ABOUT THE PARK:
Shark River Park - Monmouth County Parks
DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 40.20108, -74.08104
TRAIL MAP:
Shark River Park Brochure - Monmouth County Parks
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HIKE DISTANCE: 3.75 miles
THE HIKE:
When I hiked here on Thanksgiving Day I had scouted out the Shark River Run Trail to be sure it exists and was accessible from where it crossed roads. It appeared to be. But once on the trail, turns out most of this trail is impassable and the part east of Gully Road should not even be on the map any more.
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| We started by walking back out of the Gully Road parking lot ... |
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| ... then left on Gully Road for a short road walk around the bend to ... |
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| ... the Shark River Run Trail on the right. |
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| It starts out very clear and open ... |
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| ... but quickly becomes swampy and overgrown. |
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| We were following deer tracks in the snow. |
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| A short distance in it became to difficult to go where deer had gone ... |
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| ... so we aborted and climbed a hill to the left ... |
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| ... to a residential street with the intention of road walking back to try the other side of the Shark River Run. |
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| Problem with that plan was we got stuck in a maze of dead end residential streets. |
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| We ended up having to walk along Old Corlies Avenue to ... |
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| ... left on Gully Road. |
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| Just before the American Legion right on the Shark River Run heading west. |
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| This was much better and mostly clear although a bit swampy sometimes. |
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| The snow made for beautiful scenery. |
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| I knew a bridge was out for construction but thought it was a different bridge since this one was still intact just a few weeks ago. |
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| Now it's gone and there was no way across Shark River to get to where I wanted to go. |
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| No other option than to head back. |
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| Beyond the barrier ... |
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| ... right on Gully Road ... |
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| ... back to the parking lot. |
Hi Daniela -- beautiful "wintry" scenes! Those kind of pictures can make pretty much any place look like a beautiful "Winter Wonderland"!
ReplyDeleteNot sure which map you used, but I remember one that had the Shark River Run trail at 2.4 miles (each way, as an out-and-back); however, like you said -- the section east of Gully Road should not really be on the map...and on the latest map, it actually isn't. When I followed this trail back in 2012, and got east of Gully Road, the trail seemed to go for a very short distance, then end up in what appeared to be someone's back yard, so I had turned around. Plus, I don't think (any part of) this trail has even been maintained for some time. And on top of it, there are no sign posts that I can see, like there are for all the other trails. A shame, because this trail definitely has potential to be as gorgeous as the other trails in the park.
Also, on the new map, there was a section of the SRR Trail east of Remsen Mill Rd. (i.e. next road down from Gully Rd.), which is now called the Scout Island Trail. I don't believe there is actually an island anywhere, and the trail looks just like the first section of the SRR Trail, with some parts barely passable. It looks like the trail is supposed to "tie off" at some point (before heading back), but I'm not sure if I saw it, as the trail seemed to fizzle out near a gate which housed some buildings; they may have been related to electrical power somehow.)
But, as I said -- the wintry pix of Shark River Park are *excellent*! Hopefully your next hike will contain more maintained trails (at least not "swampy"...or, if there are swampy spots, contain boardwalks or bridges! Keep up the great work!
Jim
Thanks, Jim. I used the map that is on the Monmouth County Parks web site, link above. Never saw a newer map that does not show that trail. Maybe they never updated the web site.
DeleteDaniela
Another near miss! If it'd snowed more we intended to snowshoe the section of SR you did Thanksgiving. But so few inches - only warranting Stabilizers - didn't seem as attractive. When we do get to go there, we'll make certain to avoid this other section. At least you had SOME sections that were really pretty.
ReplyDeleteBTW: How did Brodie react to his first 'snow hike'?
Linda
Oh, darn! But you would have never found us in the jungle we were in, LOL. I was a little concerned about how Brodie would do but he seemed to like hiking in it, contrary to how he felt about snow in his yard. He really did not want to go outside in it from the warmth and comfort of his home and had to be shoved out the back door. I don't like snow either but ya gotta do what ya gotta do.
DeleteDaniela
This doesn't apply to your cold-looking and beautiful hike, but I just came across a "Jersey City lost dog" post on Twitter I had retweeted back on September 11th. Does he look familiar?
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/CrianBanter/status/907299106305052672
I just had to share it with you!
Wow, yes, that would be him. And here I was convinced that the people who found him as a stray and turned him in to the shelter were actually his owners who just could not take it any more. But explains why nobody was looking for him. He has separation anxiety and that can make your life living hell. We are going to be adding Xanax to the two drugs he has already been taking because they aren't helping. I know crating him while I am at work is making it worse but no way can I trust him loose in the house. He's great when I am home or when we are hiking, though.
DeleteDaniela