South Mountain Reservation, NJ - New Trails at Mayapple Hill

ABOUT THE PARK:
South Mountain Reservation - Essex County Parks
South Mountain Conservancy  (this link is not working at this time and cannot find a working URL)
The Lenape Trail 
"Improvements to Hiking Trail System in South Mountain Reservation" - article, NJ.com

DIRECTIONS:
Mayapple Hill Parking GPS Coordinates 40.773650, -74.286933

View Larger Map

TRAIL MAPS:
South Mountain Reservation Trail Map - Essex County Parks
The map is of no use for this hike as it does not show the trails and to date I have not been able to locate one.  So for lack of anything better...

I drew a rough (keep in mind, VERY rough) outline of where the trails are just to give an idea.  The yellow-blazed Lenape Trail used to end at the Mayapple Hill parking lot coming in from the main part of South Mountain Reservation.  The new section continues on and currently ends at Whitbay Drive.  The intention is to eventually extended this Lenape Trail section to meet up with the main Lenape Trail to completely connect all of the main Essex County Parks.

HIKE DISTANCE:  4 miles

PEAK BAGGING:
Mayapple Hill - Peakery.com

THE HIKE:

Facing the kiosk at about the center of the parking lot along the side, turn right and walk to the corner of the lot and the restroom building to pick up the yellow-blazed Lenape Trail just to the left of the restrooms.

At Cedar Avenue the new blue-dot-on-white trail joins in from the right (return route) and crosses over the road.

Blue-dot-on-white leaves to the left at a boardwalk.

The white/yellow trail forms a loop with the yellow Lenape Trail.

The Lenape Trail has been cleared of Hurricane Sandy debris.

Although this hike goes through pretty wooded areas, it is an urban hike so developments and houses are sometimes visible along with the sound of traffic, bulldozers, leaf blowers...  But there is generally no hunting (there was a controlled hunt in January 2010 but I am not aware of anything for this year) so it's a nice weekday option to get outdoors and explore a new area.

The trail starts to switchback down at old concrete fence posts.

A creek crossing on large boulders.

The Lenape Trail appears to end at a paved road that leads to condos to the left.  This is the turn around point - retrace back to the white/yellow trail.

Crossing the creek on boulders.

Taking the white/yellow loop trail to meet back up with the yellow Lenape Trail.

Blow downs have not yet been cleared from this trail but they can be navigated through or around.

After getting back on the yellow Lanape Trail, turn right at the boardwalk on to the blue-dot-on-white trail.

There would probably be a better view over the McMansions on a clear day.

The blue-dot-on-white trail nears a large apartment (?) building where...

... a very interesting party spot overlooks that building to the right just off of the trail.

It's the neatest party spot I have ever seen. Looks like it even has a trash can.

Back on the trail...  Oops!  Looks like a couple of blue dots are missing.

The blue dot trail crosses over Cedar Avenue and continues along the side of Mayapple Hill...

... with views of the arena and Turtle Back Zoo down below.

A blue-line-on-white trail to the left is a shortcut back to the parking lot.

Continuing on the blue dot trail.

Found one of those missing dots!

The blue dot trail runs back into the yellow Lenape Trail from the beginning of the hike...

... and the Lenape Trail leads back to the parking lot.

HIKE SUMMARY:
[  0.00]  Start on the yellow-blazed Lenape Trail to the left of the restroom building
[  0.25]  Cross paved Cedar Avenue when blue-dot-on-white joins in from the right
[  0.35]  Keep straight on yellow when blue-dot-on-white leaves to the left at boardwalk
[  0.40]  Keep straight on yellow when white/yellow goes right
[  0.80]  Keep straight when white/yellow goes right (other end of white/yellow loop)
[  1.00]  Cross creek on large boulders
[  1.25]  Reach paved Whitbay Drive and retrace
[  1.45]  Cross creek on large boulders
[  1.65]  Turn left on white/yellow (at the time of this hike, white/yellow not yet cleared, lots of blow downs)
[  2.20]  Turn left on yellow when white/yellow ends
[  2.25]  Turn right on blue-dot-on-white at boardwalk when yellow goes left
[  3.00]  Blue dot trail turns left on unmarked coming in from right then leaves to the right when unmarked veers left
[  3.10]  Cross over old section of yellow-blazed Lenape Trail running parallel to Cedar Avenue
[  3.15]  Cross paved Cedar Avenue
[  3.30]  Keep straight when blue-line-on-white goes left back to the parking lot
[  3.65]  Cross paved Cedar Avenue then small creek
[  3.75]  Left on yellow Lenape Trail when yellow/blue dot crosses road to the right
[  4.00]  Back at parking lot

Hickory Run State Park, PA - Hawk Falls and Boulder Field

ABOUT THE PARK:
Hickory Run State Park - Pennsylvania DCNR
Boulder Field Brochure - Pennsylvania DCNR

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 41.006298, -75.624568

View Larger Map

Parking at the end of an unpaved access road at the Orchard Trail trail head.

TRAIL MAP:
Hickory Run State Park Trail Map - Pennsylvania DCNR

HIKE DISTANCE:  11.4 miles

THE HIKE:

Facing the Orchard Trail sign in the parking lot, turn left to start.  The return route will come in from the other end.

In a short distance, go beyond the gate.

In this park the blazes do not distinguish trails rather they indicate trail usage.  Yellow is for hiking only.  Trail names are on signs at intersections.

Coming up on the first intersection, leave the woods road to the right on a footpath heading to Hawk Falls, but still on the Orchard Trail.

The trail goes through some very pretty green areas.

Some glimpses of Mud Run to the left.

Eventually the trail leads to the banks of scenic Mud Run.

Mud Run looking west.

Mud Run to the east.

The trail switchbacks up out of the gorge.  At the top continue left along the ridge towards Hawk Falls when the Orchard Trail continues to loop to the right (return route).

The Orchard Trail descends where it ends at an intersection where a left turn again leads to Mud Run. 

Facing Mud Run turn right and follow Mud Run (that is I-476 on the bridge up int he fog) for a short out-and-back to...

... the bottom of Hawk Falls.  Retrace from here back to the intersection with the Orchard Trail then turn left to get to...

... the top of Hawk Falls.

Flowers at the top of the falls - makes you think someone got a little too close to the edge?

Hawk Run flows down into Mud Run

Crossing the bridge over Hawk Run.

Turn right on Route 534 towards alternate parking areas at 41.010808, -75.634509.  These lots can be used to hike Hawk Falls and Boulder Field separately.

Turn left into the parking lot then up the stairs on the Boulder Field Trail.

The Boulder Field Trail starts off by crossing through an old orchard...

... before becoming rocky.

I did a quick ring count on this Hurricane Sandy casualty and there appeared to be about 100 rings.

A Downy Woodpecker

The Boulder Field Trail, again blazed yellow to denote it is a hiking only trail, goes through some beautiful evergreen forests.

Approaching the Boulder Field.

Not a huge fan of bouldering.

She was looking for an alternate route since we needed to cross over to the parking lot way on the other side.

No alternate route so no choice but to cross.  Didn't stop her from looking over towards the edge.

Looking down the length of the Boulder Field, about 1200 feet long.

At the other side of the Boulder Field.

You can retrace from the Boulder Field but instead of repeating over 3 miles of rocky trail, we opted to take the easier but longer way back through the parking lot to meet up with the Boulder Field Trail where we would only have about 1 mile of rocky trail to hike.

Walking along the smooth access road which probably has a lot of traffic in the summer but on this foggy and dreary day there were no cars, just sludge from melting snow.

At the intersection turn left.  This access road leads over an old bridge over Hickory Run.

It's a long and winding road that leads to...

... the Stage Trail, once the stagecoach road from Bethlehem to Wilkes-Barre, on the left (no sign at this intersection stating it is the Stage Trail.)

Orange diamonds all along the access roads and the Stage Trail indicate they can be used for snowmobiles.  This orange diamond is being consumed by the tree.

The result of melting snow on the access road. 

Back on the Boulder Field Trail, a small creek crossing provided a clean-up opportunity.

Retracing across the old orchard to the parking lot back to the Hawk Falls Trail.

Retracing along a pretty ledge in the Hawk Falls area.

Lots of roots on the Orchard Trail.

Arriving back at the car via the other end of the Orchard Trail.

Still foggy on the drive home.

HIKE SUMMARY:
[  0.00]  Facing the Orchard Trail sign, turn left and proceed on the woods road
[  0.05]  Continue beyond gate
[  0.45]  Turn right on footpath leaving woods road at sign pointing to the right for Hawk Falls
[  0.55]  Trail parallels along Mud Run on the left
[  0.90]  Trail switchbacks up out of the gorge
[  1.00]  Turn left at top of ascent when the Orchard Trail also goes right
[  1.30]  Trail descends back down into gorge
[  1.40]  Turn left at T-intersection towards Mud Run then turn right for out-and-back to Hawk Falls
[  1.55]  Bottom of Hawk Falls; retrace to where trail descended to T-intersection
[  1.70]  Back at the intersection where the Orchard Trail descended, turn left
[  1.85]  Turn left at Y-intersection to top of Hark Falls; retrace and continue left
[  1.95]  Cross bridge over Hawk Run
[  2.15]  Cross paved road, turn right and walk towards parking lots, turn left into parking lot on left
[  2.20]  Ascend steps to the right of the kiosk at the Boulder Field Trail sign
[  2.95]  Rock hop over creek
[  3.70]  Continue straight on Boulder Field Trail crossing over Stage Trail
[  5.35]  Cross Boulder Field
[  5.45]  From kiosk, continue straight through Boulder Field parking lot on the service road
[  5.55]  Keep left on service road when Stone Trail goes right
[  6.30]  Turn left at 4-way intersection at stop sign
[  7.50]  Veer left on Stage Trail when service road continues right (no sign)
[  7.55]  Continue left through gate
[  8.75]  Turn right on Boulder Field Trail
[  9.45]  Rock hop over creek
[10.25]  Pass through old orchard, down steps through parking lot, turn right on road
[10.30]  Turn left on Hawk Falls Trail
[10.50]  Cross bridge over Hawk Run
[10.60]  Keep left when right goes to top of Hawk Falls
[10.75]  Turn left on Orchard Trail before reaching Mud Run
[11.20]  Turn left on the Orchard Loop Trail where right goes down into gorge
[11.40]  Back at parking lot