Watchung Reservation, NJ - Seeley's Pond

ABOUT THE PARK:
Watchung Reservation - Union County, NJ

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 40.668684, -74.403621

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Seeley's Pond Picnic Area Parking

TRAIL MAP:  
Watchung Reservation Trail Map - County of Union, NJ
Watchung Reservation, NJ - Seeley's Pond at EveryTrail


HIKE DISTANCE:  5 miles

THE HIKE:

A walk from the parking lot back towards Sky Top Drive across the field leads to ...

... a footpath with a rock hop over Blue Brook.  There weren't enough rocks to get over without getting wet so we backtracked, walked out the Seeley's Pond Picninc Area drive, turned right on Sky Top Drive, crossed the bridge,

then took the trail on the right from the roadside parking area on Sky Top Road, which is alternate parking but I prefer the parking lot with getting dogs in and out of the car.

An unmarked footpath follows Blue Brook and leads to nice views of Seeley's Pond.

Even though the path is unmarked, it is maintained and easy to follow.

The unmarked path leads to the dam at the other end of Seeley's Pond.

The unmarked path connects to the white-blazed trail.

The Overlook

A very short road walk crosses straight over Sky Top Drive to an unmarked trail beyond the barrier.

This trail doesn't appear to be heavily used but it is easy to follow.

After crossing over the white trail, it follows along the top of a steep gorge.

Blue Brook down below.

Blue Brook, very low water level right now.

After crossing the bridge over Blue Brook and turning left, to the left is the pink trail and the unmarked trail on the right leads...

uphill to the Deserted Village of Feltville.

The Deserted Village of Feltville.

On unmarked footpaths around the Archeology School Site.

Joining up with the pink trail.

Back on white over the boardwalk.

The intersection of Glenside Avenue and Sky Top Drive.

A short road walk on Sky Top Drive over the bridge back to ...

the entrance of Seeley's Pond Picnic Area.

Harriman State Park, NY - Ramapo Torne and Reeves Brook

ABOUT THE PARK:
Harriman State Park - The Palisades Parks Conservancy
Harriman State Park - New York State Parks

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates to Reeves Meadow Visitor Center parking 41.173713, -74.168573

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Reeves Meadow parking lot at 7 AM - it fills up quickly but is always empty this early.

TRAIL MAP:
NY/NJ Trail Conference Southern Harriman Bear Mountain Trails Map 118
Harriman State Park, NY - Ramapo Torne at EveryTrail


HIKE DISTANCE:  5.3 miles

THE HIKE:

Take the red-square-on-white Pine Meadow Trail on the opposite side of the parking lot from the building and kiosk.

Pine Meadows Trail

Looks like a newly downed tree from last week's high winds.

Some evergreen mountain laurel when all other leaves are gone.

The orange trail to the right leads to the summit of Ramapo Torne but it looks like there are some very steep sections, too steep for Shawnee at this point.  We stayed on the blue-on-white Seven Hills Trail and turned right at the next intersection with orange to approach from the opposite, less steep way.

On orange along the ridge of Ramapo Torne,

Looking south at I-87.

Some charring from the fire of October, 2013.

Heading back to the Seven Hills Trail...

... where orange joins for a while ...

... then the trails split apart.

At almost 13 years of age, she no longer sees the humor in navigating steep crevices.

Well now, this is a first.  Telling me she REALLY does not want to do this.  Actually there was no choice because turning back would have been worse since we had just come down a steep scramble.

I left my gear behind and got her up (under duress) then had to go back for my gear and see that "I told you so" look on her face when I had trouble getting through and up.

Looking back at the Torne.

Always happy that she made it up.

The reward.

On the Reeves Brook Trail with no Reeves Brook.  We hiked this trail last year in October and there were lovely cascades.

Seriously?  This is a first for us - illegal ATV use in Harriman State Park.  It's loud, it stinks, it's disgusting, it's destructive and it was reported to both the state park police and the NYNJTC.

A little bit of Reeves Brook finally.

Back at the parking lot at noon with quite a few more cars even though it was a dreary day with a few rain drops.

HIKE SUMMARY:
[  0.00]  Take the red-on-white Pine Meadow Trail from the opposite side of the parking lot from the visitor center and kiosk
[  0.15]  Turn left on blue-on-white Seven Hills Trail
[  1.60]  Keep left on blue-on-white with orange starts to the right
[  2.05]  Turn right on orange when blue-on-white/orange goes straight
[  2.45]  Views at summit of Ramapo Torne, retrace
[  2.80]  Turn right on blue-on-white/orange
[  3.00]  Left on blue-on-white at "7 Hills" painted on rock when orange leaves to the right
[  3.30]  Torne view
[  3.40]  Straight on blue-on-white when black circle-on-white goes right
[  3.75]  Left on white Reeves Brook Trail when blue-on-white goes straight
[  5.20]  Left on red-on-white Pine Meadow Trail when white ends
[  5.30]  Back at parking