Allamuchy Paulinskill Valley Trail, NJ

ABOUT THE PARK:
Other than what the historical marker says and part of what I hiked visible in Google Maps as a dashed line named "Paulinskill Valley Trail," there isn't much information.  I read somewhere that it falls under Kittatinny Valley State Park.

"... The railroad right of way from Andover to Phillipsburg, NJ has been preserved for a future Rails to Trails through beautiful Warren County."

Allamuchy Freight House picture from 1907 - Hackettstown Through The Years Facebook Page
Allamuchy Freight House Restoration - New Jersey Midland Railroad Historical Society

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 40.921480, -74.840769

Parking at the Pequest fishing spot.

TRAIL MAP:
Jersey Highlands Trails Map 126 - New York New Jersey Trail Conference

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HIKE DISTANCE:
6.4 miles total (3.2 miles each way)

THE HIKE:

The trail starts directly across the street from the parking lot, contrary to how it is shown in Google Maps as starting to the left and jogging over.  The first part still has railroad ties embedded in the trail.

Crossing over ...

... Pequest River.

After a short distance the railroad ties have been removed and are scattered all along the sides of the trail.

Balloon #31 of the year.

There has been recent trail maintenance.

Coming up on Johnsonburg Road and ...

... the restored Allamuchy Freight House.

Although not shown on Google Maps, the trail continues on.

There is private property on either side, as is usually the case with rail trails, but Tranquility Farms has some snazzy plastic signs.

An old railroad mileage marker.

I think this Junco should be heading back to Canada for the summer but it was in the 20's on this April morning so I am sure he is completely confused.  As are we.

After about 1.5 miles of very clear trail and after crossing Tranquility Farm Road, the trail is more littered with downed branches, but passable.

A bird nest in a downed tree right in the middle of the trail.

And Balloon #32.

A section of the trail was very wet but it was possible to avoid it higher up on the side.

Behind Tranquility cemetery the trail is pretty overgrown and unkempt but I was close to Evergreen Park, which is how far I was trying to make it, so we hacked our way through.

Just the other side of a tangled mass of a blow down, a nice mowed area with a dumpster just before Route 611.

Turning right on Route 611.

Walking along Evergreen Park to the entrance ...

... only to find it closed with no dogs allowed.  So we headed back.

The trail is behind the dumpster.

Back through the mess behind the cemetery.

Back through the flooded part.

Crossing Tranquility Farm Road.

Bummed that this balloon was way up iin a tree, however ....

... that was about 20% of the ballon.  The remaining 80% was on the ground.  So here we have Balloon #33.

Say good-bye to the other part.

Passing the Allamuchy Freight House.

Back at the Pequest River ...

... where a common merganser couple was hanging out.

At the end where railroad ties are embedded.

Back at the parking lot.

Pequest fishing area off to the left of the parking lot.

A bridge to the right where the trail continues.

We continued on to see how far we could get.

The trail was clear for only about .2 miles where it became completely overgrown at the mile marker.

Heading back.

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