Gone Hikin': Holmdel Park, NJ

Sunday, February 2, 2020

Holmdel Park, NJ - North Section

ABOUT THE PARKS:
Holmdel Park - Monmouth County Park System

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 40.371758, -74.184860

Forest Edge Parking Lot

TRAIL MAP:
Holmdel Park Brochure and Map - Monmouth County Parks

HIKE DISTANCE: 6.8 miles

THE HIKE:

When I left the house it had just stopped raining and was gray and drab on the drive to the hike. As soon as we arrived the skies cleared in time for sunrise. Fortunately the sun did not come out until after Punxsutawney Phil and Staten Island Chuck appeared and predicted an early spring when they did not see their shadows.

We started from the northeast corner of the Forest Edge parking lot, crossing the park road on the crosswalk over towards a picnic area.

There are no signs and there is no identifiable trail (it's on the map) so it took some searching but turns out all you need to do is skirt left around the picnic tables ...

... and a trail appears heading into the woods.

We kept straight but would be returning in a bit to hit that Ridge Walk Trail part on the left.

Going through a gorgeous pine grove.

I do believe I see something over yonder. So we bushwhacked ....

... and voila! Balloon #6 of the year.

Back on the trail we continued to the Hill Top lot where we turned right staying on the Ridge Walk Trail.

After skirting along tennis courts, the trail veers into the woods.

The trail I wanted to take was closed (red dashes) so we continued to the left knowing it would bring us back to where we started but I wanted to pick up the Ridge Walk Trail from the beginning anyway so we on we went.

Back through the other side of that grove of pine trees.

Now retracing ...

... then right on the Ridge Walk Trail although the name on the sign is on the far side.

This brought us back to the Hill Top parking lot where we continued straight to the porta potties and looped around the picnic area to the right coming up along the other side of the tennis courts then back into the woods on a path. There was no sign but map shows the trail we took as the High Point Trail.

Another bushwhack to what I thought might be a balloon but it turned out to be my other nemesis, the plastic bag. Packed that out.

We'd be crossing that long bridge later but first straight ahead.

Ascending on the High Point Trail.

At the top on the High Point Trail, a nice log for a break with some winter views.

Coming off of the trail (and it looks like it might have changed back to the Ridge Walk Trail?) straight ahead is the activity center. We turned left on the Marsh Trail but there is no sign and the trail is very hard to see.

The trail descends steeply on a series of steps.

At the bottom, a looooong boardwalk.

Now crossing that long bridge we passed earlier ...

... to a right on the Cross Country Trail, obviously a heavily used trail. On the footpaths we ran into a handful of trail runners but this wide path was very busy.

Coming back up on the Hill Top parking lot on the opposite side.

Once again, we left the crowds behind even though this path follows along the park road for a bit.

Then a right on... not sure what path with no sign and not clear on the map, but back to just us and a few trail runners.

Passing by the Forest Edge lot where we parked way over on the other side.

Around to the left of the playground and on to a paved trail which again, was very busy.

We ended up walking on the mowed grass to avoid the many, many dogs. Fortunately, everyone had their dogs leashed here but because of the many off leash dogs that have charged Brodie in the past, he has become reactive to any dog on a trail so we try to stay as far away as possible. This gives him positive encounters and he improves until another off leash dog charges him. Sigh.

Thin ice, really?

Coming up on the ponds.

Just after the ponds, the David C. Shaw Arboretum on the right.

Dogs allowed, gate unlocked, in we went. We were the only ones there.

There are no paths so we just meandered around.

At the far side is a crosswalk to continue to the Ramanessin section which Shawnee and I hiked in 2014. This gate was padlocked but we weren't heading over there anyway so we started to head back along the fence.