Watchung Reservation - Explore Union County
DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 40.68646, -74.36147
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| WR Tracy Drive Parking Lot - one of the lesser used lots in the park that the Sierra Trail crosses. |
TRAIL MAPS:
Watchung Reservation Trail Map 10/2020 - Union County Parks
HIKE DISTANCE: 12 miles
The entire trail is supposed to be 10 miles. We did take a couple of short side trips but staying only with the trail, it would be more like 11 miles all the way around.
THE HIKE:
My son had mentioned that he wanted to hike the entire white-blazed Sierra Trail with me so that is what we did.
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| We walked out of the parking lot crossing the road to loop around clockwise on the white-blazed Sierra Trail. |
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| A quick detour over to the Trailside Nature Center to check something out ... |
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| The previous day the picture on the left was circulating on Facebook and Twitter with hysterical comments. (I circled in red to highlight what caused open season on "Tim".) My picture on the right shows the correction had been made, apparently very quickly. |
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| Balloon #22 of 2021. |
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| Sky Top Picnic Area where my son and daughter-in-law held their engagement party. |
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| An overlook of a quarry. |
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| Mom and baby having breakfast. |
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| Where the trail follows along Green Brook there was a lot of evidence of flooding from when Hurricane Ida unleashed on New Jersey just 3 days prior. |
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| Trail blocked by a wall of debris but we are able to get around it. |
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| A short side trip to Seeley's Pond. |
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| Seeley's Pond from the bridge on Sky Top Drive. |
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| Entering historic Feltville at Maskers Barn where my son and daughter-in-law had their wedding reception. |
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| A break spot on the left. |
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| Lake Surprise Dam |
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| Lake Surprise Residents |
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| Crayfish |
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| Watchung Stables |
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| There was a lot of erosion on this path but on the upside, Ida washed away all of the horse poop. |
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| Water Tower |
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| Finishing from the opposite end of the parking lot. |
My former workplace glad you enjoyed it. The dog & I enjoy Watchung Reservation for a quick stroll after work.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't hiked that loop in a good 15 years. I was amazed at how well the trails held up to Ida. Other than that section along Green Brook and some erosion, trails were in great shape.
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