Hawk Rise Sanctuary, NJ

ABOUT THE PARK:
Hawk Rise Sanctuary - New York New Jersey Trail Conference
Hawk Rise Sanctuary to Open in Linden - Suburban News
Hawk Rise Sanctuary - New Jersey Audubon

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 40.603003, -74.251767

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Parking on the left just before the animal control facility and animal shelter at the end of Range Road.

TRAIL MAP:

Yellow is the existing trail (unblazed).

HIKE DISTANCE:  1.25 miles
This is not actually a hike but I felt it was worth mentioning since this is a new trail in an area where there are very few trails.  It is almost across the street from Merck Pharmaceuticals in Rahway - a great lunch hour place for employees - or a quick leg stretcher if you happen to be in the area.  Lots and lots of birds here!

THE HIKE:

From the kiosk the trail starts as a gravel path which leads to a boardwalk.

Boardwalk through wetlands with viewing area and interpretive signs.

First bird sighting from the viewing area - a female red-winged blackbird (Thanks, Dan Balogh for the ID!).

There is a stark difference between the boardwalk meandering through the woods and the unattractive industrial area just out of view.

The trail alternates between boardwalk and gravel paths.

Approaching the landfill where birds abound.

Observation deck adjacent to landfill overlooking wetlands.

Path between wetlands and landfill.

At the kiosk it states no pets are allowed yet there is a poop bag dispenser? 

HIKE SUMMARY:
[  0.00]  From the kiosk veer left on the gravel path towards the boardwalk
[  0.15]  Keep left at end of boardwalk
[  0.40]  At the end of the boardwalk, veer right on gravel path when dirt road goes left
[  0.50]  Keep left at fork to interpretive sign; retrace
[  0.55]  Left on gravel road coming off trail to interpretive sign
[  0.65]  Turn left on boardwalk towards landfill
[  0.70]  At end of boardwalk turn right along split rail fence (no sign but left on dirt road is not allowed)
[  0.80]  Observation deck at end; circle around and retrace
[  0.95]  At end of split rail fence, turn left on boardwalk when off limits dirt road goes straight
[  1.00]  At T-intersection turn left on boardwalk
[  1.10]  At intersection turn left on boardwalk
[  1.15]  At intersection turn left on gravel path when right goes to parking lot
[  1.25]  Back at parking lot

Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve, NJ

ABOUT THE PARK:
Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve - Borough of Franklin Lakes

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 40.975767, -74.195462

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TRAIL MAP:
Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve - New York New Jersey Trail Conference
Note:  The blue-blazed trail does not span across the lake as shown on the map.  It currently consists of two separate sections that do not connect.

HIKE DISTANCE:  2.3 miles

THE HIKE:

Facing the lake there is a kiosk on the right...

Turn left and cross the dam to start the hike on the white-blazed trail.

White-blazed trail around the lake.

A Red-winged Blackbird seen from the dam.

Part of the trail runs along a chain link fence between the lake and the road...

... but focusing on what is in the water drowns out the traffic noise.

Franklin Lake from the High Mountain Road side.

Irises along the lake.

Leave the trail briefly through an opening in the fence to cross on the road bridge, then reenter at the next fence opening.

After reentering through the fence opening, turn right on the blue-blazed trail for a short out-and-back.

High Mountain on the other side of the lake from the blue-blazed trail.

Back on the white-blazed trail, a rock hop over a creek.

When Dan Balogh did this hike on April 15, 2012, there were Canada goose nests with eggs.  I saw no goslings at all.  It is supposed to take 56 days for goslings to attain full plumage but it has only been 38 days since they were eggs - could they be this big already?

Another section of blue-blazed trail.

High Mountain from the blue-blazed trail.

Pine trees near the end of the white-blazed trail.

Picnic tables in a pretty pine area along the lake.

Watched the swan family from the picnic table.

After the children were tucked away with one parent, the other came back out and put on quite a show.

HIKE SUMMARY:
[  0.00]  Facing lake turn left and cross dam on white-blazed trail
[  0.75]  Leave trail to left through break in fence to cross bridge
[  0.80]  Reenter trail to right through fence opening on the other side of the bridge; turn right on blue-blazed trail
[  0.95]  End of blue-blazed trail; retrace
[  1.15]  Turn right on white at end of blue trail
[  1.25]  Rock hop over creek
[  1.55]  Turn right on blue-blazed trail
[  1.75]  End of blue-blazed trail; retrace
[  1.95]  Turn right on white when blue-blazed trail ends
[  2.30]  Picnic tables; back at parking lot

Sourland Mountain Preserve, Somerset County, NJ

ABOUT THE PARK:
Sourland Mountain Preserve - Somerset County Park Commission

DIRECTIONS:

GPS Coordinates 40.473853, -74.693961

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Large parking lot at 7 am on a holiday.

Parking lot at 11 am on the same day.

TRAIL MAP:
Sourland Mountain Preserve - Somerset County Park Commission
Numbered posts along trail correspond with numbers on the map.
The map does not show how the trails are marked:

• Ridge Trail = white square markers
• Maple Flats = white triangle markers
• Pondside Trail = white circle markers
• Roaring Brook Trail = red circle markers
• Connector Trails = white circle markers with black "C"

HIKE DISTANCE:  5.85 miles

THE HIKE:

With the pond on your left, turn right towards the kiosk...

... and follow the combined white square/white triangle/white circle trail.  Stay on white square when the others leave to the left over a bridge.

Connector trail marker.

Devil's Half Acre Boulders

More Devil's Half Acres

Red circle-blazed Roaring Brook Trail

Pipeline crossing

Roaring Brook Trail

Roaring Brook

Huge pile of rocks at post #7

Sign on dilapidated chain link fence - have to turn around after passing through fence to see it.

A bird nest off the trail.

Several bridges and boardwalks through swampy areas.

But still lots of mud to walk through.

Coming up on the pond at the end of the hike.

A turtle swimming in the pond.

One more gosling picture - they were too darned cute.

HIKE SUMMARY:
[  0.00]  Take the white square/white triangle/white circle trail from the kiosk
[  0.25]  At post #1 keep straight on white square when white triangle and white circle go left over the bridge
[  0.50]  Keep right on white square when connector trail goes left
[  0.70]  Start of Devil's Half Acre Boulders
[  1.00]  Keep right on white square when connector trail goes left coming out of Devil's Half Acre
[  1.75]  Keep right on white square at post #4 when connector trail goes left
[  1.80]  Turn right on red circle when white square goes left
[  2.15]  Go through opening in chain link fence
[  2.25]  Cross pipeline clearing
[  3.15]  Keep right on red circle when connector trail goes left
[  3.45]  Roaring Rocks Boulders
[  3.50]  Red circle trail ends at white square trail, turn right on white square
[  3.60]  At post #7 keep right on white square when connector trail goes left
[  3.85]  At post #8 keep right on white square when connector trail goes left, go through open gate at chain link fence with 3M property sign facing the other way
[  4.15]  Cross boardwalk; there will be several more boardwalks along this final stretch
[  4.45]  At post #9 keep straight on white square when connector trail goes left and unmarked goes right
[  4.95]  Rock hop creek flowing across trail
[  5.05]  At post #10 keep right on white square when white triangle joins in from the left
[  5.50]  Cross pipeline clearing at post #11
[  5.60]  At post #12 turn right on white square/white triangle/white circle
[  5.75]  Turn right at pond to circle around pond
[  5.85]  Back at parking lot