Batona Trail - Pakim Pond to Franklin Parker Preserve, NJ

ABOUT THE PARK: 
Brendan T. Byrne State Forest - NJ Division of Parks and Forests
Franklin Parker Preserve - New Jersey Conservation Foundation
New Batona Trail Section Debuts - New Jersey Conservation Foundation

DIRECTIONS:
Pakim Pond picnic area parking lot:
GPS coordinates 39.880188, -74.533664


TRAIL MAP:
Brendan T. Byrne State Forest Trail Map - NJ Division of Parks and Forests
Batona Trail Re-Route - New Jersey Conservation Foundation

HIKE DISTANCE: 8.3 miles

THE HIKE:
We had just hiked a different section of the Batona Trail 2 days before.  What a difference 2 days of temperatures in the 40's and 50's makes.  The snow was almost gone!  And thanks, Jim, for the recommendation.  This is a very lovely section of the Batona Trail!

The half moon was visible throughout the entire hike.

Started at the far left corner of the parking lot.

Trails to the left, restrooms and Pakim Pond to the right.

Pakim Pond

To the trails.

A short distance ahead, turn right on the Batona Trail which follows the white Mt. Misery Trail.

Swamp on the left,

Pakim Pond on the right.

The Mt. Misery Trail leaves to the left, the Batona Trail to the right.

The other side of Pakim Pond where we started.

Through a swamp on boardwalks.

Sometimes she thinks being up on the boardwalk is a better idea,

sometimes not.  But just wait, this comes back to bite her in a bit.

After the swamp the trail dries out, amazingly dry after two days of snow melt.

We would have used this sign the other day when we went the wrong way.  But just as well because we came back to much less snow.

The re-route of the Batona Trail starts at Route 72 leaving Brendan Byrne State Forest and entering Franklin Parker Preserve.

The trails follows Route 72 on a woods road for a short distance before heading right into the woods.

Done for this season, thank goodness, but FYI in the future.

Another swamp where you alternate between tree roots and boardwalks.

Dry again for a bit.

Until this section of wobbly, floating (?) boardwalks.  They sink when you step on them so Shawnee figured, what the heck.  At one point we both stepped on the same section and sank.

A log bridge over a creek.

Cranberry bogs to the right.

And quite a bit of snow and ice still along the cranberry bogs.

OK, this is where it happened.  Shawnee's indecisiveness about whether to bridge/boardwalk or whether not to got her in big trouble.  At the end of this bridge there are trees in the middle and it's tricky to get around then you have to jump over water into a large animal hole before you hit solid ground.  Shawnee stepped to the right where the foam is and as I yelled NOOOOOOOO she stepped off completely.  One minute she was there, the next minute completely gone.  I will forever remember SEEING HER HEAD UNDER WATER as she struggled to the surface.  Thank goodness for the handle on her harness.  That made hauling her out much easier, otherwise I would have been going in after her.

Totally, 100%, completely, every single strand of fur soaking wet.

Not too far after the cranberry bogs, the trail was totally flooded out and our mileage was getting a little long so we turned around to head back.

Where the Batona Trail turns right on the way back, I kept straight thinking I could go around the cranberry bogs a different way and meet back up with the Batona Trail.  Unfortunately, that way was flooded out, too, so we had to retrace.  (I saw later looking at my track in satellite view that had I slogged on through, I was almost at the turning point and would have ended up on a path to Laurel Lane and could have taken that a short distance to where the Batona Trail crosses over.) 

This is the view of that bridge where Shawnee stepped off as we headed back.  She once again tried to go that same way - I suppose the foam looks like solid ground to her - but this time I forced her to the right of those trees in the middle and she got over without going in.  That water is DEEP!

Just ask her.

The cranberry bogs on the way back.

At this point I noticed her limping and when she stopped she held her left paw up.  Oh no, now what?  I thought maybe she did something to her leg during her ordeal but when I checked her paw, she had a thorn stuck in her pad.  Once I yanked that out, all was well once more.  Not a good Friday the 13th for Shawnee :(

A spot of warm sunshine!

We took a break and let Shawnee's harness and fur drip dry for a bit.

Back through the swamp.

Crossing back over Route 72.

Back through Brendan Byrne State Forest.

The Batona Trail along Pakim Pond.

Chicken jerky makes everything better.  Except the wet swamp dog smell during the drive home.

Franklin Parker Preserve, NJ

ABOUT THE PARK:
Franklin Parker Preserve - New Jersey Conservation Foundation
NJCF Wins Award for Bog Restoration - PhillyBurbs.com

DIRECTIONS:
Franklin Parker Preserve
GPS Coordinates 39.813677, -74.547471

View Larger Map


TRAIL MAPS:
Franklin Parker Preserve Trail Map (Black and White) - NJCF
Franklin Parker Preserve Trail Map (Color) - NJCF

HIKE DISTANCE:
10.45 miles
Trail network allows for many shorter loops - see trail maps

THE HIKE:
The red trail and part of the yellow trail are very scenic footpaths through cedar swamps, pine forests and along the Wading River.  All other trails are packed sand roads through forests, blueberry fields and cranberry bogs.  The trails traverse many swampy areas and there are several water crossings on branches piled across so waterproof hiking shoes are most definitely needed.

Facing the gate, look for the red-blazed trail on the right that goes into the pine forest.

The red-blazed trail follows along Bertha's Canal.

The trail crosses over abandoned railroad tracks.

The combined red and green trails on sand roads through the cranberry bogs.

Observation deck at the cranberry bogs.

Swans in flight.

Swans in the water.

The white-blazed trail leads to Bald Eagle Reservoir.

Bald Eagle Reservoir

An interesting crossing at Bald Eagle Reservoir.

Bald Eagle Reservoir Observation Deck

A blue-blazed connector trail.

Yellow-blazed foot traffic only trail section to and along the West Branch Wading River.

West Branch Wading River

Busy Beavers

The yellow trail meets back up with the red trail via a blue connector trail.

Bridge on the red trail.

The red trail leads back to the parking lot at the opposite side of the gate from where the hike began.

Tracks in the snow.

HIKE SUMMARY:
[  0.00]  Facing the gate, turn right on the red-blazed trail
[  0.35]  Red-blazed trail begins to parallel Bertha's Canal
[  0.70]  Just after conservation easement sign watch for red trail to make sharp left turn before reaching the dam (turn not marked)
[  1.10]  Cross unmarked woods road then abandoned railroad tracks then enters cranberry bogs
[  1.35]  Red trail veers away from bogs back into forest
[  1.55]  Cross foot bridge back towards cranberry bogs then turn right merging with green trail on sand road
[  1.80]  Observation deck
[  2.00]  Pass bench on right
[  2.20]  Turn right on red leaving green as green continues straight
[  2.30]  Turn left at old cinder block building on unmarked, cross over canal then turn right on green (Note: To continue straight on red would involve a canal crossing which is not doable; red meets back up with green the other side of that crossing.)
[  2.45]  Watch for red to come in from the right at canal crossing merge briefly with green then leave to the left - turn left on red here through pygmy pines
[  2.70]  Cross over canal
[  2.85]  Stay on red as it turns left merging with green on sand road then turn right on red as it leaves green as a foot path
[  3.00]  When red crosses over green (sand road) at bird house #13, turn right on green
[  3.05]  Keep left on green at fork when unmarked goes right
[  3.30]  When green turns left over canal, keep straight towards Northgate Road sign so woods are on the left, bogs on the right.
[  3.45]  Green turns right and leads to a cinder block building - keep straight passing by building and two sand roads immediately after the building to the left, one right after the another.  There is no blazing in this section but it is the correct route.
[  3.60]  At next intersection turn left and green blazes resume
[  3.90]  Green trail turns right and crosses canal then turns right again
[  4.05]  Keep straight on white (sand road) when white/green goes left
[  4.25]  Keep straight on white when blue goes left at a bench
[  4.75]  White trail turns left at a bench
[  4.80]  Cross reservoir on concrete squares
[  4.90]  Turn right then left to observation deck; retrace and continue right on white
[  5.05]  Turn right on white after passing observation deck
[  5.45]  White turns left and parallels paved Route 563
[  5.60]  At kiosk turn right on yellow, cross paved Route 563 and continue straight on yellow
[  5.70]  Pass another kiosk and walk around gate, continue briefly then turn left on blue into pine forest
[  6.10]  Blue trail turns right on to a sand road
[  6.30]  Blue trail leaves sand road to the left
[  6.40]  Blue trail ends at the yellow trail, turn left on yellow
[  6.85]  Cross straight over paved Route 563 and continue on yellow
[  7.20]  Yellow trail begins to parallel Wading River
[  7.30]  At clearing keep left (no blazes)
[  7.35]  Yellow blaze visible in opposite direction, at fork veer right - blaze not immediately visible but after a few steps comes into view on right
[  7.95]  At T-intersection yellow turns left away from Wading River; a few steps later yellow turns left again
[  8.10]  At clearing turn right on blue connector trail (sand road) when yellow turns left on sand road
[  8.35]  Turn right on red (foot path) when red crosses over blue
[  8.65]  Cross water on sticks and twigs
[  8.75]  Cross water on sticks and twigs
[  8.80]  Suspension bridge
[  8.95]  Two benches on left
[  9.00]  Hilly section
[  9.10]  Stay on red as it turns right on sand road merging with green briefly then leaves to left downhill as green continues straight on sand road
[  9.30]  Cross water on board
[  9.45]  Red trail skirts clearings
[10.25]  Cross abandoned railroad tracks
[10.45]  Back at parking lot