Washington Crossing State Park and Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain, NJ

ABOUT THE PARKS:
Washington Crossing State Park - NJ Department of Environmental Protection
Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain - Mercer County, NJ
Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain - NJ Trails Association
Goat Hill Overlook - NJ.com

DIRECTIONS:
For Washington Crossing State Park only or combined with Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain:
GPS Coordinates 40.297243, -74.867736

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For Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain portion of hike only:
GPS Coordinates 40.318542, -74.866162

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For Goat Hill Overlook (requires short drive):
GPS Coordinates 40.352848, -74.936041

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TRAIL MAPS:

Washington Crossing State Park - NJ Department of Environmental Protection

Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain - Mercer County, NJ via HiddenTrenton.com

Goat Hill Overlook - USGS map in Google Docs (click download button to be able to rotate map)

HIKE DISTANCES:

Washington Crossing State Park and Ted Stiles Preserve - 13.45 miles

Washington Crossing State Park - 6.65 miles

Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain - 6.8 miles

Goat Hill Overlook - .9 mile

THE HIKE:
Walk back through the parking lot the way you drove in towards the Nelson House at the southern end by the bridge crossing the Delaware.

Nelson House

Continue around the Nelson House veering left on the pedestrian overpass into the park.

Pedestrian Overpass

The green dot trail starts at the end of the overpass but go left first for a view of the Delaware River.

View of the Delaware River from the overlook.

Heading back to the green dot trail.

The first part of the hike is along the Continental Lane

The yellow dot trail meanders along Steele Run.

The blue dot trail.

Trails and intersections are well marked.

Trails around the Nature Center are marked with solid squares instead of dots.

At a small parking lot which can be used to access the Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain, turn right beyond a gate for a short loop around an attractive pond.

A duck pair swimming in the pond.

Access the red trail at Ted Stiles Preserve directly across Church Street from the parking area/pond.

Current information was not posted but during these times of the year, best to plan on Sunday hiking.

Red trail towards Baldpate Mountain (formerly Kuser Mountain).

Bridge over Fiddlers Creek

The orange Power Line Trail comes out into a large parking lot, another access option.

The white Summit Trail passes abandoned farm buildings and a small pond.

The red NW Loop Trail goes downhill and back up again for a better workout.

Plaque at the former Kuser Estate.

Head back on the white Ridge Trail.

Coming off the red trail back over to the parking lot at the pond in Washington Crossing State Park.

A horse trail along the northern side of Washington Crossing State Park.

The yellow dot trail comes out at Route 29.  Cross over then take the Grant Street bridge over the canal and turn immediately left on the Delaware & Raritan Canal towpath.

D&R Canal Towpath

The towpath leads back to the parking lot.

If doing either and/or both of these hikes, it is worthwhile to drive north about 5 miles to the Goat Hill Overlook trail to a nice view of the Delaware River.  This trail is only .45 mile long one way so it's under a mile added to the hike.

From the parking lot, continue on the gravel road beyond the metal gates.

The trail winds gradually up to the top of the hill.

The view at Goat Hill Overlook.

HIKE SUMMARY:

Washington Crossing and Ted Stiles Preserve combined:
[  0.00]    Walk south towards the Johnson Ferry House; take walkway over Route 29
[  0.35]    At beginning of the green dot trail, turn left to overlook then retrace and continue on green dot trail
[  0.50]    At paved road, turn left briefly then right on unmarked Continental Lane
[  0.65]    Red dot trail merges in from left
[  0.75]    Keep straight on Continental Lane crossing paved road when the red dot trail ends
[  0.85]    Cross paved park road
[  0.90]    Open gate to enter fenced area, close gate behind you
[  0.95]    Open gate to exit fenced area, close gate behind you
[  1.10]    Cross the main park road; trail descends
[  1.20]    At sign pointing right towards the park office, make a sharp left on the yellow dot trail
[  1.25]    Cross foot bridge, paved road, then another foot bridge
[  1.30]    Back side of open air theater on right
[  1.45]    Straight on yellow dot when green dot comes in from left
[  1.50]    Rock hop across creek, continue left on yellow dot trail
[  1.55]    Keep straight when a bridge goes left over the creek
[  1.70]    When red dot/yellow dot goes straight, turn right on red dot; after a few steps turn right on blue dot
[  2.00]      Keep straight when unmarked connector trail goes left
[  2.05]    Keep right on blue dot when unmarked connector trail goes left, go beyond gate, keep to left of open grassy area and continue straight
[  2.15]    Continue along paved circular drive which goes to parking for open air theater; turn left on blue dot foottrail at sign for nature center
[  2.30]    When blue dot turns right towards Knox Grove, turn left on the unmarked connector trail briefly then left on red dot
[  2.55]    Turn right on blue dot when red dot goes straight downhill on wide wood beam steps
[  2.60]    Keep straight on red when unmarked goes right
[  2.65]    Cross foot bridge over creek then immediately turn right on unmarked along creek briefly then right on solid blue
[  2.70]    Cross foot bridge then turn right on solid red; stay on solid red back around to this point
[  2.85]    Beginning of self guiding trail with orange numbered squares - same as solid red trail
[  3.00]    Trail comes out at nature center, continue follow solid red to left at sign that says "counter clockwise"
[  3.15]    Keep left on solid red when solid white goes right
[  3.25]    Keep left on solid red when bridge goes right on solid white/green
[  3.30]    Straight when solid blue/green goes left
[  3.40]    Turn right on solid blue, cross bridge, pass bench, cross bridge, turn right where previously came in from left
[  3.50]    Keep straight when a trail goes to the left indicated by "E" on post
[  3.55]    Turn left on solid green
[  3.65]    Turn left on solid white when green/white goes right
[  3.75]    Continue straight on unmarked towards wildlife blind when solid white goes right
[  3.80]    Turn right towards the wildlife blind; retrace keeping to the right towards wide horse trail
[  3.90]    Turn right on wide horse trail
[  4.00]    At T-intersection, turn right on wide horse trail
[  4.05]    Pass white park building on the left
[  4.10]    At gravel road with park gate and buildings on right, turn left on gravel road towards small parking area; right at parking area beyond gate to loop around pond
[  4.25]    Come out at clearing and keep left back towards parking lot
[  4.30]    Cross paved Church Road and take red trail into Ted Stiles Preserve
[  4.55]    Cross footbridge over creek, keep right along creek when an unmarked trail goes left
[  4.70]    Keep right on red when orange goes left
[  4.80]    Turn left on orange, cross over unmarked trail
[  4.85]    Turn right on blue
[  5.00]    Turn left on blue/red when red comes in from the right; right on blue when red leaves to left
[  5.10]    Keep left on blue when unmarked goes right
[  5.30]    Turn left at power cut on unmarked trail shown as orange on map
[  5.50]    Turn left in parking lot towards information board; take trail to right of information board (unmarked at this point but is the white trail)
[  5.80]    Keep straight when orange goes left; first white marker comes into view
[  6.00]    Keep straight on white when unmarked crosses over
[  6.60]    Keep right at abandoned farm buildings; trail becomes pavement briefly then gravel
[  6.70]    Turn right on red leaving gravel road
[  6.90]    Keep left on red when white goes right
[  7.85]    At T-intersection turn left (right not on map - dead ends at gated quarry); continue straight when yellow goes right; at T-intersection turn right on white
[  7.95]    Keep right through orchard at former Kuser estate towards split rail fence; turn left on paved road
[  8.20]    Go beyond "no vehicles allowed" sign, follow road to the left
[  8.25]    Turn right on the blue trail
[  8.60]    At arrow indicating sharp right turn on blue, turn left on an unmarked footpath
[  8.70]    Old abandoned farm buildings from earlier in the hike, pond on right, veer right uphill towards white building
[  8.85]    Turn right on path which is white trail (look behind you to see markers)
[  9.40]    Keep straight on white when unmarked crosses over
[  9.65]    Right on orange when white goes straight
[ 10.00]    Pass chimney and fireplace ruins on right
[ 10.05]    Keep left on orange when blue goes right
[ 10.10]    Keep left on orange when unmarked goes right (not on map)
[ 10.35]    Turn right on red 
[ 10.45]    Turn right on red/blue, stay left on red when blue leaves to the right
[ 10.50]    Straight on red when orange goes left
[ 10.60]    At multi-trail intersection, left on red/orange briefly, then keep right on red when orange goes straight
[ 10.85]    Cross footbridge over creek 
[ 11.05]    Cross over paved Church Road and take path through field towards parking lot
[ 11.10]    Continue on gravel road towards park gates, turn right on woods road just before gates, pass white building on right
[ 11.25]    When a wide horse trail goes left, keep straight
[ 11.50]    Pass open field with parking on right through trees
[ 11.75]    At T-intersection, turn left on the blue dot trail
[ 11.85]    Turn left on the blue dot trail when unmarked goes right towards homes
[ 12.25]    Keep right on blue dot when unmarked goes left
[ 12.35]    At top of beam steps, turn right on red dot when blue dot goes straight
[ 12.60]    Left on red dot when unmarked goes straight (not on map)
[ 12.70]    Right on blue dot when red dot goes straight
[ 12.95]    Right on yellow dot when blue dot goes left
[ 13.10]    Cross Route 29, to Grant Street, cross canal on Grant Street then left on D&R Canal towpath
[ 13.45]    Turn right on steps down to parking lot

Washington Crossing State Park only:
[  0.00]    Walk south towards the Johnson Ferry House; take walkway over Route 29
[  0.35]    At beginning of the green dot trail, turn left to overlook then retrace and continue on green dot trail
[  0.50]    At paved road, turn left briefly then right on unmarked Continental Lane
[  0.65]    Red dot trail merges in from left
[  0.75]    Keep straight on Continental Lane crossing paved road when the red dot trail ends
[  0.85]    Cross paved park road
[  0.90]    Open gate to enter fenced area, close gate behind you
[  0.95]    Open gate to exit fenced area, close gate behind you
[  1.10]    Cross the main park road; trail descends
[  1.20]    At sign pointing right towards the park office, make a sharp left on the yellow dot trail
[  1.25]    Cross foot bridge, paved road, then another foot bridge
[  1.30]    Back side of open air theater on right
[  1.45]    Straight on yellow dot when green dot comes in from left
[  1.50]    Rock hop across creek, continue left on yellow dot trail
[  1.55]    Keep straight when a bridge goes left over the creek
[  1.70]    When red dot/yellow dot goes straight, turn right on red dot; after a few steps turn right on blue dot
[  2.00]      Keep straight when unmarked connector trail goes left
[  2.05]    Keep right on blue dot when unmarked connector trail goes left, go beyond gate, keep to left of open grassy area and continue straight
[  2.15]    Continue along paved circular drive which goes to parking for open air theater; turn left on blue dot foot trail at sign for nature center
[  2.30]    When blue dot turns right towards Knox Grove, turn left on the unmarked connector trail briefly then left on red dot
[  2.55]    Turn right on blue dot when red dot goes straight downhill on wide wood beam steps
[  2.60]    Keep straight on red when unmarked goes right
[  2.65]    Cross foot bridge over creek then immediately turn right on unmarked along creek briefly then right on solid blue
[  2.70]    Cross foot bridge then turn right on solid red; stay on solid red back around to this point
[  2.85]    Beginning of self guiding trail with orange numbered squares - same as solid red trail
[  3.00]    Trail comes out at nature center, continue follow solid red to left at sign that says "counter clockwise"
[  3.15]    Keep left on solid red when solid white goes right
[  3.25]    Keep left on solid red when bridge goes right on solid white/green
[  3.30]    Straight when solid blue/green goes left
[  3.40]    Turn right on solid blue, cross bridge, pass bench, cross bridge, turn right where previously came in from left
[  3.50]    Keep straight when a trail goes to the left indicated by "E" on post
[  3.55]    Turn left on solid green
[  3.65]    Turn left on solid white when green/white goes right
[  3.75]    Continue straight on unmarked towards wildlife blind when solid white goes right
[  3.80]    Turn right towards the wildlife blind; retrace keeping to the right towards wide horse trail
[  3.90]    Turn right on wide horse trail
[  4.00]    At T-intersection, turn right on wide horse trail
[  4.05]    Pass white park building on the left
[  4.10]    At gravel road with park gate and buildings on right, turn left on gravel road towards small parking area; right at parking area beyond get to loop around pond
[  4.25]    Come out on clearing and keep left back towards parking lot
[  4.30]     Continue on gravel road towards park gates, turn right on woods road just before gates, pass white building on right
[  4.45]    When a wide horse trail goes left, keep straight
[  4.70]    Pass open field with parking on right through trees
[  4.95]    At T-intersection, turn left on the blue dot trail
[  5.05]    Turn left on the blue dot trail when unmarked goes right towards homes
[  5.45]    Keep right on blue dot when unmarked goes left
[  5.55]    At top of beam steps, turn right on red dot when blue dot goes straight
[  5.80]    Left on red dot when unmarked goes straight (not on map)
[  5.90]    Right on blue dot when red dot goes straight
[  6.15]    Right on yellow dot when blue dot goes left
[  6.30]    Cross Route 29, to Grant Street, cross canal on Grant Street then left on D&R Canal towpath
[  6.65]    Turn right on steps down to parking lot

Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate only:
[  0.00]    Cross paved Church Road and take red trail into Ted Stiles Preserve
[  0.25]    Cross footbridge over creek, keep right along creek when an unmarked trail goes left
[  0.40]    Keep right on red when orange goes left
[  0.50]    Turn left on orange, cross over unmarked trail
[  0.55]    Turn right on blue
[  0.70]    Turn left on blue/red when red comes in from the right; right on blue when red leaves to left
[  0.80]    Keep left on blue when unmarked goes right
[  1.00]    Turn left at power cut on unmarked trail shown as orange on map
[  1.20]    Turn left in parking lot towards information board; take trail to right of information board (unmarked at this point but is the white trail)
[  1.50]    Keep straight when orange goes left; first white marker comes into view
[  1.70]    Keep straight on white when unmarked crosses over
[  2.30]    Keep right at abandoned farm buildings; trail becomes pavement briefly then gravel
[  2.40]    Turn right on red leaving gravel road
[  2.60]    Keep left on red when white goes right
[  3.55]    At T-intersection turn left (right not on map - dead ends at gated quarry); continue straight when yellow goes right; at T-intersection turn right on white
[  3.65]    Keep right through orchard at former Kuser estate towards split rail fence; turn left on paved road
[  3.90]    Go beyond "no vehicles allowed" sign, follow road to the left
[  3.95]    Turn right on the blue trail
[  4.30]    At arrow indicating sharp right turn on blue, turn left on an unmarked footpath
[  4.40]    Old abandoned farm buildings from earlier in the hike, pond on right, veer right uphill towards white building
[  4.55]    Turn right on path which is white trail (look behind you to see markers)
[  5.10]    Keep straight on white when unmarked crosses over
[  5.35]    Right on orange when white goes straight
[  5.70]    Pass chimney and fireplace ruins on right
[  5.75]    Keep left on orange when blue goes right
[  5.80]    Keep left on orange when unmarked goes right (not on map)
[  6.05]    Turn right on red 
[  6.15]    Turn right on red/blue, stay left on red when blue leaves to the right
[  6.20]    Straight on red when orange goes left
[  6.30]    At multi-trail intersection, left on red/orange briefly, then keep right on red when orange goes straight
[  6.55]    Cross footbridge over creek 
[  6.75]    Cross over paved Church Road and take path through field towards parking lot
[  6.80]    Parking lot at ponds

Goat Hill Overlook:
[  0.00]    Continue on gravel road from parking lot beyond closed metal gate
[  0.20]    Keep right on gravel road when trail goes left
[  0.30]    Keep right on gravel road when trail goes left
[  0.45]    Gravel road veers sharply left to overlook; retrace
[  0.90]    Back at car

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