ABOUT THE PARK:
Rutgers Gardens - Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences
Helyar Woods - Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences
DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 40.473222, -74.425283
Parking at Holly House |
TRAIL MAPS:
Rutgers Gardens - Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences
Trail Map of Helyar Woods At Rutgers Gardens - Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences
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HIKE DISTANCE: 4.25 miles
I only had time for a very short hike but having read there were 2 miles of trails, that was a little too short. Then I remembered that my friends Dan and Laura had hiked there and turns out that was almost exactly one year ago. They managed 4 miles so that distance was perfect and with spring flowers in bloom, it was a done deal.
In the Native Plant Garden. |
On to the blazed trails that have some overgrowth and blow downs and don't appear to be used all that much. |
Not the type of balloons worthy of my collection ... |
... but this death trap also had fishing line incorporated into the design. It went in the trash can ... |
... just before the log cabin. |
White-throated Sparrow |
Pond Trail ... |
... along Westons Mill Pond. |
Water crossing in the ravine. |
Leaves of three - now we could do without those blooming. |
Other than traffic noise it is pretty remote feeling until tall buildings start to appear. |
The Pond Trail actually goes all the way to Route 18. |
It wasn't worth crossing this mess so this is where we turned around. |
Black and White Warbler |
Meadow Meander |
Mourning Dove |
A different species of bird. |
Entering ... |
... the Pine Forest. |
The Labyrinth |
Eastern Bluebird |
Back on to the blazed trails. |
Wood Thrush |
And back through the Native Plant Garden. |
It's hard to picture how huge these chair are ... |
... until someone is in one of them. He had to be lifted in, it was too high for him to jump up. |
The parking lot was packed when we got back. There was some kind of forest thing going on. |