Oak Ridge Park, NJ - Perimeter Loop

 

ABOUT THE PARK: 

Oak Ridge Park - Explore Union County

DIRECTIONS: 

GPS Coordinates 40.608349, -74.342108

The new athletic field parking lot where hardly anyone parks when there are no events at the field.

Or the main lot where everyone parks, just a short distance from the new lot.

TRAIL MAP: 

Oak Ridge Park - Union County Parks (map not updated)

My updates on the original map, perimeter loop in orange.

HIKE DISTANCE:  2.8 miles

THE HIKE: 

I used to come here often when this park first became a park, converted from a golf course.  Nobody knew about it for a long time but word got out and it became overly popular so I hadn't been for a few years.  But now with working from home allowing enough lunch hour time, it warranted a visit during the week.

We walked out the parking lot exit and turned right on the path parallel to Oak Ridge Road.

The path turns right heading into the park.

The path loop around coming back towards Oak Ridge Road ...

... and the main parking lot.

The trail continues at the far end of the main parking lot just before the archery range.

It can get a little busy spots.

There are trash cans everywhere but wouldn't you know this is the one time Brodie did not poop.  I was so looking forward to not having to carry his poop bag.

Someone was hiding behind a branch.

There she is!  A female downy woodpecker.

We had a lot of snow melt and rain so I expected a section to be flooded out.

It's easy enough to backtrack to where it is dry and cut across the grass.

Coming up behind the athletic field.

A section of trail used to go right through what is now the athletic field.  Turning left at the crosswalk ...

... a new path goes between the two parking lot sections ...

... and continues as a path after the parking lot entrance crosswalk.

Some Canada geese taking a break from their migration.

The path loops around heading back towards the parking lot along Oak Ridge Road.

The crosswalk at the parking lot entrance ...

... then the second crosswalk at the parking lot exit back to where we parked.

There they go continuing their journey.

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