ABOUT THE PARK:
Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve - Borough of Franklin Lakes
DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 40.975767, -74.195462
View Larger Map
TRAIL MAP:
Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve - New York New Jersey Trail Conference
Note: The blue-blazed trail does not span across the lake as shown on the map. It currently consists of two separate sections that do not connect.
HIKE DISTANCE: 2.3 miles
THE HIKE:
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| Facing the lake there is a kiosk on the right... |
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| Turn left and cross the dam to start the hike on the white-blazed trail. |
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| White-blazed trail around the lake. |
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| A Red-winged Blackbird seen from the dam. |
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| Part of the trail runs along a chain link fence between the lake and the road... |
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| ... but focusing on what is in the water drowns out the traffic noise. |
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| Franklin Lake from the High Mountain Road side. |
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| Irises along the lake. |
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| Leave the trail briefly through an opening in the fence to cross on the road bridge, then reenter at the next fence opening. |
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| After reentering through the fence opening, turn right on the blue-blazed trail for a short out-and-back. |
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| High Mountain on the other side of the lake from the blue-blazed trail. |
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| Back on the white-blazed trail, a rock hop over a creek. |
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| When Dan Balogh did this hike on April 15, 2012, there were Canada goose nests with eggs. I saw no goslings at all. It is supposed to take 56 days for goslings to attain full plumage but it has only been 38 days since they were eggs - could they be this big already? |
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| Another section of blue-blazed trail. |
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| High Mountain from the blue-blazed trail. |
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| Pine trees near the end of the white-blazed trail. |
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| Picnic tables in a pretty pine area along the lake. |
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| Watched the swan family from the picnic table. |
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| After the children were tucked away with one parent, the other came back out and put on quite a show. |
HIKE SUMMARY:
[ 0.00] Facing lake turn left and cross dam on white-blazed trail
[ 0.75] Leave trail to left through break in fence to cross bridge
[ 0.80] Reenter trail to right through fence opening on the other side of the bridge; turn right on blue-blazed trail
[ 0.95] End of blue-blazed trail; retrace
[ 1.15] Turn right on white at end of blue trail
[ 1.25] Rock hop over creek
[ 1.55] Turn right on blue-blazed trail
[ 1.75] End of blue-blazed trail; retrace
[ 1.95] Turn right on white when blue-blazed trail ends
[ 2.30] Picnic tables; back at parking lot
