Washington Crossing State Park and Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain, NJ

ABOUT THE PARKS:
Washington Crossing State Park - NJ Department of Environmental Protection
Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain - Mercer County, NJ
Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain - NJ Trails Association
Goat Hill Overlook - NJ.com

DIRECTIONS:
For Washington Crossing State Park only or combined with Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain:
GPS Coordinates 40.297243, -74.867736

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For Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain portion of hike only:
GPS Coordinates 40.318542, -74.866162

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For Goat Hill Overlook (requires short drive):
GPS Coordinates 40.352848, -74.936041

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TRAIL MAPS:

Washington Crossing State Park - NJ Department of Environmental Protection

Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain - Mercer County, NJ via HiddenTrenton.com

Goat Hill Overlook - USGS map in Google Docs (click download button to be able to rotate map)

HIKE DISTANCES:

Washington Crossing State Park and Ted Stiles Preserve - 13.45 miles

Washington Crossing State Park - 6.65 miles

Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain - 6.8 miles

Goat Hill Overlook - .9 mile

THE HIKE:
Walk back through the parking lot the way you drove in towards the Nelson House at the southern end by the bridge crossing the Delaware.

Nelson House

Continue around the Nelson House veering left on the pedestrian overpass into the park.

Pedestrian Overpass

The green dot trail starts at the end of the overpass but go left first for a view of the Delaware River.

View of the Delaware River from the overlook.

Heading back to the green dot trail.

The first part of the hike is along the Continental Lane

The yellow dot trail meanders along Steele Run.

The blue dot trail.

Trails and intersections are well marked.

Trails around the Nature Center are marked with solid squares instead of dots.

At a small parking lot which can be used to access the Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain, turn right beyond a gate for a short loop around an attractive pond.

A duck pair swimming in the pond.

Access the red trail at Ted Stiles Preserve directly across Church Street from the parking area/pond.

Current information was not posted but during these times of the year, best to plan on Sunday hiking.

Red trail towards Baldpate Mountain (formerly Kuser Mountain).

Bridge over Fiddlers Creek

The orange Power Line Trail comes out into a large parking lot, another access option.

The white Summit Trail passes abandoned farm buildings and a small pond.

The red NW Loop Trail goes downhill and back up again for a better workout.

Plaque at the former Kuser Estate.

Head back on the white Ridge Trail.

Coming off the red trail back over to the parking lot at the pond in Washington Crossing State Park.

A horse trail along the northern side of Washington Crossing State Park.

The yellow dot trail comes out at Route 29.  Cross over then take the Grant Street bridge over the canal and turn immediately left on the Delaware & Raritan Canal towpath.

D&R Canal Towpath

The towpath leads back to the parking lot.

If doing either and/or both of these hikes, it is worthwhile to drive north about 5 miles to the Goat Hill Overlook trail to a nice view of the Delaware River.  This trail is only .45 mile long one way so it's under a mile added to the hike.

From the parking lot, continue on the gravel road beyond the metal gates.

The trail winds gradually up to the top of the hill.

The view at Goat Hill Overlook.

HIKE SUMMARY:

Washington Crossing and Ted Stiles Preserve combined:
[  0.00]    Walk south towards the Johnson Ferry House; take walkway over Route 29
[  0.35]    At beginning of the green dot trail, turn left to overlook then retrace and continue on green dot trail
[  0.50]    At paved road, turn left briefly then right on unmarked Continental Lane
[  0.65]    Red dot trail merges in from left
[  0.75]    Keep straight on Continental Lane crossing paved road when the red dot trail ends
[  0.85]    Cross paved park road
[  0.90]    Open gate to enter fenced area, close gate behind you
[  0.95]    Open gate to exit fenced area, close gate behind you
[  1.10]    Cross the main park road; trail descends
[  1.20]    At sign pointing right towards the park office, make a sharp left on the yellow dot trail
[  1.25]    Cross foot bridge, paved road, then another foot bridge
[  1.30]    Back side of open air theater on right
[  1.45]    Straight on yellow dot when green dot comes in from left
[  1.50]    Rock hop across creek, continue left on yellow dot trail
[  1.55]    Keep straight when a bridge goes left over the creek
[  1.70]    When red dot/yellow dot goes straight, turn right on red dot; after a few steps turn right on blue dot
[  2.00]      Keep straight when unmarked connector trail goes left
[  2.05]    Keep right on blue dot when unmarked connector trail goes left, go beyond gate, keep to left of open grassy area and continue straight
[  2.15]    Continue along paved circular drive which goes to parking for open air theater; turn left on blue dot foottrail at sign for nature center
[  2.30]    When blue dot turns right towards Knox Grove, turn left on the unmarked connector trail briefly then left on red dot
[  2.55]    Turn right on blue dot when red dot goes straight downhill on wide wood beam steps
[  2.60]    Keep straight on red when unmarked goes right
[  2.65]    Cross foot bridge over creek then immediately turn right on unmarked along creek briefly then right on solid blue
[  2.70]    Cross foot bridge then turn right on solid red; stay on solid red back around to this point
[  2.85]    Beginning of self guiding trail with orange numbered squares - same as solid red trail
[  3.00]    Trail comes out at nature center, continue follow solid red to left at sign that says "counter clockwise"
[  3.15]    Keep left on solid red when solid white goes right
[  3.25]    Keep left on solid red when bridge goes right on solid white/green
[  3.30]    Straight when solid blue/green goes left
[  3.40]    Turn right on solid blue, cross bridge, pass bench, cross bridge, turn right where previously came in from left
[  3.50]    Keep straight when a trail goes to the left indicated by "E" on post
[  3.55]    Turn left on solid green
[  3.65]    Turn left on solid white when green/white goes right
[  3.75]    Continue straight on unmarked towards wildlife blind when solid white goes right
[  3.80]    Turn right towards the wildlife blind; retrace keeping to the right towards wide horse trail
[  3.90]    Turn right on wide horse trail
[  4.00]    At T-intersection, turn right on wide horse trail
[  4.05]    Pass white park building on the left
[  4.10]    At gravel road with park gate and buildings on right, turn left on gravel road towards small parking area; right at parking area beyond gate to loop around pond
[  4.25]    Come out at clearing and keep left back towards parking lot
[  4.30]    Cross paved Church Road and take red trail into Ted Stiles Preserve
[  4.55]    Cross footbridge over creek, keep right along creek when an unmarked trail goes left
[  4.70]    Keep right on red when orange goes left
[  4.80]    Turn left on orange, cross over unmarked trail
[  4.85]    Turn right on blue
[  5.00]    Turn left on blue/red when red comes in from the right; right on blue when red leaves to left
[  5.10]    Keep left on blue when unmarked goes right
[  5.30]    Turn left at power cut on unmarked trail shown as orange on map
[  5.50]    Turn left in parking lot towards information board; take trail to right of information board (unmarked at this point but is the white trail)
[  5.80]    Keep straight when orange goes left; first white marker comes into view
[  6.00]    Keep straight on white when unmarked crosses over
[  6.60]    Keep right at abandoned farm buildings; trail becomes pavement briefly then gravel
[  6.70]    Turn right on red leaving gravel road
[  6.90]    Keep left on red when white goes right
[  7.85]    At T-intersection turn left (right not on map - dead ends at gated quarry); continue straight when yellow goes right; at T-intersection turn right on white
[  7.95]    Keep right through orchard at former Kuser estate towards split rail fence; turn left on paved road
[  8.20]    Go beyond "no vehicles allowed" sign, follow road to the left
[  8.25]    Turn right on the blue trail
[  8.60]    At arrow indicating sharp right turn on blue, turn left on an unmarked footpath
[  8.70]    Old abandoned farm buildings from earlier in the hike, pond on right, veer right uphill towards white building
[  8.85]    Turn right on path which is white trail (look behind you to see markers)
[  9.40]    Keep straight on white when unmarked crosses over
[  9.65]    Right on orange when white goes straight
[ 10.00]    Pass chimney and fireplace ruins on right
[ 10.05]    Keep left on orange when blue goes right
[ 10.10]    Keep left on orange when unmarked goes right (not on map)
[ 10.35]    Turn right on red 
[ 10.45]    Turn right on red/blue, stay left on red when blue leaves to the right
[ 10.50]    Straight on red when orange goes left
[ 10.60]    At multi-trail intersection, left on red/orange briefly, then keep right on red when orange goes straight
[ 10.85]    Cross footbridge over creek 
[ 11.05]    Cross over paved Church Road and take path through field towards parking lot
[ 11.10]    Continue on gravel road towards park gates, turn right on woods road just before gates, pass white building on right
[ 11.25]    When a wide horse trail goes left, keep straight
[ 11.50]    Pass open field with parking on right through trees
[ 11.75]    At T-intersection, turn left on the blue dot trail
[ 11.85]    Turn left on the blue dot trail when unmarked goes right towards homes
[ 12.25]    Keep right on blue dot when unmarked goes left
[ 12.35]    At top of beam steps, turn right on red dot when blue dot goes straight
[ 12.60]    Left on red dot when unmarked goes straight (not on map)
[ 12.70]    Right on blue dot when red dot goes straight
[ 12.95]    Right on yellow dot when blue dot goes left
[ 13.10]    Cross Route 29, to Grant Street, cross canal on Grant Street then left on D&R Canal towpath
[ 13.45]    Turn right on steps down to parking lot

Washington Crossing State Park only:
[  0.00]    Walk south towards the Johnson Ferry House; take walkway over Route 29
[  0.35]    At beginning of the green dot trail, turn left to overlook then retrace and continue on green dot trail
[  0.50]    At paved road, turn left briefly then right on unmarked Continental Lane
[  0.65]    Red dot trail merges in from left
[  0.75]    Keep straight on Continental Lane crossing paved road when the red dot trail ends
[  0.85]    Cross paved park road
[  0.90]    Open gate to enter fenced area, close gate behind you
[  0.95]    Open gate to exit fenced area, close gate behind you
[  1.10]    Cross the main park road; trail descends
[  1.20]    At sign pointing right towards the park office, make a sharp left on the yellow dot trail
[  1.25]    Cross foot bridge, paved road, then another foot bridge
[  1.30]    Back side of open air theater on right
[  1.45]    Straight on yellow dot when green dot comes in from left
[  1.50]    Rock hop across creek, continue left on yellow dot trail
[  1.55]    Keep straight when a bridge goes left over the creek
[  1.70]    When red dot/yellow dot goes straight, turn right on red dot; after a few steps turn right on blue dot
[  2.00]      Keep straight when unmarked connector trail goes left
[  2.05]    Keep right on blue dot when unmarked connector trail goes left, go beyond gate, keep to left of open grassy area and continue straight
[  2.15]    Continue along paved circular drive which goes to parking for open air theater; turn left on blue dot foot trail at sign for nature center
[  2.30]    When blue dot turns right towards Knox Grove, turn left on the unmarked connector trail briefly then left on red dot
[  2.55]    Turn right on blue dot when red dot goes straight downhill on wide wood beam steps
[  2.60]    Keep straight on red when unmarked goes right
[  2.65]    Cross foot bridge over creek then immediately turn right on unmarked along creek briefly then right on solid blue
[  2.70]    Cross foot bridge then turn right on solid red; stay on solid red back around to this point
[  2.85]    Beginning of self guiding trail with orange numbered squares - same as solid red trail
[  3.00]    Trail comes out at nature center, continue follow solid red to left at sign that says "counter clockwise"
[  3.15]    Keep left on solid red when solid white goes right
[  3.25]    Keep left on solid red when bridge goes right on solid white/green
[  3.30]    Straight when solid blue/green goes left
[  3.40]    Turn right on solid blue, cross bridge, pass bench, cross bridge, turn right where previously came in from left
[  3.50]    Keep straight when a trail goes to the left indicated by "E" on post
[  3.55]    Turn left on solid green
[  3.65]    Turn left on solid white when green/white goes right
[  3.75]    Continue straight on unmarked towards wildlife blind when solid white goes right
[  3.80]    Turn right towards the wildlife blind; retrace keeping to the right towards wide horse trail
[  3.90]    Turn right on wide horse trail
[  4.00]    At T-intersection, turn right on wide horse trail
[  4.05]    Pass white park building on the left
[  4.10]    At gravel road with park gate and buildings on right, turn left on gravel road towards small parking area; right at parking area beyond get to loop around pond
[  4.25]    Come out on clearing and keep left back towards parking lot
[  4.30]     Continue on gravel road towards park gates, turn right on woods road just before gates, pass white building on right
[  4.45]    When a wide horse trail goes left, keep straight
[  4.70]    Pass open field with parking on right through trees
[  4.95]    At T-intersection, turn left on the blue dot trail
[  5.05]    Turn left on the blue dot trail when unmarked goes right towards homes
[  5.45]    Keep right on blue dot when unmarked goes left
[  5.55]    At top of beam steps, turn right on red dot when blue dot goes straight
[  5.80]    Left on red dot when unmarked goes straight (not on map)
[  5.90]    Right on blue dot when red dot goes straight
[  6.15]    Right on yellow dot when blue dot goes left
[  6.30]    Cross Route 29, to Grant Street, cross canal on Grant Street then left on D&R Canal towpath
[  6.65]    Turn right on steps down to parking lot

Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate only:
[  0.00]    Cross paved Church Road and take red trail into Ted Stiles Preserve
[  0.25]    Cross footbridge over creek, keep right along creek when an unmarked trail goes left
[  0.40]    Keep right on red when orange goes left
[  0.50]    Turn left on orange, cross over unmarked trail
[  0.55]    Turn right on blue
[  0.70]    Turn left on blue/red when red comes in from the right; right on blue when red leaves to left
[  0.80]    Keep left on blue when unmarked goes right
[  1.00]    Turn left at power cut on unmarked trail shown as orange on map
[  1.20]    Turn left in parking lot towards information board; take trail to right of information board (unmarked at this point but is the white trail)
[  1.50]    Keep straight when orange goes left; first white marker comes into view
[  1.70]    Keep straight on white when unmarked crosses over
[  2.30]    Keep right at abandoned farm buildings; trail becomes pavement briefly then gravel
[  2.40]    Turn right on red leaving gravel road
[  2.60]    Keep left on red when white goes right
[  3.55]    At T-intersection turn left (right not on map - dead ends at gated quarry); continue straight when yellow goes right; at T-intersection turn right on white
[  3.65]    Keep right through orchard at former Kuser estate towards split rail fence; turn left on paved road
[  3.90]    Go beyond "no vehicles allowed" sign, follow road to the left
[  3.95]    Turn right on the blue trail
[  4.30]    At arrow indicating sharp right turn on blue, turn left on an unmarked footpath
[  4.40]    Old abandoned farm buildings from earlier in the hike, pond on right, veer right uphill towards white building
[  4.55]    Turn right on path which is white trail (look behind you to see markers)
[  5.10]    Keep straight on white when unmarked crosses over
[  5.35]    Right on orange when white goes straight
[  5.70]    Pass chimney and fireplace ruins on right
[  5.75]    Keep left on orange when blue goes right
[  5.80]    Keep left on orange when unmarked goes right (not on map)
[  6.05]    Turn right on red 
[  6.15]    Turn right on red/blue, stay left on red when blue leaves to the right
[  6.20]    Straight on red when orange goes left
[  6.30]    At multi-trail intersection, left on red/orange briefly, then keep right on red when orange goes straight
[  6.55]    Cross footbridge over creek 
[  6.75]    Cross over paved Church Road and take path through field towards parking lot
[  6.80]    Parking lot at ponds

Goat Hill Overlook:
[  0.00]    Continue on gravel road from parking lot beyond closed metal gate
[  0.20]    Keep right on gravel road when trail goes left
[  0.30]    Keep right on gravel road when trail goes left
[  0.45]    Gravel road veers sharply left to overlook; retrace
[  0.90]    Back at car

Hubbard Park, Meriden, CT: Hanging Hills, Metacomet Trail, Castle Craig

ABOUT THE PARK:
Hubbard Park - City of Meriden
Hubbard Park and Castle Craig - Connecticut Weekender
Hanging Hills - Wikipedia
The Black Dog of Hanging Hills - Connecticut Weekender
Metacomet Trail - Wikipedia

The Hanging Hills as seen from I-691: From left to right West Peak, East Peak, Castle Craig

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 41.562803, -72.809665

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Parking space for ONE car at the trailhead on the west side of Rt. 71.  Additional pullouts available farther south on the same side.  If you need to park there, road walk back to the trailhead.  Careful - Rt. 71 is VERY busy!

TRAIL MAPS:
Hubbard Park Trail Map - Meriden Land Trust  (shows most of the hike)
Metacomet Hiking Trail South - Connecticut Explorer Guide  (shows all of the hike)
Note that the map above refers to a reroute that is easy to miss -  no longer the case as this turn is now very well-blazed.
Connecticut Walk Book - CT Forest & Park Assn - 3-ring-binder book with removable maps for all of the Connecticut Blue-Blazed Hiking Trail System

HIKE DISTANCE:  7 miles

PEAK BAGGING:
East Peak - Peakery.com
West Peak - Peakery.com

THE HIKE:

Head west uphill into the woods at the Metacomet Trail sign on Rt. 71

For most of this hike follow the blue blazes of the Metacomet Trail.

I would have to say this first section of the Metacomet trail is very well-maintained.  The blazes were fresh and the trail was well-marked.  We fully expected many blowdowns from the Snowtober storm the weekend before.  Most of this area had just regained power the previous day after not having electricity for an entire week.  The snow had just melted.  It took us 2 hours to maneuver through 1 1/2 miles of blowdowns.  Amazingly, at the end of this hike, the section from Merimere Reservoir to Rt. 71 (the beginning and end of this hike) had already been completely cleared of blowdowns so trail maintainers has been hard at work while we were out hiking.  THANK YOU!  Much appreciated! 

1/4 of a mile into the hike, the Elmere Reservoir on the left and a large water tank on the right.

In another half mile, cross the dam at Merimere Reservoir.

At the end of the dam watch for the trail to turn left into the woods - step over the cable guardrail, descend to the creek, rock hop over, then ascend, somewhat steeply at times.

At the 1.5 mile point breathtaking views in all directions with Mine Island in Merimere Reservoir directly below.

Continue on to Castle Craig, almost 2 miles into the hike.  Castle Craig can be climbed for views from the top.

From the top of Castle Craig, Sleeping Giant State Park to the right of the Long Island Sound.

Flag at Castle Craig

From the castle at East Peak the trail continues on to West Peak.  Take this warning seriously - there are VERY steep drops from the cliffs in this area and many have lost their lives here.

I believe this might be a Peregrine Falcon seen on the way to West Peak.

The trail will turn sharply left just before a paved road at about the 2.2 mile mark.  You have a choice - continue along the trail which will take you down steeply into a ravine then back up steeply along the flank of West Peak (the most strenuous part of the hike) or go to the paved road, turn left and keep following to the left until you reach West Peak where you can pick up the blue-blazed trail again. 

Trail descends steeply down into the ravine.

Trail ascends steeply up West Peak.  Although this is the area haunted by the Black Dog of Hanging Hills, this is not the ghost dog,  this is my friend's dog, Haley :)

A little garter snake along the trail.

The trail will come out on a dirt road and turn right.  Turn left instead and walk a short distance to views at West Peak.

Views from West Peak

Tired dogs taking a nap on West Peak with East Peak in the distance.

Leaving West Peak the blue-blazed Metacomet Trail follows the ridge with more views to the west.

As you retrace your steps from West Peak and meet back up with the blue-blazed trail, continue along with radio towers and buildings on your left.  The trail will turn left up a dirt road towards the towers and buildings, then turn right leading you away from that ugliness.  The trail is a little bit confusing here as the blazes are faded and some of the markings appear to be old metal can lids painted blue.  Those are the proper markers to follow and the blazes return to being easy to see and follow just after the towers and buildings.

Trail along the ridge.

At 5.1 miles turn right on Edgewood Road as the blue trail turns left.  The next mile is walking on paved roads to Merimere Reservoir along residential streets with very little traffic (only had 1 car pass us).

At the gates at Merimere Reservoir turn left to pick up the blue-blazed trail from the first part of the hike which will lead back to Rt. 71.

Trail descends back to parking on Rt. 71

HIKE SUMMARY:
[  0.00]  Head uphill into the woods at the Metacomet Trail sign on Rt. 71
[  0.20]  Pass between a blue water tower on the right and Elmere Reservoir on left
[  0.55]  Keep straight at a cairn when a trail goes right
[  0.60]  Keep straight when a trail comes in from the right
[  0.65]  A residence comes into view to the right through the woods
[  0.80]  Trail comes out on road, turn left then right at Merimere Reservoir and cross dam
[  0.90]  Turn left over rope guardrail into woods, rock hop over creek and ascend veering left
[  0.95]  At top of steep ascent, keep left on blue when blue with red dot goes right
[  1.00]  Rock hop over creek
[  1.10]  Trail runs along ledge above Merimere Reservoir before veering away to the right
[  1.50]  Scenic overlook of Mine Island in Merimere Reservoir and Sleeping Giant State Park to the south
[  1.75]  Side trail to left to view
[  1.90]  Keep straight on blue trail when white comes in from the left; turn left on paved road towards castle
 when leaving castle, with back towards castle turn left and walk along the edge of the parking lot towards the electrical box to find a boulder with a blue blaze
[  2.20]  Blue trail turns sharply left downhill just before paved road (turn left and follow paved road as alternate route to West Peak to avoid steep descent into ravine and climb back up)
[  2.40]  At bottom of ravine, turn right on blue/red when red comes in from the left briefly, then follow blue to the right as red continues straight; begin steep ascent
[  2.60]  Cross small boulder field then swampy area after which trail switchbacks up to the left
[  2.70]  When the blue trail goes right at the gravel road, turn left towards views at West Peak
[  2.75]  West Peak; retrace
[  2.80]  When blue comes in from right, keep straight on blue
[  2.90]  Turn left at left turn blazes on pole towards radio towers and buildings; blazes old and faded in this area; trail turns right and heads away from towers into woods
[  3.20]  Trail veers left downhill just before woods road (easy to miss turn and get on woods road if not paying attention)
[  4.15]  Cross power cut
[  4.35]  Rock hop over creek
[  4.40]  Trail turns left when unmarked comes in from right
[  4.50]  Trail becomes wider woods road
[  4.55]  Keep left at fork
[  4.65]  Rock hop over creek
[  4.75]  Trail turns right on woods road that comes in from the left
[  5.00]  Keep straight through large open space when another woods road comes in from the right
[  5.10]  At orange barrier when the blue-blazed trail goes left, turn right and walk along paved Edgewood Road
[  5.40]  Hallmere Reservoir on right
[  5.80]  At intersection turn right on paved Percival Park Road
[  6.05]  Continue beyond the "Road Closed" signs
[  6.10]  At brown gates just before Merimere Reservoir, turn left into woods to pick up blue trail
[  6.30]  At fork keep right
[  6.70]  Pass between blue water tank on left and Elmere Reservoir on right
[  7.00]  Arrive at parking on Rt. 71