Oak Ridge Park, NJ - Perimeter Loop

 

ABOUT THE PARK: 

Oak Ridge Park - Explore Union County

DIRECTIONS: 

GPS Coordinates 40.608349, -74.342108

The new athletic field parking lot where hardly anyone parks when there are no events at the field.

Or the main lot where everyone parks, just a short distance from the new lot.

TRAIL MAP: 

Oak Ridge Park - Union County Parks (map not updated)

My updates on the original map, perimeter loop in orange.

HIKE DISTANCE:  2.8 miles

THE HIKE: 

I used to come here often when this park first became a park, converted from a golf course.  Nobody knew about it for a long time but word got out and it became overly popular so I hadn't been for a few years.  But now with working from home allowing enough lunch hour time, it warranted a visit during the week.

We walked out the parking lot exit and turned right on the path parallel to Oak Ridge Road.

The path turns right heading into the park.

The path loop around coming back towards Oak Ridge Road ...

... and the main parking lot.

The trail continues at the far end of the main parking lot just before the archery range.

It can get a little busy spots.

There are trash cans everywhere but wouldn't you know this is the one time Brodie did not poop.  I was so looking forward to not having to carry his poop bag.

Someone was hiding behind a branch.

There she is!  A female downy woodpecker.

We had a lot of snow melt and rain so I expected a section to be flooded out.

It's easy enough to backtrack to where it is dry and cut across the grass.

Coming up behind the athletic field.

A section of trail used to go right through what is now the athletic field.  Turning left at the crosswalk ...

... a new path goes between the two parking lot sections ...

... and continues as a path after the parking lot entrance crosswalk.

Some Canada geese taking a break from their migration.

The path loops around heading back towards the parking lot along Oak Ridge Road.

The crosswalk at the parking lot entrance ...

... then the second crosswalk at the parking lot exit back to where we parked.

There they go continuing their journey.

Tatum Park, NJ - Meadow Run

 

ABOUT THE PARK: 

Tatum Park - Monmouth County Parks 

DIRECTIONS: 

GPS Coordinates 40.38934, -74.13681

Holland Activity Center Parking

TRAIL MAP: 

Tatum Park Brochure and Trail Map - Monmouth County Parks

HIKE DISTANCE:  2 miles

 

THE HIKE: 

The trusty snow depth map showed no snow south of me.  My yard was 90% free of snow.  Could I have been more sure that 30 minutes south there would be little snow?  There was almost no slow until about a mile from Tatum Park when I started wondering why there was so much snow on the ground - EVERYWHERE!  The park was packed with snow, ice and slush.  Probably not my best idea to forge ahead in hopes I would find clear trails so it was very slow going as I had to watch every single step and foot placement because a fall at this point in my recovery could be devastating.  Fortunately I never slipped or fell but it was quite a leg muscle workout.

It had been raining all morning so there was fog floating over the snow.

I

The Meadow Run Trail was straight ahead but I turned left towards the maintenance road thinking that might have less snow and ice.

At times the snow was a good 6 inches deep and that is where I often had to step to avoid iced over footprints.

The maintenance road.

Ahhhh, if only more of the trail had been this clear.  It was nice to take a few normal steps in a row.

It was back and forth between snow/ice and clear sections.

Eastern Bluebirds hanging out with ...

.... robins.  There were even a couple of swarms of bugs.  Spring is coming.

We ended up circling a field that was unmarked and not on the map.

Meeting back up with the Meadow Run Trail.

A short stretch on a trail.  It felt good to be on a trail again, even if just for a few steps.

Retracing on the maintenance road.

Had there been no snow, I would have taken this trail leaving the maintenance road but just the steps going down were packed with ice.  Next time when everything has melted.

Back at the parking lot.