Sunday, June 7, 2015

Kittatinny Valley State Park, NJ - Northern Section with Sussex Branch Trail


ABOUT THE PARK:
Kittatinny Valley State Park - NJ Department of Environmental Protection

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 41.04207, -74.73859
Sussex Branch Trail parking on Newton Sparta Road

TRAIL MAP:
Kittatinny Valley State Park - NJDEP

HIKE DISTANCE:  6.5 miles

THE HIKE:
Sussex Branch Trail
Only one street crossing at Yates Avenue.
Andover Slate Cut
It was one of those nice crisp mornings with a clear shot of the moon.
The Vernal Trail comes into view to the right of the Sussex Branch Trail in about 1.4 miles.
The green-blazed Vernal Trail.
The Vernal Trail running parallel to the Sussex Branch Trail on the right.
Vernal pool through the trees,
On the red-blazed Mt. Nebo Trail.  I was just thinking to myself that I had not seen any red efts yet when within about 20 more steps ...
... one ...
... then another!  And that was it for this hike.
A few of the blazes are crossed out but it doesn't appear to mean anything as this is still the trail.
After crossing the park service road with a communications tower to the right ...
... there are supposed to be views but not in the summer.
The yellow-blazed Twin Lakes Trail descends to the lake then an unmarked trail to the right follow along the lake but ...
... it ends and you have to turn back but it's a pretty stretch of trail with lake views.
Twin Lakes
Back on the yellow trail.
A left on the park service road leads to ...
... ruins.
Back on yellow which according to the map crosses over the Sussex Branch Trail but ...
... it is actually blazed green on the other side.
Back on the Sussex Branch Trail for a bit to...
Blue-blazed trails on the right.
Shawnee loves the ramps the mountain bikers build and she makes good use of them.
Heading back on the Sussex Branch Trail.
Back at the parking area.

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