Wildcat Ridge Wildlife Management Area

Wildcat Ridge WMA (Wildlife Management Area) is administered by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.[1] It is located in the southern end of Rockaway Township, Morris County, New Jersey, United States off of County Route 513 (Greenpond Road). Farny State Park (undeveloped) and Splitrock Reservoir area are contiguous with Wildcat Ridge and also have public access.

Activities

Points of interest

This WMA was an iron mining area and was the site of the Hibernia mines, Beach Glen mines and the Oreland (Upper Hibernia mine). All of the mine shaft openings have been closed off for the safety of the public. There are various ruins at each of the mine sites. In addition to these civil war era mines the Adventure/Hibernia Furnace was located approximately across the Hibernia brook from the current Hibernia Firehouse. This is also the site of many ruins of the Hibernia mine.

  1. Bat cave – this was the Hibernia mine tunnel where the underground railroad was located.
  2. Hawk watch
  3. Oreland spur of the Wharton and Northern railroad.
  4. St. Patrick's Cemetery - an abandoned cemetery originally established in 1869. Many of the headstones are engraved in an eastern european language, possibly Czech and/or Slovak. The cemetery serves as the final resting place for numerous workers who lost their lives in the surrounding iron mines.

Parking

There are numerous parking areas for this area:

References

http://www.njskylands.com/pkwmawildcat_073Coordinates: 40°56′26″N 74°30′52″W / 40.94048°N 74.51442°W / 40.94048; -74.51442


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