Saturday, April 27, 2013

Bass River State Forest, NJ


ABOUT THE PARK:
Bass River State Forest - NJ DEP

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 39.621324, -74.439516

View Larger Map

Parking lot on East Greenbush Road.

TRAIL MAP:
Bass River Trail Map - NJ DEP
According to the park, a new updated map should be posted online soon.

HIKE DISTANCE:  5.75 miles

THE HIKE:
At the end of the parking lot opposite the trail head, a firefighter memorial.
With your back to the road, go to the far right corner of the lot through the opening.  The trail forks immediately; keep left.  Right is the return route.
Remains of the former CCC camp.
Some remaining CCC camp pavement along the trail.
Trail is marked with pink blazes on posts.  Trails are very well maintained.
Beginning of the boardwalk through the cedar bog on the silver-blazed Absegami Trail
It's dark and noticeably cooler in the bog.
Atlantic white cedar and sphagnum mosses in the bog.
Lake Absegami from Falkinburg Branch drainage.
Turtles in Lake Absegami.

Joe's Trail runs along Lake Absegami for .6 miles.
Lake Absegami from Joe's Trail
The end of Joe's Trail at the picnic pavillion.
Heading back the other way.
Heading back on the pink trail.
Trail maintenance


HIKE SUMMARY:
[0.00]    Go through break in fence at far right corner of parking lot and immediately take left side of fork; left again at second fork towards CCC Site A
[0.30]    Cross straight over AT&T line
[0.40]    Straight at intersection when trail crosses over
[0.55]    Cross wet/swampy area on small, loose logs
[0.80]    Straight at intersection when trail crosses over
[1.40]    Straight at intersection when trail crosses over
[1.65]    Straight at intersection when trail crosses over
[1.75]    Cross East Greenbush Road
[1.90]    Turn left on sand road at T-intersection
[2.20]    Continue straight across AT&T line with green coming in from the right; continue on pink/green as it veers to the left after the intersection
[2.55]    Shortly before State Road where pink also goes left, veer right on pink as a footpath leaving sand road, plum and green join in from the right after few steps
[2.65]    Cross Stage Road then power cut
[2.70]    Turn right on red and cross paved park road
[2.85]    Turn left on red where it comes out on paved park entrance road with park office on right and beginning of Joe's Trail on the left
[2.90]    When red comes to paved park road again, cross paved road to start of silver-blazed trail
[3.00]    Beginning of boardwalk through Atlantic cedar bog
[3.10]    Turn left on silver/yellow when yellow comes in from the right
[3.20]    Left on paved road a few steps then left on paved park entrance road
[3.25]    View of Lake Absegami from Falklinburg Branch drainage
[3.30]    After guardrail turn right on Joe's Trail
[3.60]    Two benches with view of Lake Absegami
[3.90]    End of Joe's Trail at picnic pavillion; retrace
[4.50]    Right on park road then right on red trail
[4.65]    Cross paved park road on red then turn left on pink/green/plum
[4.80]    Cross power cut then Stage Road
[4.90]    At White Pine Plantation sign where plum and green leave to the left and split into two trails, veer right, cross sand road and continue on pink parallel to Stage Road
[5.65]    Cross East Greenbush, continue through clearing, turn left into woods on path parallel to East Greenbush
[5.75]    Veer left at fork to parking lot


Labels:

5 comments:

  1. ElsieApril 28, 2013 at 4:13 PM

    I LOVE Pine Barrens Hikes!!
    That lake looks awesome for the dogs (and kayaking) I am afraid to go except in the middle of winter- as I've heard the ticks are insanely bad.
    PS Who is the second hiking buddy?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gone Hikin'April 28, 2013 at 4:47 PM

      I also never go south to hike except for in the winter because of ticks and biting flies but thought I would take a chance and other than a few bees, no bugs or ticks. I think they are all busy breeding in preparation for the summer onslaught :( So if you want to go, go NOW! No other people on the trails, the park employees are exceptionally nice and helpful, it was wonderful!

      The second hiking buddy is 4-year-old Tucker. He is staying with us for 3 weeks while his people are away. They had just adopted him this past January. He is an awesome dog and it is so great that he is able to hike with us so you'll be seeing him on the posts for the next few weeks. I had him on a flexi with the handle through the waistband of my backpack so I was hands free to take pictures and he walked so beautifully. I did a video of the dogs hiking for Tucker's mom and dad to see and it shows them in the lake - the best part as far as they are concerned! http://youtu.be/43AgQFpr7Xg

      Daniela

      Delete
  2. ElsieApril 28, 2013 at 5:30 PM

    Lucky Tucker- wat a great vacation for him!!
    I think the Pine Barrens will have to be fall for us.

    Going to NH next week (taking one dog)- going to a party, but have my get up early and sneak out hike all planned out for Sunday am :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. JeffApril 29, 2013 at 9:16 AM

    Have you hiked the new southern re-route of the Batona Trail yet through Bass River S.F.? The trail is no longer along the shoulder of Stage Rd. and is well-blazed with benches and some storage boxes for maps and trail logs. Here is my hike: http://gps.motionx.com/maps/de12a74b8b7449e6fd6a4a1dd08bd1eb

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gone Hikin'April 29, 2013 at 9:33 AM

      I have not hiked it yet but a park employee told me about it and said an updated map is not yet available. I saved your track to Google Earth, that is excellent, thanks! On my to do list...

      Daniela

      Delete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)