Pequannock Watershed, NJ: Four Birds Trail North

ABOUT THE PARK:
Pequannock Watershed - Newark Watershed Conservation and Development Corporation

DIRECTIONS:

GPS Coordinates 41.030103, -74.454096

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Parking along west side of Route 513 (map shows parking on east side)

IMPORTANT:

A permit is required to hike in the Pequannock Watershed.  Permits must be purchased in person at the Newark Watershed office. Click here for information on obtaining permits.

TRAIL MAP:
Jersey Highlands Trail Map 125 - NY/NJ Trail Conference

PEAK BAGGING:
Green Pond Mountain - New Jersey 1K Club
Mount Newfoundland - New Jersey 1K Club

HIKE DISTANCE:
Out and back on Four Birds Trail with Green Pond Mountain summit - 10 miles
Out and back on Four Birds Trail wiithout Green Pond Mountain - 8 miles
Four Birds Trail/Railroad Loop with Green Pond Mountain summit - 9.15 miles
Four Birds Trail/Railroad Loop without Green Pond Mountain summit - 7.15 miles

THE HIKE:

At the beginning of the hike the white-blazed Four Birds Trail heads towards Green Pond Mountain.

A creek crossing...

... with some small waterfalls.

A Wild Turkey.

A Black-capped Chickadee.

Woods road to Green Pond Mountain summit.

A House Wren.

Green Pond from Green Pond Mountain.

The Four Birds Trail follows along the top of the cliffs.

Looking back south with Green Pond in the distance.

Creek crossing on the way to Mount Newfoundland.

Northern terminus of the Four Birds Trail at small parking area on Bigelow Road.

From this point you should probably turn around for an out and back hike.  To continue on as I did may or may not be legal - I'm not quite sure.  Signs conflict and there is no blazed trail but in an attempt to make a loop, I continued on Bigelow Road and crossed Route 513 to proceed along the railroad tracks.

Bigelow Road with apartments on the right and old railroad cars on the left.

Newfoundland Station built in 1872, has been used as a location for filming  movies.

Just the other side of Route 513 conflicting signs almost next to each other.  I have my permit so I entered.  Apparently so did many others based on the amount of litter and old tires in the area.

There is room to walk next to the railroad tracks.  This space is also used by parents teaching their young children to drive ATVs.  Ugh.

On the other side of the railroad tracks, Old Newfoundland Cemetery, with tombstones dating in the 1800's.

Most tombstones cannot be read but somebody put many of them online HERE.

Some of the graves are still being cared for.

I was delighted to find a woods road running next to the railroad tracks - so much better than walking on that gravel.  But there is a caveat.  The woods road veers away from the tracks and at some point water gets between the woods road and the tracks...

I backtracked some and tried to find a way around the creek but did not want to go back the full mile and walk along the tracks so....

... I broke out my 6 mil plastic boot covers that I carry in my backpack for just such an occasion...

... and forded across.

Turn right just before this bridge and follow the trail to an abandoned rail bed. 

Wharton and Northern Railroad abandoned rail bed.

A well-defined but VERY steep trail (shown with red dashes on the map) connects back with the white-blazed Four Birds Trail at the top just before an overlook.

Overlook of Charlotteburg Reservoir shortly after unmarked trail meets back up with Four Birds Trail.

Just a little farther along the Four Birds Trail, even better views of Charlotteburg Reservoir.

A turkey vulture at the Charlotteburg Reservoir overlook.

From the overlook it is all downhill on the Four Birds Trail back to the car. 

HIKE SUMMARY:
[  0.00]  Walk south 100 feet on Route 513; turn right on white-blazed Four Birds Trail
[  0.30]  Rock hop over creek; short distance ahead cross another creek on logs
[  0.40]  Rock hop over a very small creek
[  0.50]  After crossing swampy area on rocks, trail veers very slightly left then uphill (blazes missing in this area and trail not well defined because of rocky terrain)
[  1.00]  Trail turns right on gravel road at power cut
[  1.05]  Trail leaves gravel road as footpath to the right
[  1.35]  Left at fire pit on woods road with old painted over white blazes
[  1.60]  At power cut; keep straight on woods road
[  2.60]  Summit of Green Pond Mountain; retrace
[  3.60]  At fork just before power cut, keep left; cross power and continue back to fire pit
[  3.85]  Left on white-blazed Four Birds Trail at fire pit (not woods road rather trail along top of cliff)
[  4.10]  Trail crosses woods road (on map)
[  4.45]  Trail crosses woods road (on map)
[  4.50]  Rock hop over creek
[  4.75]  Cross small creek/wet area
[  5.15]  Views
[  5.35]  Trail goes through old stone fence
[  5.45}  Trail goes through old stone fence
[  5.95]  Kiosk almost at end of trail
[  6.00]  End of white-blazed Four Birds Trail; retrace or turn right on Bigelow Road
[  6.10]  Old railroad cars and Newfoundland Station
[  6.20]  Cross Route 513
[  6.40]  Old Newfoundland Cemetery on left side of railroad tracks
[  6.75]  Right at fork if taking woods road
[  6.95]  After having veered away from tracks, tracks now directly ahead when woods road  turns left through blowdowns - this is where you need to look for a place to ford creek to get over to railroad tracks; at tracks, cross over and turn left
[  7.10]  Turn left just before railroad bridge
[  7.15]  Veer left onto abandoned rail bed
[  7.25]  Right on unmarked trail steeply uphill
[  7.95]  Unmarked trail ends at white-blazed Four Birds Trail; turn left to overlook; continue short distance to second overlook
[  8.05]  Second overlook; leaving overlook cross over Four Birds Trail on woods road
[  8.15]  Veer left on white-blazed Four Birds Trail when woods road ends
[  8.55]  Cross woods road
[  8.80]  Rock hop creek
[  8.90]  Rock hop creek
[  9.15]  Back at parking

Teetertown Ravine Nature Preserve, NJ

ABOUT THE PARK:
Teetertown Ravine Nature Preserve - Hunterdon County Parks
Crystal Springs Section - Hunterdon County Parks

DIRECTIONS:
Mountain Farm Nature and Activity Center Parking
GPS Coordinates 40.749200, -74.857190

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Room for 5 cars.

TRAIL MAP:
Teetertown Preserve Trail Map - Hunterdon County Parks
Crystal Springs Section Trail Map - Hunterdon County Parks

HIKE DISTANCE:  8.4 miles

THE HIKE:

Continue through the parking lot and veer left on the paved path to start the hike.  No blazes or signs in this area.

The paved path leads to the Old Orchard Trail (no sign or blazes).

The blue-blazed trail starts from the Old Orchard Trail.

A brief road walk through a residential area connects from the blue-blazed trail to the ravine.

An old bridge in the ravine.

The creek flowing through the ravine.

The white-blazed trail leads up out of the ravine.

An early spring flower on the trail.

The red-blazed trail leads through woods then to camping sites and a field.

Skunk Cabbage

First pond in the Crystal Springs section.

Second pond in the Crystal Springs section.

Scenic farm fields in the Crystal Springs section.

Some white markers lead the way from one field to another but for the most part the fields are not blazed.

Cross on a beaver dam to reach a cluster of several ponds.

An American Bittern flew up out of a swamp near the ponds.

An Eastern Bluebird near the ponds.

A lot of beaver activity in the pond area.

Oops.

Last farm field on the way out of the Crystal Springs section.

A pond along the Pond Trail.

Some Tree Swallows were very happy to pose for pictures.

HIKE SUMMARY:
[  0.00]  Continue through parking lot and follow paved path to the left at 5 mph sign
[  0.20]  When paved path turns left, keep right in mowed path (Old Orchard Trail)
[  0.30]  Keep straight when a mowed path goes to the right
[  0.35]  Old Orchard Trail veers left around perimeter
[  0.45]  Keep straight on foot path when Old Orchard Trail veers left around perimeter (not on map)
[  0.50]  Come out at corner of field and turn right on blue-blazed trail downhill on rocks at old fence for short distance then at T-intersection with blue, turn right on blue
[  1.10]  Turn left on paved Teetertown Road
[  1.20]  Turn left on paved Hollow Brook Road
[  1.30]  Keep straight on Hollow Brook Road at Ravine Road; becomes gravel and crosses old bridge
[  1.45]  Keep straight when the Geology Study Trail goes left
[  1.70]  Turn left on white-blazed trail at the Teetertown Ravine Nature Preserve sign
[  1.95]  Right on white when the Geology Study Trail goes left
[  2.15]  Right on white/red when red goes left
[  2.35]  Left on red when white goes right
[  2.65]  When red turns left leaving field at bench and porta potty, turn right and cross field towards kiosk on other side
[  2.75]  Continue straight through campsites
[  2.80]  At kiosk, cross chain barrier and veer left towards gravel parking lot
[  2.85]  Turn right and proceed through gravel parking lot
[  2.90]  Cross straight over paved Pleasant Grove Road to orange-blazed trail
[  3.15]  Cross two log foot bridges
[  3.25]  Turn left and proceed around perimeter of field
[  3.95]  Turn left on gravel road with larger gravel rocks and cross creek
[  4.00]  Turn left at T-intersection
[  4.10]  Turn left through path in clearing towards ponds and old red house; retrace
[  4.20]  Turn left at power line on somewhat overgrown footpath
[  4.25]  After short uphill climb, come out on field between pine trees; turn left and follow outer perimeter of fields (map needed to navigate around unblazed fields)
[  5.00]  First white blaze on right going from one field to the next
[  5.15]  Turn right at end of field
[  5.25]  Follow white trail markers to next field; turn left and follow left side of field
[  5.35]  Follow white trail markers to next field
[  5.45]  Follow white trail markers to next field
[  5.55]  Continue straight with field on right, open area on left, ponds straight ahead
[  5.70]  Turn left at bottom of hill heading towards picnic tables
[  5.80]  Continue through parking lot and picnic tables crossing gravel road to ponds; keep left and cross on beaver dam to loop around pond (trail does go completely around pond but is not shown on map); return to gravel road at parking lot
[  6.10]  Turn left on gravel road after looping around ponds
[  6.20]  Walk beyond chain barrier across gravel road
[  6.25]  Keep left on gravel road at fork
[  6.30]  Turn left on road with larger gravel rocks, cross creek
[  6.35]  Turn left at T-intersection at field
[  6.65]  At corner of field turn right briefly then left into woods on orange; cross footbridge
[  7.05]  Cross paved Pleasant Grove Road, walk through parking lot
[  7.10]  Turn right at end of parking lot
[  7.20]  Come out on field and turn right on gravel road towards pond
[  7.25]  At bench path along pond eventually fades out in swamp; retrace
[  7.35]  Back at bench turn right on gravel road
[  7.50]  Other side of pond by picnic tables keep left to mowed path when gravel road goes right
[  7.75]  Turn right on mowed trail (shortly ahead is beginning of blue trail from earlier in hike)
[  7.85]  Keep right on mowed trail when overgrown footpath goes left
[  7.95]  Turn right at corner of Old Orchard and continue along perimeter then turn left on mowed path leaving Old Orchard
[  8.10]  Continue by residences on left
[  8.25]  Turn right at second birdhouse towards maintenance garage
[  8.40]  Back at parking lot

Norvin Green State Forest, NJ: Osio Rock and Torne Mountain

ABOUT THE PARK:
Norvin Green State Forest - NJDEP
Camp Vacamas

NYNJ Trail Conference Update:  September 1, 2015

Parking in the camp is no longer allowed, and there is no trail access. This closure is due to a change in property ownership. The Hewitt-Butler Trail going south from Otterhole Road/Glen Wild Avenue to Osio Rock remains open. 

In light of the Camp Vacamas closure, a new figure-eight loop has been made for hikers to utilize from Otterhole Road/Glen Wild Avenue. You can read the hike description here.

DIRECTIONS:

GPS Coordinates 41.018698, -74.362042 (no longer a parking option)

Camp Vacamas office and parking as seen from the blue-blazed Hewitt-Butler Trail.

Although the map shows marking at Camp Vacamas, when you pull in there are "No Trespassing" signs all over and I could see no indication of where hikers are allowed to park.  I went into the office and asked and the lady said I could pull on in and park in their lot but that in the summer they would not have any room for hiker parking at all.  So you might want to check before doing this hike during camp season or do this hike from Otter Hole as described by NJ Hiking.

TRAIL MAP:
New Jersey Highlands Trails Map 125 - NY/NJ Trail Conference (shows southern part)
North Jersey Trails Map 115 - NY/NJ Trail Conference (shows northern part)

PEAK BAGGING:
Wyanokie Torne - New Jersey 1K Club
Torne Mountain - Peakery.com

HIKE DISTANCE:  5.7

THE HIKE:
I did not get a lot of pictures on this hike because there were 40 mph wind gusts so it was hard to stay up high taking pictures.  I had to move through rather quickly or risk being blown away!  This is a very scenic trail with many more views than what I am showing.

The blue-blazed Hewitt-Butler Trail starts directly across the drive from the camp office.

A pretty pine grove shortly after the start of the trail.

New York City skyline from Osio Rock.

Looking back at Osio Rock while ascending Torne Mountain - the New York City skyline is just to the right of Osio Rock.

A stone chair along the trail.  This is before reaching "The Stone Living Room".

"The Stone Living Room" reached by a short side trail to the right from the blue-blazed trail.

The red-blazed trail is a mostly smooth and easy woods road until right before meeting back up with the blue-blazed trail where it descends through a rocky area.

Looking back at Torne Mountain heading back up Osio Rock.

Descending Osio Rock heading back to Vacamas.

Tufted Titmouse

Turkey

HIKE SUMMARY:
[  0.00]  Across from Vacamas office start uphill at beginning of blue-blazed trail
[  0.60]  Trail turns right on woods road briefly at bottom of descent then leaves woods road to the left (turns not blazed)
[  0.65]  Rock hop over creek
[  0.70]  Blue trail turns right on woods road at Vacamas sign on left
[  1.60]  Rock hop over creek
[  2.00]  Rock scramble up to Osio Rock
[  2.30]  Keep left on blue when red starts to the right
[  2.70]  Side trail to the right to The Stone Living Room
[  3.10]  Blue descends and starts to parallel road below, turn right when blue crosses over a trail - this is the red trail but it is not blazed at the intersection; blazes can be seen to the left and will come into view shortly after turning right
[  3.45]  Left on blue when red ends at bottom of rocky descent
[  4.10]  Rock hop over creek
[  4.40]  Nature Conservancy sign
[  5.05]  Blue trail leaves woods road to left at Vacamas sign
[  5.10]  Rock hop over creek
[  5.15]  Blue turns right on woods road briefly then leaves to the left uphill (turns not blazed)
[  5.70]  Back at parking lot