Union Transportation Trail, NJ - Miles 0 - 3

 

ABOUT THE PARK:
Union Transportation Trail - Monmouth County Parks

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 40.095313, -74.521505

Millstream Road Parking

TRAIL MAP:
Crosswicks Park and UTT Brochure - Monmouth County Parks

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HIKE DISTANCE: 6 miles (3 miles each way)

THE HIKE: 

Granddaughter Ellie was spending the weekend and this was our second hike, this one longer than the first, so stroller-friendly

Leaving the parking lot the side trail loops around to the right, then left on the UTT immediately crossing Millstream Road.

It got a little crowded in spots but then there would be long stretches of no other people around.

American Goldfinch in the winter.

Cedar Waxwing

Just up ahead before the road crossing is a self service farm stand.  We'd be stopping there on the way back.

Crossing Lahaway Creek.

Female Cardinal

This road crossing at Route 539 is particularly difficult, especially with a stroller and dog to maneuver across.  The crossing light is useless and does nothing.  To the left the road forks and considerate motorists on either leg of the fork stopped and held back traffic.  From the left traffic just would not stop.  Finally there was a break and we were able to cross, waving gratitude to those on the right for stopping to let us cross.

Crossing Jonathan Holmes Road at another parking area.

Carolina Wren

Male Cardinal

Our turnaround point at Burlington Path with the 3-mile marker just the other side of the road crossing.

Catching falling leaves.

Horses!

White-throated Sparrow

Mockingbird

Turkey Vulture

This time crossing Route 539 wasn't so bad.  We just happened into a lull in the traffic and were able to cross immediately.  Usually it's a nonstop stream of traffic so we were lucky.

And here we were back at that farm stand where we purchased two dozen chicken eggs.  Brodie and Ellie had some for dinner that night.  This farm stand even has a QR code posted for paying with Venmo which is really convenient.

I had seen these off the trail on our way out so nabbed them on the way back.  Balloons #57, #58, #59 and #60 of the year.

Of course she falls asleep almost at the end.

Last road crossing before the parking lot.

Tired hikers heading home.

Union Transportation Trail, NJ

ABOUT THE PARK:
Union Transportation Trail - Monmouth County Parks

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 40.20617, -74.53661

Sharon Station Road Parking Lot

TRAIL MAP:
Crosswicks Park and UTT Brochure - Monmouth County Parks

Powered by Wikiloc

HIKE DISTANCE:  7.7 miles (3.85 miles each way)

THE HIKE:

Heading south from the parking lot.

It feels like walking in a power cut.

Markers every half mile.

Although new, the trail is already pretty beaten up by horse traffic.

The bridges are all quite nice.

The trail does sometimes go through countryside...

... but more often it's through loud, littered industrial areas.

Road crossings with an option to push a button for caution lights for traffic but we were able to cross without using that.

Going under I-195.

Along with all of the horse traffic comes lots of horse poop.

The trail passes by this area that has these monster lifts that are LOUD when in use.

Oh but look ....

... a balloon for the collection! 

Towards the end of this section things quiet down and become a little more scenic although there is almost constant road noise from Route 539 that the trail runs parallel to.

I was hoping this might be a bobcat...

... but no, it's a cat cat.

Lahaway Creek

The trail veers right in a bypass.

This was actually the best part of the trail.

A great blue heron taking off from the pond.

Where the bypass turns left ...

... to follow along Route 539, we turned back.

Sometimes it feels like walking through a dump. 

Mostly not scenic at all contrary to what I had read about it.

Hunters - hence the orange flag on Shawnee's wheels.

After dodging (sometimes unsuccessfully on both our parts) now melted horse poop on the way back, the very last stretch, which was not bad in the beginning, now had that white pickup on the left, apparently without a muffler, idling the entire time.

Heading north, the trail will go into Assunpink WMA, which might be nicer than heading south but don't think I'll be back to find out.  It's a shame because I can imagine construction of this trail cost a lot of money and it was done nicely but I had to ask myself "Why?" the entire time.