teal-blazed Highlands Trail. Turn left and follow the Highlands Trail as it ascends gradually along a woods road. At the top of the climb, bear right at a T-intersection and continue to follow the teal diamond blazes as they descend along an eroded woods road. At the base of the descent, bear left and continue along a relatively level stretch of the Highlands Trail, with Weldon Brook - the outlet of Saffin Pond - to your right. Soon, you'll reach a Y-intersection. Bear left here, continuing to follow the teal diamond blazes, as the trail narrows to a footpath.

After another level stretch, the trail crosses a stream on a wide wooden footbridge and bears left. Soon, it bears right and climbs to reach a high point marked by a large boulder to the left of the trail. Just beyond, you'll reach a T-intersection. The white-blazed Beaver Brook Trail begins to the right, but you should turn left to continue on the teal-diamond-blazed Highlands Trail. The trail descends to cross a tributary stream, climbs over a knoll, then descends to recross the main stream on rocks. Once more, the trail climbs through a rocky area - with interesting rock formations on the left - and descends to cross the main stream (for the third time) on rocks.

The Highlands Trail now begins to climb - steeply in places - passing by some sheer rock faces. After crossing a yellow-blazed woods road in a large clearing, the grade moderates. Soon, you'll reach a broad overlook to the east and southeast to the right of the trail. No civilization is visible from here; you see only forested hillsides, with Lake Hopatcong visible in the distance to the right. After a slight dip, the trail climbs through a canopy of mountain laurel to reach another viewpoint. This viewpoint, marked by a bench and designated on the map as the Headley Overlook, is more popular because it is nearer the road, but the first overlook provides a less obstructed view.

Continue ahead on the Highlands Trail, which descends on a woods road through more mountain laurel. When you reach the next intersection (marked by a sign pointing to the Headley Overlook), leave the Highlands Trail and bear sharply left onto an unmarked woods road. In about a third of a mile, you'll come to a fork, with both legs blazed yellow. Bear right, now following a yellow-blazed woods road which descends to cross a stream (the same stream you previously crossed three times) on a wooden footbridge.

The yellow-blazed woods road now climbs gradually to the crest of a rise. Soon after beginning a gentle descent (about 0.4 mile from the footbridge), you'll come to another fork in the road. A sign indicates that Saffin Pond is to the left, but you should take the right fork, continuing to follow the yellow blazes. With paved Weldon Road in sight ahead, the yellow-blazed trail turns left, leaving the road, and follows a footpath for a short distance back to the parking area where the hike began.