Roland May Eves Mountain Inlet Sanctuary to Hopatcong Natural Area Preserve on the Highlands Trail, NJ

ABOUT THE PARK:
Roland May Eves Mountain Inlet Sanctuary - Borough of Hopotcong Recreation
Highlands Trail NJ 3: Route 181 to Route 206 - New York New Jersey Trail Conference
Hopatcong Natural Area Preserve - Tri-Community Trails Link Brochure

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 40.970846, -74.640349

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TRAIL MAPS:
Highlands Trail Sparta/Hopatcong/Bryam - New York New Jersey Trail Conference
Hopatcong Natural Area Preserve - Tri-Community Trails Hike Map (shows last part of this hike)

My rough sketch of the entire hike on the USGS Topo Map for Stanhope, NJ

HIKE DISTANCE:  10 miles total out and back (5 miles each way)

THE HIKE:

Wetlands across the street from the parking lot.  There is a bird blind to the left but not a whole lot to see from there due to overgrowth.

From the parking lot facing the road, turn right and walk along the road passing a house on the left.  Just beyond that house turn left on the gravel road at the post with "399" on it.  This is a gravel road that leads to other residences.  There are no blazes or signs.

The beginning of the teal/black-blazed trail to the Highlands Trail which is also sometimes blazed with a yellow band.

Bridge over Mountain Brook

The teal/black trail ends at the teal diamond-blazed Highlands Trail.

The Highlands Trail skirts around a swamp then goes through pretty woods with interesting rock formations.

Lots of signs as you cross into Hudson Farm property...

OK then, on we go, never leaving the trail, ever, even when...

...this huge sign came into view on the right off the trail.  I zoomed in with my camera to read it. 

Old water pump just before descending down to Bear Pond.

First glimpse of Bear Pond with a Great Blue Heron flying over.

Bear Pond

Rugged terrain around Bear Pond.

Cameras aren't the only thing watching on this hike.

Bear Pond is very scenic and for the most part is not surrounded by homes and docks.

The Highlands Trail is unmarked as it follows Aladdin Trail, a quiet residential street.

Then a short stretch on the not-so-quiet Route 607 before turning right into the woods just before the guardrail and the stop light warning sign.

This adorable little chipmunk sat still for a long time for having his picture taken.

When the yellow triangle-blazed Tri-Community Trail starts along with the teal-blazed Highlands Trail after crossing a woods road, you are leaving Hudson Farms property and entering the Hopatcong Natural Area Preserve.

What a work of art!  Fortunately this spider was smart enough to build off of the trail instead of across the trail.

The teal diamond/yellow triangle trail continues along a ridge above Route 206 through very pretty woods but unfortunately with the sound of Route 206 traffic noise in spurts.

Shortly after crossing a power cut the yellow/teal blazes continue along Route 206 but this was our turn around point.

One more sign at the end of Aladdin Trail heading back towards Bear Pond.  Per the Highlands Trail web site, it is OK to hike as long as you stay on the trail. 

HIKE SUMMARY:
[  0.00]  Facing the road, turn right and walk along Lakeside Avenue passing residence on left
[  0.05]  Turn left on the gravel road at the post with 399 on it (no signs or trail markers)
[  0.10]  Keep left at fork (no signs or trail markers)
[  0.15]  Turn left on footpath when gravel road veers right uphill towards homes; after a short distance cross footbridge around the bend; teal diamond with black center and yellow band blazes start (follow teal diamond with black center all the way to teal diamond Highlands Trail - watch for blazes as several woods roads cross over)
[  0.25]  Cross footbridge over Mountain Brook still following teal and black blazes
[  0.35]  Turn left at unblazed T-intersection (blazes resume after turning)
[  0.60]  Teal/black ends at teal diamond Highlands Trail; turn left on Highlands Trail
[  0.75]  Rockhop over creek
[  1.00]  Keep straight when woods road crosses over
[  1.25]  Hudson Farm boundary
[  1.30]  Woods road crosses over
[  1.40]  Highlands Trail turns left on a woods road that comes in from the right
[  1.45]  Highlands Trail leaves woods road to the right when the woods road continues
[  1.70]  Old water pump; trail veers left at pump and descends towards Bear Pond
[  1.85]  Trail follows along Bear Pond
[  2.45]  Highlands Trail leaves the pond to the right when an unmarked trail goes left
[  2.55]  Campsite and fireplaces on left
[  2.65]  Woods road becomes paved Aladdin Trail through residential area; follow Aladdin Trail (no blazes) to end
[  2.85]  Turn left on Route 607 (blazes resume but there are only a couple along Route 607)
[  3.05]  Turn right on woods road beyond chain barrier just before guardrail and flashing stop light warning
[  3.65]  Cross woods road; Hudson Farm property ends, Hopatcong Natural Area Preserve begins as yellow triangle trail begins and runs along with the teal diamond Highlands Trail
[  3.80]  Rock hop over creek
[  4.00]  Teal/yellow joins woods road coming in from the right briefly before leaving woods road to the right
[  4.35]  Trail switchbacks up sharply to the left
[  4.55]  Rock hop over creek
[  4.85]  Cross a couple of dry creek beds
[  4.95]  Cross power cut veering slightly to the right
[  5.00]  Teal/yellow turns left continuing along Route 206; retrace
[  5.05]  Cross power cut veering slightly to the right
[  6.00]  Teal/yellow joins woods road coming in from the right briefly before leaving woods road to the right
[  6.35]  Yellow ends at woods road, enter Hudson Farm property following teal diamond blazes  other side of woods road
[  6.95]  Pass under chain barrier and turn left on Route 607
[  7.15]  Turn right on paved Aladdin Trail (residential street) and follow to end, continue when paved surface becomes woods road then follows banks of Bear Pond
[  8.20]  Highlands Trail veers left away from Bear Pond
[  8.35]  Old water pump
[  8.55]  Left on woods road that comes in from the right for short distance then leave woods road to the right
[  8.70]  Woods road crosses over
[  8.75]  Hudson Farm boundary
[  9.10]  Cross woods road
[  9.50]  Cross woods road, a few steps later turn right on teal/black when teal continues straight
[  9.75]  Keep right at fork
[  9.85]  Cross footbridge over creek then keep right
[  9.90]  Keep right at fork
[  9.95]  Teal/black blazes end at footbridge; cross bridge and keep right on gravel road
[10.00]  Keep straight when paved road goes left
[10.05]  Turn right on paved Lakeside Avenue back to parking

Appalachian Trail, PA - Sand Spring to Auburn Overlook via Phillips Canyon

ABOUT THE PARK:
The BMECC Section of The Appalachian Trail - Blue Mountain Eagle Climbing Club

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 40.537671, -76.123345

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Parking on either side of the road just before the gate.

TRAIL MAP:
PA Appalachian Trail Map Sec. 1-6: Delaware Water Gap to Swatara Gap - Keystone Trails Association

HIKE DISTANCES:
Sand Spring Trail - Phillips Canyon - Auburn Overlook: 13 miles
Sand Spring Trail - Phillips Canyon - 8.75 miles

APPALACHIAN TRAIL SECTION HIKING:
TrailHeadFinder.com - AT section miles 1193.6 to 1200.2

THE HIKE:

Shortly after crossing the barrier and walking up the the service road, the blue-blazed Sand Spring Trail leaves to the left.

The Sand Spring Trail starts out as a woods road...

... and becomes a footpath.

Someone camping off of the Sand Spring Trail.

My dog freezes the minute I tell her to STAY...

... so this little red eft lives to see another day.  Whew.

A few cascades along the Sand Spring Trail.

When I hiked this trail on January 1, 2012, there were several tricky creek crossings.  Not today with what used to be a raging creek next to the trail now a dry creek bed even after rain the day before.

Sand Spring with some water but it was nasty looking.

The Appalachian Trail alternated between nice, smooth sections and...

... very rocky sections.

A punky looking caterpillar on the AT.

Spring updates at the trail to Phillips Canyon.

The unmarked trail descends very steeply...

... to a bone dry spring.

Picked this litter up at the spring.  You have to wonder how well that product actually works if it did not give those who consumed it enough energy to pack out the waste.

Berries along the AT.

Auburn Overlook.  If you look very closely to the right, you can see rain falling in the distance.

The service road is a smoother, faster way back than backtracking on the AT.  The sun had gone behind the clouds so it was not too hot, otherwise there would have been full sun.  There were some interesting things to see along the service road like the critters below.

Remember that rain in the distance at Auburn Overlook?  It caught up with us and the camera had to be put away for the last 2 miles of the hike which was in a downpour.

HIKE SUMMARY:
[  0.00]  Continue walking on service road beyond gate
[  0.10]  Turn left on the blue-blazed Sand Spring Trail
[  0.20]  Keep right at fork
[  0.35]  Keep right at fork
[  0.65]  Camp site on left
[  1.35]  Keep right at fork
[  1.45]  Keep left at fork (one blaze on tree in middle of fork - unclear which way to go)
[  1.80]  Cross over creek on logs, Sand Spring on right, keep right towards AT when orange Tom Lowe Trail goes left
[  2.00]  Turn right on white-blazed Appalachian Trail when it crosses over and blue continues straight
[  2.50]  Cross over gravel service road
[  2.65]  Keep right on white-blazed AT when blue trail leaves left to Eagle Nest Shelter (view at Eagle Nest Shelter might be limited with foliage - did not go this time but there was a view with leaves down in January)
[  4.55]  At intersection mowed path (Old State Coach Road Trail on map) goes left, gravel service road curves in from the right - continue straight on the gravel service road a short distance then leave service road to the right on footpath following white blazes
[  5.50]  The AT makes a sharp right turn, becomes rocky and climbs steeply
[  5.65]  Stone steps to top of ascent
[  6.05]  Cross service road
[  6.75]  Turn right on unmarked side trail to Philips Canyon (very steep descent), limited/seasonal views on the way down; trail ends at spring, retrace
[  6.90]  Back at intersection with AT, turn right to continue on AT
                        ***Turn left and pick up from [11.15] for 8.75-mile hike***
[  8.05]  Cross service road
[  8.30]  Keep straight on white-blazed AT when unmarked trail (Marshall's Path on map) crosses over
[  8.95]  Auburn Overlook on left; retrace and continue straight crossing over AT on unmarked trail
[  9.00]  Turn right on service road; keep right when service road forks (going right briefly there are views but since I was there previously, did not go down to the views this time)
[  9.80]  Keep straight when the Appalachian Trail crosses over
[11.15]  Keep straight when the Appalachian Trail crosses over
[11.60]  Nice views at top of rise on service road
[12.00]  At T-intersection with another service road, turn left
[12.90]  Keep straight on service road when blue-blazed Sand Spring Trail goes right
[13.00]  Back at parking