Huber Woods Park, NJ

ABOUT THE PARK:
Huber Woods Park - Monmouth County Park System

Be aware of hunting dates.

DIRECTIONS:

GPS Coordinates 40.391493, -74.022257

View Larger Map

Trail access parking off of  Locust Point Road.

TRAIL MAP:
Huber Woods Trail Map - Monmouth County Park System

HIKE DISTANCE:  7.6 miles

THE HIKE:

From the parking lot take the gravel road along the field ...

... to the Clay Pit Run trailhead on the left.

Clay Pit Run goes through a pretty holly forest.

Some intersections are marked with posts but they aren't always very clear or the names of the trails are sometimes on the side you can't see.

This post is clear but you have to turn around to see it going in the direction of this hike.

When the posts show which way to go to the "Trailhead" that means the main parking area at the Environmental Center, not the Locust Point Road parking lot for this hike.

Mountain laurel along the trail.

When the Country Gait Trail comes out into a field, it is not clear which way to go but it doesn't much matter - you want to end up on the path that cuts through the field and goes into the woods about the center of the trees going through the middle of the field.

The path between the trees in the field leads to the path on the right that goes to a trail post where the trail enters the woods.

The trail passes between two ponds ...

... with a resident Great Blue Heron.

The Country Gait Trail comes back out into fields and meets up with the ...

... Farm Path which the park web site says is still closed due to Sandy damage.  Although there were no signs saying the trail is closed, there was still work being done on clearing blowdowns so we avoided that trail.

From the main park area at the interpretive center, a view of the Navesink River.

The trailhead from the main parking lot.

Nature Loop entrance - closer to the trailhead than what is shown on the map.

The Fox Hollow Trail is definitely a multi-use trail.

Back on Clay Pit Run.

Nearing the end of the trail.

Turkey Swamp Park, NJ

ABOUT THE PARK:
Turkey Swamp Park - Monmouth County Park System

2012-2013 Hunting Dates

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 40.196925, -74.303167

View Larger Map

Parking lot at Old Lenape and Alder Trails

TRAIL MAP:
Turkey Swamp Park Brochure and Map - Monmouth County Park System
The colors on the map indicate the level of difficulty each trail, not the color the trail is blazed.  There is some sporadic blazing but it is not very consistent.  Posts at most intersections show the trail name.

HIKE DISTANCE: 8 miles


THE HIKE:

From the parking lot the Alder Trail circles the lake.

The Alder Trail come out at a field that is circled by the Fitness Trail.

An exercise station on the Fitness Trail.

The Metedeconk Trail starts off of a packed sand park road.

There are several huge anthills along the Metedeconk Trail.

Crossing at Nomoco Road

A sand road connection from the Metedeconk Trail to the Blueberry Path through the Nomoco Activity Area.

It wouldn't be Turkey Swamp Park without some turkeys!

The Blueberry Path starts as a woods road then narrows to a footpath after climbing a hill.

On the sand road back to the Metedeconk Trail.

Metedeconk River

Ice in the river.

Old Lenape Trail

Old Lenape and Manasquan Trail Intersection

Manasquan Trail

Manasquan River

Manasquan Trail along the Manasquan River.

Manasquan Trail looping back around towards the lake.

HIKE SUMMARY:
[  0.00]  From the parking lot facing the lake, veer left through the picnic area towards the lake to pick up the Alder Trail, left on the Alder Trail along the lake then keep right when the Manasquan Trail comes in from the left
[  0.30]  Keep straight on the Alder Trail when a trail leaves to the left
[  1.00]  Turn left on the Link Trail at large open field when the sign says to turn right for the Alder Trail  (the sign says "Link Trail" on the other side), continue following along the perimeter of the field
[  1.30]  Turn left on woods road leaving field, after a few steps turn left on packed sand park road
[  1.45]  Turn right on Metedeconk Trail at parking area and kiosk
[  1.95]  Cross bridge over small creek
[  2.10]  Cross Nomoco Road
[  2.20]  Continue over long stretch of boardwalk, come out at field and keep left
[  2.30]  About 1/4 of the way around the field, trail leaves to the left into the woods
[  2.35]  Turn left on packed sand park road, keep to the left and proceed past cabins
[  2.50]  Continue straight through clearing to the beginning of the Blueberry Path
[  3.50]  Blueberry Path ends at clearing with cabins, keep left and continue past park office on left
[  3.60]  Turn right on Metedeconk Trail at sign
[  3.65]  Keep right at field, continue 1/4 way around field then turn right to continue on trail over boardwalk and bridge
[  4.40]  Turn left on packed sand road at end of the Metedeconk Trail
[  4.55]  Turn left on woods road at intersection (came in from the right previously)
[  4.65]  Turn right on Link Trail at post
[  4.75]  Keep straight at intersection (post says Link Trail goes left but that is just a lollipop trail that goes nowhere)
[  4.95]  Turn left on Old Lenape Trail at T-intersection with trail sign
[  5.20]  Keep left at post
[  5.30]  Keep straight on the Manasquan Trail when the Old Lenape Trail goes right
[  6.35]  Trail turns right along river at bench
[  6.40]  Trail turns right away from the river
[  6.80]  Cross bridge
[  7.50]  Short boardwalk
[  7.60]  Second short boardwalk; keep right following arrow towards trailhead when unmarked goes left
[  7.95]  Turn left on park road briefly then right on footpath towards lake
[  8.00]  Keep right at fork then right at the lake heading back towards picnic area
[  8.15]  Back at parking lot