Sunday, November 24, 2024

Holmdel Park, NJ - Ramanessin/Bayonet Farm/Bell Works

ABOUT THE PARK: 
Holmdel Park - Monmouth County Park System
Bell Laboratories Holmdel - National Park Service (what it was)
Bell Works New Jersey - Bell Works (what it is now)

DIRECTIONS: 
GPS Coordinates 40.365418, -74.183774
Ramanessin Section Parking

TRAIL MAP: 
Holmdel Park Brochure and Map - Monmouth County Park System


HIKE DISTANCE: 7.1 miles

THE HIKE:
Taking the Ramanessin Trail to the left.
Ramanessin Brook
Entering Bayonet Farm
Turning left on a trail to Bell Works.  This trail did not exist when I hiked here 10 years ago.  Bell Laboratories was Lucent at the time but has since become Bell Works, a complex of offices, retail and dining open to the public.  There is a path around Zen Lake that I wanted to check out.
Heading back to Bayonet Farm.
Following the edge of a field to Holmdel Middletown Road then following the field parallel to the road to ...
... an opening to the road.
Turning right where there is an old cemetery a few steps ahead then a very short road walk around the bend up ahead to a break in guardrail.  First the cemetery.
Very old graves from the 1800's.
Two Revolutionary War soldiers.
After following around the bend in the road, right at the break in the guardrail.
This leads to the Ramanessin Brook Greenway Nature Trail where we turned left.
Unfortunately a huge blow down blocked the path so we could not make it all the way to the end.
Heading back.
Taking the Steeplechase Trail.
Balloon #7 of the year.  Remember when it used to be around #100 this time of year?  Hopefully that means people have wised up and aren't releasing as many balloons.
Nearing the parking lot there are some unmarked footpaths that are much nicer than the woods road back to the parking lot.

Sunday, November 17, 2024

Allamuchy Mountain State Park, NJ - Deer Park Pond

ABOUT THE PARK: 

DIRECTIONS: 
GPS Coordinates 40.90343, -74.82292
A new parking lot on Route 517 across from Panther Valley Mall.

TRAIL MAPS: 
Morris County Highlands Trails Map 126 - New York New Jersey Trail Conference


HIKE DISTANCE: 7.5 miles

THE HIKE: 
The trail starts to the right of the parking lot.
There are Allamuchy Pond Trail markers but only the eastern side of that loop exists.
The Allamuchy Pond Trail leaves to the left heading towards Allamuchy Pond; we continued straight.
Coming out at a parking lot ...
... we made a hard right turn.
The teal Highlands Trail joins in.
Coming up on Deer Park Pond.
Following the trails that loop around the pond.
Leaving the pond ...
... and passing by where we had taken the white trail earlier to retrace back to the parking lot.
In the distance, an old Allamuchy Pond Trail marker for the western side of what used to be a loop, now completely overgrown.