Round Valley Reservoir, NJ - Water and Pine Tree Trails and New Hiking Dog Introduction

ABOUT THE PARK:
Round Valley Recreation Area - State of NJ DEP
There is an entrance fee between Memorial Day and Labor Day and the park can only be accessed via the main entry.  Between Labor Day and Memorial Day there is no fee and the park can also be accessed from the Fish and Wildlife Boat Lunch Area.

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 40.61939, -74.84925

South Lot

TRAIL MAP:
Round Valley Recreation Area Trail Map - State of NJ DEP

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HIKE DISTANCE:  2.6 miles

THE HIKE:
First let me introduce my new hiking partner, Rocky.  He came with that  name, responds to it and it is a proper hiking name so we are keeping it.

Rocky getting out of the Newark, NJ animal shelter.  He is a 7-year-old German Shepherd/Border Collie/Pit/Whatever mix released by his owner in July with no reason given.  He was very depressed in the shelter and was listed as urgent.  Black dogs have a harder time getting adopted as well as older dogs and Rocky had both of those strikes against him.  Then with the hundreds and hundreds of young dogs and puppies being brought in from Texas every day, he did not stand a chance.  I always want the dog nobody else wants.  He was perfect for me.  Bonus:  Already neutered and reliably house trained :)

Off on his first hiking adventure.

Rocky is very afraid of men until he gets to know them so just our luck that there were about 50 men in the parking lot when we arrived.  They were going in the opposite direction, I parked as far away from them as I could, we stayed to the perimeter of the lot and all was well.

Exit the South Lot, turn right and head towards the boat launch.

Near the end, left on the Water Trail that is shown as unmarked on the map but is actually blazed in blue.

The white-blazed Family Hiking and Biking Trail joins in from the left.

Round Valley Reservoir

Rocky seems to enjoy the scenic views like Shawnee did.

The white trail leaves left, blue continues right although there were no blue blazes for a while.

Shaping up to be a fine hiker.

This looks like a good break spot.

Sorry about the pink water bowl, Rocky.

Now for the true hiking test.  Would he want chicken jerky for a snack?

Oh yeah!

So happy with my choice - he is a VERY good hiker.

How do you like hiking, Rocky?

He likes it!

Nearing the impoundment dike.

This gate would be locked from Memorial Day to Labor Day so there would be no access.  Now it is open.

On the impoundment dike.

Swimmers to the left, and it was a COLD morning!

Up ahead to the right is the NJ Fish and Wildlife Boat Launch which would be an alternate parking after Labor Day when that gate is open.

Heading back through the gate.

We turned right and went as far as we could until the trail ended then retraced ...

... to continue on blue up into the woods.

The map does not show the blue trail connecting to the green trail but ...

... it does!  This is the loop of the green Pine Tree Trail.  We went left.

At the end of the green trail ...

... first a sniff, then ...

... left to the South Lot on the right.

Wouldn't you know we get back to the car and a MAN is parked next to us getting stuff out of his truck.

Rocky and I just went off to the right a bit and watched, tentatively at first.

Then with more interest.

Looks like they were going scuba diving.  Brrrrr.

A tired but happy hiker.

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