Buck Mountain (Kinnelon)

Description: Not to be confused with Buck Mountain in the Wyanokies, this Buck Mountain rises high above the eastern shore of the Charlotteburg Reservoir in Kinnelon. Once slated to become a golf course, Buck Mountain was acquired by the state through the Green Acres program in 1997. The land apparently contains one of the few documented nesting sites for bald eagles in the Highlands region.

Buck Mountain is the kind of obscure, trailless, yet incredibly scenic mountain that makes peakbagging in New Jersey worth it. The summit has obscured, yet nearly 360 degree views of the surrounding mountains and there are multiple unobsctructed views of the Charlotteburg Reservoir and Smoke Rise from various lower locations on the slopes. Perhaps the best view is a long panorama of Copperas fromn the western side of Buck.

The summit indicated here is in fact not the highest point on Buck Mountain. Like most of the Northern Highlands, Buck Mountain consists of a series of bumps atop a high plateau. The actual summit (1140') is developed, with a water tank on its highest point. Nonetheless, the sub-summit of Buck Mountain chosen by the NJ1K Club is definitely worthy of high peak status. The sub-summit, a pitch pine studded crag, has views to the south, west and north.

Summit Routes