ABOUT THE PARK:
Wells Mills County Park - Ocean County Department of Parks and Recreation
DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 39.795622, -74.276569
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TRAIL MAP:
Wells Mills County Park Trail Map - Ocean County Parks Department
HIKE DISTANCE: 8.4 miles
THE HIKE:
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| The park requires hikers to sign the trail register. The latch is up underneath the top of the trail register box - the door with the handle comes down |
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| Although hunting is not allowed in this park, the trails are closed certain days due to hunting on neighboring properties. Call 609-971-3085 to check. This picture shows 2011 dates. |
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| Beginning of the Penns Hill Trail between the Visitor Center and Wells Mills Lake. |
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| Wells Mills Lake |
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| The Penns Hill Trail winds along Wells Mills Lake through cedar forests. |
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| Many bridges and boardwalks lead over swampy areas and they can be very slippery when wet or icy. |
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| Hilly terrain in the otherwise flat Pine Barrens. |
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| Pine trees of the Pine Barrens. |
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| Bench at Penns Hill summit. |
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| Fence crossing where yellow/green/white trails merge together. |
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| Combined white/green/yellow trails. |
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| Bridge over Oyster Creek. |
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| Oyster Creek |
HIKE SUMMARY:
[ 0.00] Start white-blazed Penns Hill Trail other side of Visitor's Center
[ 0.30] Straight on white over foot bridge when blue goes right
[ 0.40] Keep straight on white when yellow/green crossed over
[ 0.45] Cross unmarked sand road
[ 1.15] Cross unmarked trail
[ 1.85] Two mile marker
[ 2.00] Cross unmarked sand road
[ 2.50] Summit of Penns Hill at bench
[ 2.80] Laurel Hill
[ 3.50] White joins green and yellow to the right on sand road other side of fence
[ 3.60] White/yellow/green turns sharply left at scout reservation
[ 3.80] Cross Oyster Creek on bridge
[ 3.85] Trails veer left when woods road comes in from right
[ 4.00] White leaves as foot path to left when green/yellow continue on sand road between park signs
[ 4.70] Five mile marker
[ 6.00] Cross over yellow/green
[ 6.40] Cross woods road
[ 6.70] Seven mile marker
[ 7.60] Cross woods road
[ 8.20] White turn right on woods road joining green/yellow
[ 8.30] Cross wide bridge over Oyster Creek
[ 8.35] Keep straight on white/yellow/green as pink Cold Brook Trail goes right; Wells Mill Lake on left
[ 8.40] Visitor Center
