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

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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

Morristown National Historical Park, NJ - Jockey Hollow Area

ABOUT THE PARK:
Morristown National Historical Park - National Park Service

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 40.772242, -74.527680

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In the winter the restroom in this lot is closed but the one in the visitor center is open.  The trail starts to the left of the restroom building.

TRAIL MAPS:
Morristown National Historical Park/Jockey Hollow Area - National Park Service

HIKE DISTANCE:  9.1 miles

PEAK BAGGING:
Mount Kemble - Peakery.com

THE HIKE:

A pond and bench along the combined blue/white trail.

The white-blazed Grand Loop Trail.

The Patriots Path joins in from Lewis Morris Park.

Reconstructed Revolutionary War soldier huts.

Along the Aqueduct Trail

A cold day on the Aqueduct Trail.

Wick Farm

Wick Farm Garden

Hut behind Wick Farm where hiking trails are accessed.

Along the Primrose Brook Trail

Blue-blazed Old Camp Road/Patriots Path

Views from the blue-blazed Mount Kemble Loop Trail

HIKE SUMMARY:
[  0.00]  Start on blue-blazed NY Brigade Trail at kiosk next to restroom building
[  0.30]  Turn left on blue/white when white comes in from the right; pond on right
[  0.40]  Turn left on the white-blazed Grand Loop Trail when blue goes right
[  0.85]  Cross over paved Jockey Hollow Road staying on white
[  0.95]  Keep right on white when unmarked trail goes left to soldiers huts
[  1.75]  Cross paved Sugarloaf Road
[  1.80]  Keep left on white/Patriots Path when Patriots Path comes in from left
[  2.00]  Turn left on Patriots Path towards soldiers huts when white goes straight
[  2.10]  Cross parking lot then turn left up path to soldiers huts
[  2.30]  At the single soldiers hut to the right up the hill, turn right on yellow; at sign post 41 keep right on yellow; keep right on yellow at next intersection when left goes to the Grand Loop Trail
[  2.45]  At T-intersection turn right on the yellow-blazed Grand Parade Trail
[  2.90]  At parking lot keep right on yellow towards the Aqueduct Trail; at the Aqueduct information board keep right across bridge when yellow goes left; keep right at fork when Aqueduct Stop B goes left; at fork at sign post #54 keep right and cross foot bridge straight ahead when green/Patriots Path comes in from larger bridge on the left
[  3.15]  At fork keep left when Patriots Path goes right up steps; Aqueduct Trail is unblazed but is well-defined and easy to follow
[  3.30]  At Aqueduct Stop N keep right on foot path when woods road is to the left
[  3.40]  After crossing foot bridge, trail makes sharp left turn and follows bank of creek; cross several more foot bridges and boardwalks
[  3.75]  At end of trail at stone well (?) turn left, cross bridge, proceed up to intersection at clearing and turn around to see three trails converge - the far right is the Aqueduct Trail you just came off of, take the far left trail that says "To Grand Loop Trail .1 mile"
[  3.80]  Cross over paved Sugarloaf Road
[  3.85]  Turn left on white-blazed Grand Loop Trail
[  4.25]  Turn left at sign towards park office when the white Grand Loop Trail continues straight towards the New Jersey Brigade
[  4.30]  Cross wide bridge, paved road, wide bridge and continue on unmarked horse trail
[  4.60]  Cross through Visitor Center parking lot, walk around Visitor Center and follow red paved path towards Wick Farm; continue through Wick Farm past barn towards old hut
[  5.05]  Turn right on yellow-blazed trail at old hut
[  5.20]  Keep right on yellow when unmarked goes left
[  5.30]  Keep left on yellow Grand Parade Trail when right goes to Jockey Hollow Road
[  5.70]  When the yellow trail comes up on paved Jockey Hollow Road at a trail intersection, turn right and cross over Jockey Hollow Road to the red-blazed Primrose Brook Trail slightly to the left before the bridge
[  5.90]  Turn right for "Long Loop" when "Short Loop" goes left
[  6.25]  Straight on red when white/Patriots Path cross over
[  6.50]  Straight on red when white crosses over; rock up over creek - a few steps later there is another rock hop back to the other side but the rocks were too far under the water - if you keep straight along the left bank, you can pick up the trail when crosses back over again a short distance ahead
[  6.85]  Turn right on paved Jockey Hollow Road a short distance then right on the blue-blazed Old Camp Road Trail/Patriots Path
[  7.15]   Keep straight on blue when the white-blazed Grand Loop Trail comes in from left; cross bridge, white-blazed trail leaves to the right
[  7.45]  Keep left on blue trail just before a yellow house (trail now called Mount Kemble Loop Trail)
[  7.55]  Keep right on blue as unmarked goes straight
[  7.80]  Keep left on blue when unmarked goes right
[  8.00]  View to right at open field at Stark's Brigade
[  8.20]  Straight at black metal gate when unmarked crosses over
[  8.35]  Turn left through black metal gate to stay on blue-blazed Mount Kimble Loop Trail as unmarked goes straight
[  8.50]  Stay right on blue when unmarked goes left
[  8.60]  Stay left on blue when unmarked comes in from right
[  8.70]  Left on blue/white when white goes right
[  8.75]  Pond and bench on left
[  8.80]  Right on blue towards NY Brigade Parking Lot when white goes left
[  9.10]  Back at parking lot

Hook Mountain and Nyack Beach State Park, NY

ABOUT THE PARKS:
Hook Mountain/Nyack Beach Bikeway - Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
Nyack Beach State Park - Palisades Parks Conservancy
Hook Mountain State Park - Palisades Parks Conservancy
The Long Path, Nyack to Long Clove Section - NY/NJ Trail Conference
So there is no confusion regarding hunting, as of 1/13/2011 the Rockland County Parks Department confirmed that there is no hunting allowed in any parks in Rockland County.  In some of the pictures my dog has her blaze orange vest on because it is insulated and it was a very cold and windy day, not because we were hiking where hunting is allowed.

DIRECTIONS:

GPS Coordinates 41.120856, -73.910937

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Nyack Beach Parking - seasonal fee charged.  No fee in winter but per sign on gate, road to parking lot can be gated in the winter since road is not plowed.

TRAIL MAPS:
Hudson Palisades Trails Maps 110 and 111 - NY/NJ Trail Conference

HIKE DISTANCE:  12.55 miles
Click here for NY/NJ Trail Conference 6 miles option from Rockland Lake State Park. 

PEAK BAGGING:
Hook Mountain - Peakery.com

THE HIKE:

Start on the bike path at the far end of the parking lot.

The bike path follows along the Hudson River.

Looking back towards the Tappan Zee Bridge

Cliffs along the bike path.

Keep right when the trail splits 1.5 miles into the hike.  The trail will become more hilly and rockier.  This section was closed after Hurricane Irene but has reopened and is in good shape. (For the 6 mile version, veer left towards Rockland Lake.)

A memorial bench for Colleen Murphy and her dog Jemma who fell off the cliff to their deaths in February 2011.

Click here for the news coverage.

Watch for bald eagles flying over and scan the tops of the trees up on the cliffs to maybe spot one watching you.

At the old stone building, watch for the beginning of the white-blazed Treason Trail which leads up to the Long Path for the return trip along the tops of the cliffs.

The white-blazed trail switchbacks up steeply on loose rocks.

A train coming out of the tunnel under the mountain.

The Hudson and the bike path below come into view.

The aqua-blazed long path leads back along the top of the mountains.  Expect to ascend and descend several times over the rolling mountaintops.

The Long Path passes the Wells Family Burial Ground from the mid 1800's.

Several views along the way.

The Tappan Zee Bridge

Looking south down the Hudson River

Rockland Lake from up above.

New York City

HIKE SUMMARY:
[  0.00]  Begin on bike trail at end of parking lot
[  1.20]  Trail becomes paved and ascends
[  1.45]  Keep right on Haverstraw Trail when trail to Rockland Lake goes left
[  1.80]  Unmarked trail merges in from left
[  2.30]  Memorial bench on left
[  4.25]  Trail turns to pavement, old stone building on right, turn left on white at end of stone building
[  4.65]  At end of white trail, turn left on aqua-blazed Long Path
[  4.90]  Long Path follows along ridge
[  7.05]  At stone wall, Rockland Lake on right, cliff above memorial bench to left
[  8.00]  Wells Family Burial Grounds on left; trail descends to Rockland Lake State Park parking lot; keep straight through parking lot
[  8.30]  At fork, veer left on unmarked to view when aqua goes right
[  8.45]  View; retrace
[  8.60]  Back at intersection, left on aqua
[  8.90]  Unmarked trail not on map merges in from left
[  9.75]  Keep left on aqua as unmarked woods road forks to the right
[10.00]  Short unmarked side trail to left to overlook
[10.30]  Open, rocky summit of Hook Mountain
[10.80]  Keep left when unmarked goes right (yellow on map but did not see blazes)
[11.50]  Left on white when aqua continues straight
[11.85]  Cross small creek on boards
[11.95]  Left on paved road
[12.00]  Right on Larchdale Road
[12.20]  Left at stop sign when road ends; right at park tollbooth
[12.55]  Back at parking lot