Showing posts with label NJ Central Park of Hanover. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NJ Central Park of Hanover. Show all posts

Sunday, June 25, 2023

Frelinghuysen Arboretum, NJ from Hanover Central Park

ABOUT THE PARK:
Frelinghuysen Arboretum - Morris County Parks Commission (Dogs are not allowed.)
Patriots' Path - Morris County Parks Commission

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 40.82019, -74.43815
Parking at Central Park of Hanover

TRAIL MAP:
Frelinghuysen Arboretum Trail Map - Morris County Parks Commission
Patriots' Path Trail Map - Morris County Parks Commission


HIKE DISTANCE:  6.9 miles

THE HIKE: 
Taking advantage of my last dog-free weekend to go where dogs are not allowed.  (Brodie will be coming back home in time for hiking next weekend when my post-surgery restrictions are lifted.)  Also, with the threat of thunderstorms I figured a more urban hike would be better.  Then it turned out to be sunny the entire time.  Of course.
From the parking lot at Central Park following the park path out the exit then along Eden Lane.
Baby rabbits having breakfast.  (I gave them the "stay out of traffic" lecture.)
Crossing over ...
Whippany River
At the end of the guardrail a right on to the Patriots' Path.
The paved path through Central Park follows along the Whippany River.
At South Jefferson Road, turning left to stay with the Patriots' Path for about a quarter mile road walk.
Crossing Cedar Knolls Road ...
... then right on Cedar Knolls Road ...
... across I-287.
At the end of the bridge, the Patriots' Path turns left on a paved path.
The path follows along the Whippany River with I-287 on the other side of the river.
Coming out at an industrial area, right at the brick building ...
... then left at the far end of the Fingerpaint lot ...
... to the bridge to cross the river again.
Now it's dirt path for a while.
Coming out at Morris County Community Gardens.
The Whippany River, I-287 and Hanover Avenue where I would be crossing shortly.
Following the road from the community garden along the water treatment facility (phew!)...
... to a left on East Hanover Avenue.
At the Morris County Library ...
... right at the crosswalk then left on a blue-blazed branch of the Patriots' Path ...
... into Frelinghuysen Arboretum.  
I headed to the right away from the main part of the arboretum, taking various trails, where I did not run into anyone else.
The green trail runs into the Patriots' Path which leaves the arboretum to the right, I turned left.
When the Patriots' Path became paved, I left to take other paths.
Detouring through the Fern Garden ...
... then the Knot Garden until it started getting busy and I was at the point where I had to watch my mileage so ...
... I headed out on a path along the entrance road.
Crossing back over to the library then left to retrace.
Back on South Jefferson I had noticed this path on the right earlier, just after passing Barclays heading back.  I had also seen a similar path leaving the paved path through Central Park so I turned right to check it out.
It came out into a parking lot and I almost turned back but decided to see if it continued straight across the lot and it did.  (This is looking back, I had come out to the left of where that truck is parked and walked straight across the lot.)
The path continues all the way to the paved path I was on at the beginning of the hike where I turned left.  This eliminated a great deal of road walking on South Jefferson Road.
Back on South Jefferson, I turned right ...
... crossed Whippany River ...
... then took the paved path back ...
... to the parking lot.