Black River County Park (Morris County, NJ)

ABOUT THE PARK:
The Black River County Park consists of trails (mainly the Patriot's Path) connecting 4 cultural sites and Chubb Park:

• Cooper Gristmill
• Kay Environmental Center
• Bamboo Brook Outdoor Education Center
• Willowwood Arboretum

Please note that while dogs are not allowed at any of the cultural sites, leashed dogs are allowed on the hiking trails so our hike bypassed all of the cultural sites except Cooper Gristmill where we parked but the sign in the parking lot does say leashed dogs are allowed, I would assume for getting to the trailhead. The printed park map does say leashed pets are allowed.

TRAIL MAP:
Morris County Parks Black River Trail Map
I stopped by and picked up my map from the parking lot kiosk at Cooper Gristmill over the winter when I was in the area doing another hike. Today there were no maps so be sure to print one out.

PARKING DIRECTIONS:
Morris County NJ Park Commission Web Site Directions
Looking at the map, you will see many other parking options. When I arrived at Cooper Gristmill the parking lot entrance was still chained but there is paved roadside parking along Route 513 in front of the parking lot, which is where I parked.

HIKE DIRECTIONS:
I hiked 12 miles total out and back but you are able to hike any distance you would like.
6.4 mile NY/NJ Trail Conference version
14.8 mile NJ Hiking version

My hike was blue-blazed Black River Trail to red-blazed Conifer Pass Trail to blue-blazed Bamboo Brook trail to just beyond where the trail stops following the brook, then turned around and headed back. On the way back we explored an unmarked trail and the green-blazed trail. Returning to Cooper Mill we went through the tunnel to head north on the blue-blazed Black River Trail to Chubb Park and back.

Descend the stairs from behind the stone gristmill to head south on the blue-blazed Black River Trail.





Kay's Pond:





Red-Blazed Conifer Pass Trail (beautiful hike down into the river gorge): (The NY/NJ Trail Conference mentions obtaining a pass at Kay Environmental Center to hike this trail. I could not do that since I could not take my dog there to get a pass, I did not see any signs saying a pass was needed and this is not mentioned on the park website or on the map so the pass requirement information might be outdated.)






Blue-Blazed Bamboo Brook Trail:




Unmarked trail at north end of red-blazed Conifer Pass Trail:


Green-blazed Trail:


Blue-Blazed Black River Trail north of Cooper Mill to Chubb Park:





LITTER REPORT:
Other than a piece of ribbon and part of a candy wrapper, picked up nicotine gum somebody must have dropped accidentally. Very clean trails!

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