Norvin Green State Forest, NJ - Lake Sonoma Loop with Manaticut Point

ABOUT THE PARK: 

Norvin Green State Forest - New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection

DIRECTIONS: 

GPS Coordinates 41.09089, -74.32116

Lots of parking along Crescent Drive.

TRAIL MAP:

Northern New Jersey Highlands Trail Map 151 - NYNJ Trail Conference

HIKE DISTANCE:  6.6 miles

THE HIKE: 

Since Brodie and I partied a little too hard at my grandson's birthday party the day before, this hike was shorter that what we usually do.

Trailhead on Crescent Drive.

At the end of the spur trail, we turned right on the yellow-blazed Manaticut Point Loop.

Great Crested Flycatcher

Right on the orange-blazed Lake Sonoma Trail.

Caught up in leaf debris, just waiting for me to happen by ...

... balloon #14 of the year.

Lots of these little red efts were out and about so had to be careful where I stepped.

After crossing a gravel road, the Stonetown Circular Trail joins in for a short distance.

Back out on the road, the Stonetown Circular Trail turns right and after the intersection ...

... the Lake Sonoma Trail leaves to the left.

Brodie's obsession - turtles.  He has to be physically dragged away.

The poor guy was just minding his own business having a bite for breakfast.

Norvin Green is one of my favorite places to hike as long as the trail follows footpaths.  But once on forest roads ...

... there is a lot of illegal ORV damage with beer cans everywhere and I dread hiking those sections.

The mosquitoes were out for the first time this year and they were particularly hungry, especially in these flooded areas.

The original plan was to include the blue-blazed Tapawingo Trail which is still under construction but I believed enough of it followed existing trail to where it would work.

Found a license plate attached to the mounting bracket, I am thinking maybe from a Jeep.  I packed it out and I suppose the local police department is where I should turn it in.

The mud and mosquitoes got so bad we had to turn back aborting the Tapawingo Trail and continuing on the Lake Sonoma Trail.

More of this damage on the woods roads nearing Lake Sonoma.

Coming up on Lake Sonoma, there is a spur trail that leads to ...

... an ORV party spot complete with campfire and garbage bags full of beer cans ...

... and a view of Lake Sonoma.

Heading back and continuing on orange with nicer views and no trash.

The Manaticut Point Trail joins in from the right.

A balloon floating along the far side of Lake Sonoma, way out of my reach.

Pileated Woodpecker

Just a very short distance from where the Lake Sonoma Trail completes the loop, we turned right on the orange/yellow connector trail.  Why retrace when we can include Manaticut Point?

At the end, left on yellow.

Coming up on the views.

Alien Rock

At the end of yellow, right on yellow-black-square spur trail to retrace.

Crescent Drive was now lined all the way around the bend with cars.  That is probably from the group of about 30 hikers that passed by during our hike because other than that group, in only encountered one other group of three.

Definitely too much partying the day before for 6 miles to make him this tired.   I felt about the same way on the drive home.

Wildflowers seen along the trails:

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