ABOUT THE PARK:
Shark River Park - Monmouth County Parks
DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 40.20108, -74.08104
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| Gully Road Parking (At the time of this hike, a bridge was closed which would have resulted in a convoluted way to get to the main parking lot from the parkway so it was easier to park in this lot.) |
TRAIL MAP:
Shark River Park Brochure - Monmouth County Parks
HIKE DISTANCE: 5.9 miles
THE HIKE:
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| There seem to be two options to start from this parking lot - through the break in the fence at the kiosk, and to the left at the far end of the parking lot. |
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| Either way comes out on to this field where the trails start at various points along the far side. |
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| The trails are not named here but I just picked one and off we went. |
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| Turns out I was on the Hidden Creek Trail but where it turns right (would be coming back that way) I kept straight on what turned out to be the Cedar Loop. |
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| The Cedar Loop is also the fitness trail with various exercise stations. |
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| There was an unmarked path next to one of the exercise stations and I took that in hopes it would take me to the southern part of the Hidden Creek Trail, which it did. |
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| At the intersection ... |
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| ... left on the Pine Hills Trail ... |
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| ... to the loop. We started to the left. |
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| At the fence where the trail turns right, we went left a bit ... |
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| ... for a quick look at Glendola Reservoir. You can only go as far as the fence that surrounds it. |
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| Because of this, we did this hike on Thanksgiving Day when hunting is not allowed. |
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| Balloon #43 of 2017 |
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| Back on the Pine Hills loop. |
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| At the end of the loop, we headed towards the main parking lot. |
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| Main parking lot on Schoolhouse Road. |
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| Continuing straight through the parking lot to the Bridge Loop. |
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| Coming up on ... |
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| ... the first bridge. |
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| Shark River and the Garden State Parkway nearby. |
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| Tufted Titmouse |
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| The trail follows Shark River almost to the parkway. |
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| The second bridge. |
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| After the Bridge Loop, back through the parking lot, crossing Schoolhouse Road to where the trails start. |
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| Keeping straight on the Cedar Loop section that runs parallel to Schoolhouse Road. |
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| Just before the steps down to River's Edge Trail, we hopped the guardrail (OK, I hopped, Brodie went under) and crossed back over Schoolhouse Road to ... |
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| ... to a quick look at the pond, which we could have seen while over on that side doing the Bridge Trail but didn't think to go there at the time. |
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| Back over Schoolhouse Road and down the steps to ... |
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| River's Edge Trail. |
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| There are several sections of steps along this trail, most with an insanely high rise. Brodie had the right idea. |
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| Going down steps. |
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| Multi-level steps. |
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| Shark River from higher up. |
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| Nearing the end of the River's Edge Trail where it meets back up with the Hidden Creek Trail to ... |
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| ... the field with the Gully Road parking lot at the far side. |
