Duke Farms, NJ

ABOUT THE PARK:
Duke Farms - dukefarms.org

DIRECTIONS:

GPS Coordinates 40.545747, -74.624868

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Very large parking lot (this is just one aisle) but it can fill up on weekends so check their Twitter feed for parking lot status before heading out.

TRAIL MAP:
Duke Farms Map - dukefarms.org
The Orientation Center has paper copies of the map.

Duke Farms, NJ at EveryTrail


HIKE BIKE DISTANCE:  6.6 miles in 1 hour 25 minutes

THE HIKE BIKE:
This park can be hiked but this was done as a bike.  Hikers are allowed on all trails, bikes only on paved and gravel trails.  There are no dogs allowed so when my hiking partner Shawnee was at the vet for a dental and x-rays of her leg, I had a couple of hours to kill.  I did not want to hike out, be far away from the car and have the vet call to say I needed to come back fast so when I saw that Duke Farms, only 15 minutes away from my vet, had a bikeshare program, that was perfect and as a bonus I was not cheating on Shawnee by hiking without her, which is strictly prohibited.  (Shawnee has bad arthritis in her right knee from an old, undetected cruciate ligament injury, but doctor's orders are to keep hiking!  YAY!)

From the parking lot, go to the Orientation Center for a map and to request a bike.  Or you can bring your own bike.

The bike selection behind the Orientation Center.

My ride.  It is true what they say, that you never forget how to ride a bike.  I had not ridden a bike in over 30 years.

Central Way after crossing Dukes Parkway West.

Duke's Brook

Hay Barn Way

Nursery Way

Intersections have street signs but no cars (except for security trucks and they are around - I ran into 3).

The start of a hiking trail on the left.

I would say I was taking it pretty slow for it being the first time in 30+ years so I doubt I was speeding.

The Coach Barn

It was a little trickier riding on the gravel paths.

If you don't care to hike or bike, you can take the tram.

Habitat Lane

Getting ready to cross back over Dukes Parkway West at the gate and crosswalk.

The path back to the Orientation Center with the bike tent to the left.

Back at the vet, just waking up and not at all amused that mom was out having such a good time.

Hacklebarney State Park, NJ

ABOUT THE PARK:
Hacklebarney State Park - NJ Department of Environmental Protection

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 40.751496, -74.732827

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Very large parking lot (this is just a fraction of it) that probably fills up on weekends.  This is on a Tuesday morning.

TRAIL MAP:
Hacklebarney State Park Trail Map - scanned copy courtesy of NJHiking.com - thank you!
(Map correction:  The Wintershine Trail is shown as red when it is actually blazed blue.)

Don't count on finding maps at the park.

Hacklebarney State Park, NJ at EveryTrail


HIKE DISTANCE:  4.1 miles

THE HIKE:

The white-blazed Main Trail starts at the far corner of the parking lot to the right of the building.

There is a restroom just a few steps in.

On the left the red-blazed Upper Trail starts by descending on stone steps.

Red-blazed Upper Trail

At a bridge on the right, the red trail continues straight.  This is the top of the waterfalls from the bridge crossing over Trout Brook.  I had intended to continue on red so I could see the waterfalls but a dog I had with me was reactive towards strange dogs and a man with a dog was going that way as we were on the bridge so I had to change my route to avoid him and I ended up missing the waterfalls.  So if you are following my route, make a detour here to see the falls first.

On the blue-blazed trail that connects back to the white-blazed Main Trail.

Back on the white-blazed Main Trail ...

... to the yellow-blazed Windy Ridge Trail.

At the end of the yellow trail, the red-blazed Rinehart Trail crosses over ...

... Rinehart Brook.

The red-blazed Rinehart Brook Trail continues to ...

... the end of the park.  The trail turns sharply left but you can continue straight 300 feet to this ...

Just in case you missed the orange sign.

Looks like maybe this used to be a park entrance long ago.

Retrace and continue on red to the Black River.

This is a very rugged but scenic stretch along the Black River.

The red-blazed trail comes out onto a gravel path and at some point, even though the blazing stays the same, the name changes from Rhinehart Trail to Lower Trail.

What a great spot for a break and a snack!  (That is Bruno, the coonhound, on the left.  He is staying with us for a couple of weeks.)

Red becomes paved and continues on to the waterfalls, but we turned on ...

... the blue-blazed Wintershine Trail, which is shown as red on the map.

A cascade in Trout Brook.

The blue trail becomes the Haki Trail and ends at the white Main Trail.

A left turn at the playground puts you on the green Playground Trail but there are no green blazes.

Just one marker along the way.

A side trail leads to ...

... an overlook platform ...

... with no view.  Maybe there is a view in the winter.

The green trail comes out on a gravel park road where a right turn leads to the paved park road and back to the parking lot.

HIKE SUMMARY:
[  0.00]  Take the white-blazed Main Trail to the right of the building in the parking lot
[  0.15]  After the restroom building on the right, turn left and descend stairs on red
[  0.35]  Turn right to cross bridge over Trout Brook at top of waterfalls then continue on blue to the right
[  0.45]  Left on the white-blazed Main Trail
[  0.55]  Straight on white when green Playground Trail (unmarked) goes right at the playground
[  0.60]  Turn right on yellow
[  1.10]  Turn right on white at end of yellow then cross bridge on red over Rhinehart Brook
[  1.35]  Continue straight at "Park Ends 300 ft" sign to monuments and river overlook; retrace
[  1.40]  Continue on red to the right at "Park Ends" sign
[  1.75]  Keep straight on red when trail goes left
[  1.80]  Veer right on red as it emerges on gravel road and blue 3 Ponds Trail starts to the left
[  2.15]  Stay on red and cross bridge 4 when blue goes left
[  2.65]  Turn left on blue Wintershine Trial (red on map) when red continues straight along wire fence
[  2.90]  When trail turns right and continues uphill, turn left and descend on blue
[  2.95]  Cross bridge 3 on blue trail
[  3.00]  Turn right on blue Haki Trail when blue also goes left down to red and bridge 4
[  3.30]  Turn right on white Main Trail
[  3.35]  Keep straight on white when yellow goes left
[  3.40]  Turn left at playground on green Playgound Trail (no blazes seen)
[  3.60]  Turn left towards overlook (seasonal), trail continues beyond platform but is then blocked by downed trees; retrace
[  3.80]  Continue left on green from overlook trail
[  3.95]  Turn right on woods road
[  4.00]  Turn right on paved park road other side of barrier
[  4.10]  Back at parking lot