Watchung Reservation, NJ - Yellow/Orange/Red Trails

ABOUT THE PARK:
Watchung Reservation - Union County, NJ

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates  40.683070, -74.372946

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TRAIL MAP:  
Watchung Reservation Trail Map - County of Union, NJ
Watchung Reservation - Yellow/Orange/Red Trails at EveryTrail


HIKE DISTANCE: 3.75 miles

THE HIKE:
It was 62 degrees today on December 1 so of course, we had to hike again.  After yesterday's successful hike of 1.9 miles, we cranked it up to 3.75 miles and Shawnee handled that beautifully, too.  She is getting an adjustment at the chiropractor tomorrow so hopefully that will fix her occasional wobble and stiff-legged Frankenstein gait that happens every so often.  Other than that, she kept up fine and could have kept going.  She can go more the next time.

From the parking lot look for the white blazes of the Sierra Trail, follow them to the right along New Providence Road for a short distance, then turn left on to the trails.

It seems to always be muddy in this area but with snow melt, it was a soupy mess.

She just can't get enough sniffing.

At one point Shawnee was sniffing and she started acting differently like she wanted me to come look.  She was trying to show me this injured mouse.  I think we probably startled a fox that was in the process of procuring breakfast.  As much as I wanted to snatch the mouse up, take him with me and make him better, he was too severely injured so I felt the best thing was be to leave him there. 

Still catching up on reading her pee-mail.

This hike was actually long enough to stop for a drink.

Nearing Surprise Lake there was a section of nasty, muddy construction.

Coming up on Surprise Lake which looks surprisingly empty.

This Great Blue Heron stood crooked like this for a very long time.

He may have been watching that construction.  Looks like the old dam is being torn down.

Drained Surprise Lake

Up ahead on the trail along Surprise Lake, blue jays and a cardinal were bathing in a mud puddle.

The blue jays took off and a few other birds joined in.

Leaving Lake Surprise on an unmarked trail with old, dry pavement.

Looks like an old light fixture.  This was probably a paved, lit trail in the olden days.

The Loop

The red-blazed Hill Top Swamp Trail was the driest trail we were on!

Watchung Reservation, NJ - Seeley's Pond

ABOUT THE PARK:
Watchung Reservation - Union County, NJ

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 40.668684, -74.403621

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Seeley's Pond Picnic Area Parking

TRAIL MAP:  
Watchung Reservation Trail Map - County of Union, NJ
Watchung Reservation, NJ - Seeley's Pond at EveryTrail


HIKE DISTANCE:  5 miles

THE HIKE:

A walk from the parking lot back towards Sky Top Drive across the field leads to ...

... a footpath with a rock hop over Blue Brook.  There weren't enough rocks to get over without getting wet so we backtracked, walked out the Seeley's Pond Picninc Area drive, turned right on Sky Top Drive, crossed the bridge,

then took the trail on the right from the roadside parking area on Sky Top Road, which is alternate parking but I prefer the parking lot with getting dogs in and out of the car.

An unmarked footpath follows Blue Brook and leads to nice views of Seeley's Pond.

Even though the path is unmarked, it is maintained and easy to follow.

The unmarked path leads to the dam at the other end of Seeley's Pond.

The unmarked path connects to the white-blazed trail.

The Overlook

A very short road walk crosses straight over Sky Top Drive to an unmarked trail beyond the barrier.

This trail doesn't appear to be heavily used but it is easy to follow.

After crossing over the white trail, it follows along the top of a steep gorge.

Blue Brook down below.

Blue Brook, very low water level right now.

After crossing the bridge over Blue Brook and turning left, to the left is the pink trail and the unmarked trail on the right leads...

uphill to the Deserted Village of Feltville.

The Deserted Village of Feltville.

On unmarked footpaths around the Archeology School Site.

Joining up with the pink trail.

Back on white over the boardwalk.

The intersection of Glenside Avenue and Sky Top Drive.

A short road walk on Sky Top Drive over the bridge back to ...

the entrance of Seeley's Pond Picnic Area.