Gnome Hollow Preserve, NJ and Paulinskill Valley Trail

ABOUT THE PARK:
Gnome Hollow Preserve - Ridge and Valley Conservancy
Paulinksill Valley Trail - Kittatinny Valley Park, NJ DEP

DIRECTIONS:
Paulinskill Valley Trail Parking
GPS Coordinates 40.99221, -74.91036

Parking on Spring Valley Road for the Paulinskill Valley Trail.

Gnome Hollow Preserve Parking
GPS Coordinates 40.999728, -74.893359

Gnome Hollow Preserve parking lot off of Stillwater Road.

TRAIL MAPS:
Gnome Hollow Preserve - Ridge and Valley Conservancy
Gnome Hollow Preserve and Paulinskill Valley Rail Trail, NJ at EveryTrail

HIKE DISTANCE:  6.5 miles

THE HIKE:
The Gnome Hollow Preserve map shows a connection to the Paulinskill Valley Trail.  My intention was to start on the Paulinskill Valley Trail, hike to and around Gnome Hollow Preserve and back since the preserve trails are not long enough.  I could not, however, find the connection so I drove to Gnome Hollow Preserve and tried to find the connection that way.  I could not find the continuation past Stillwater Road yet in looking at my combined tracks, I came pretty darned close.  As the connection apparently is not complete, it would be possible to connect by continuing on the Paulinskill Valley Trail, turning right on Stillwater Road (a very low traffic road) and road walking to where the trail enters Gnome Hollow Preserve on the left.

Starting on the Paulinskill Valley Trail on the other side of Spring Valley Road from the parking lot.

Paulins Kill

Paulinskill Valley Trail

Private property between the trail and Paulinks Kill.

79 miles to Jersey City.

Bridge over Paulins Kill.

We took a pretty trail parallel to the rail trail because there were no private property signs but there was one at the other end.  Oops, sorry!

Back on the rail trail.

After a very wet section we bushwhacked up thinking I might run into the connector trail to Gnome Hollow Preserve.

Temporary markers for the part of the trail that is missing?

Couldn't find a trail so we ended up heading back down.

We got back in the car and drove the short distance around to Gnome Hollow Preserve.

Trailhead at Gnome Hollow Preserve.

Ruins ...

... and an old Christmas Tree farm.

Eastern Towhee

Field Sparrow

The trail, which starts out as a woods road that is quickly becoming overgrown, is blazed with both yellow and green markers.

On a foggy morning, a tiny bit of blue sky.

The woods are very pretty...

... buy there really aren't any trails.  It's mostly bushwhacking from marker to marker.

Some areas in the woods are clear but still no defined trail.

And some turn markers are backwards.  Looks like somebody tried to fix this one but ran into a problem.

Taking a break on the ridge.

Tire swings off in the distance.

Old stone fence.

A huge old tree.

For the currently partial connection to the Paulinskill Trail look for yellow markers going towards a house in the distance.

The trail comes out at Stillwater Road but there is swamp on the other side and even though I road walked a bit, could not find the continuation of the trail.

Coming back, finding the trail was obvious although there is no clearing and you have to find a way in so road walking around from the rail trail, it would be easy enough to find this end of the trail.

Heading back to the parking lot, trails marked in yellow only split so the tripple blazes indicate a split, not beginning or end of the trail.

Ovenbird

There are supposed to be views but there were none.  Probably only partial winter views.

Coming out at the parking lot on yellow only trail.

The views are from Stillwater Road just before Lincoln Laurel Road, not from the trail.

Long Pond Ironworks State Park, NJ - Horse Pond Mountain-Long Hill Loop

(Last summer's picture - no park sign for this hike.)

ABOUT THE PARKS:
Long Pond Ironworks State Park - NJ Department of Environmental Protection

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 41.11302, -74.30552

Room for a couple of cars at the end of Lake Riconda Drive.

PEAK BAGGING:
Harrison Mountain - Peakery

TRAIL MAP:
North Jersey Trails Map 115 - New York New Jersey Trail Conference
Long Pond Ironworks State Park, NJ - Horse Pond Mountain/Long Hill Loop at EveryTrail


HIKE DISTANCE: 6.3 miles

THE HIKE:
Dan and Laura hiked a different version of this hike just one week ago.  There was no green.  What a difference one week makes!
Shawnee did not come along on this hike.  Three difficult hikes in one week was plenty for her so she had to stay home and rest.  This one might have been too challenging for her anyway.

The white-blazed Horse Pond Mountain Trail starts at the end of Lake Riconda Drive right where you park.

Some power cut views of Monksville Reservoir.

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Views to the south.

The Highlands Trail leaves red and joins white at this intersection.

Spring!

Tent Caterpillars

Keeping straight on white/Highlands Trail.  Yellow will be the return route.

The gnats were AWFUL and ANNOYING and would not stay out of my pictures.

Not quite sure what this is that someone left at the views but I packed it out. Not even ants were eating this.

Monksville Reservoir

A kayaker in Monksville Reservoir.

After the views, a blissfully smooth stretch but there is not much of that on this hike,

Just before the power cut turn sharply left on blue but first I went into the power cut to see what was there.

A turkey vulture in a tree!

I did not want to disturb his peaceful Sunday morning so I turned back.

Continuing on blue from the power cut.

Crossing Burnt Meadow Road.

After Burnt Meadow Road the trail is not very pretty as it goes through a power cut.

Today's tadpoles - tomorrow's mud puddle frogs.

Blue becomes much prettier as it leaves the power cut and ascends Long Hill.

Left at the other end of yellow.

Back at the intersection with white/Highlands Trail.

New Ferns

A very red spider.

The Highlands Trail continues on with red, stay on white.

Back at parking.