John A. Phillips Preserve, NJ

ABOUT THE PARK:
John A. Phillips Preserve - Middlesex County Parks and Recreation

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 40.382676, -74.349773

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Huge parking lot near playground, athletic fields, restrooms.

TRAIL MAP:
John A. Phillips Preserve Trail Map - Middlesex County Parks and Recreation

DISTANCE:  5 miles

THE HIKE:

From the parking lot, locate the playground and restroom building (to the left of the bleachers in this picture) and take the paved paths between the athletic fields to the far corner (to the right of the bleachers) where you will find...

... a kiosk and the trailhead.

The yellow-blazed Nature Trail starts from the kiosk

The white-blazed Pleasant Valley Trail.

Iresick Brook

Some cleared Sandy blowdowns.

Crossing Pleasant Valley Road.

The trail becomes more rugged on the other side of Pleasant Valley Road.

At this large circular clearing with debris in the center, keep right and the white trail will continue to the right. (No blazes through the clearing.)

The white trail turns left right before this brook crossing with a rickety bridge.

The start of the blue-blazed Old Bridge Sands Trail.

A creek crossing on wobbly logs.

The one on the left who was carried across versus the one on the right who slogged on through and had to be hosed down later.

Lots of boardwalks over swampy areas.

Crossing back over Pleasant Valley Road.

The orange-blazed Blueberry Flats Trail.

Happy Hikers

Litter

More litter.

Packing out litter.  And poop.

Back on the white trail.

The yellow trail back to the athletic fields.

Heading back to the parking lot.

HIKE SUMMARY:
[  0.00]  Facing the playground and restrooms, turn right and head towards the far corner on the paved paths between the athletic fields
[  0.20]  Take the yellow trail at the kiosk, yellow trail turns left a few steps later
[  0.70]  Turn right on white just before post with #9
[  1.05]  Turn right on white when orange goes left
[  1.45]  Turn right on white - if you see the beginning of the blue trail on the left, you just missed the turn; a few steps later keep to the right of the big circular clearing and continue on white
[  1.80]  Turn left on white (straight leads to rickety creek crossing on unmarked)
[  2.15]  White turns left at T-intersection
[  2.25]  Right on blue
[  2.45]  Trail goes left other side of first boardwalk
[  3.25]  Right on orange
[  3.45]  At clearing after boardwalk, keep left on orange when white Pine Glen Spur goes right
[  3.95]  At intersection where orange goes both ways, turn right on orange towards bridge
[  4.00]  Orange ends, turn right on white
[  4.35]  White ends, turn right on yellow towards #9 post
[  4.60]  Right on yellow at the fork
[  4.70]  At T-intersection turn right towards kiosk, take paved paths back to parking lot
[  5.00]  Back at parking lot

Tioga State Forest, PA - Gillespie Point

ABOUT THE PARK: 
Tioga State Forest - Pennsylvania DCNR
Mid State Trail - MSTA

DIRECTIONS:

GPS Coordinates 41.556161, -77.376160

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I had read that there is parking across from where the Mid State Trail enters the woods from Big Run Road, which is to the left of my car.  Can't quite call this a parking spot and certainly would not park there during the week if lumber trucks are using the road!

Alternate Parking:
GPS Coordinates 41.556147, -77.381816

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This is also referred to as "Blackwell Boater Access" and is about .3 mile from where the MST enters the woods on Big Run Road.  It would add .6 mile to the hike.

TRAIL MAP:
Mid State Trail - Blackwell to PA 287 - MSTA
Gillespie Point is shown at the bottom of the map.  This is the only map I could find that shows the woods road I took (black dashes) not knowing that was not where I wanted to be based on the copy of a map I had from a book.  The woods road takes you to where you need to go but it cuts off a part of the hike.

DISTANCE:
Gillespie Point - 3.5 miles
hiked in conjunction with
Bohen Run Falls and West Rim Trail - 9.25 miles

THE HIKE:

The orange-blazed Mid State Trail leaves Big Run Road to the left at the curve.

The climb up is not all that steep yet but relentless.

After a sharp turn to the left, the trail becomes steeper heading towards the top.  The picture does not capture how steep the trail is along this part.

Almost at the top looking back down.

Pretty flowers just before the top.

At the top, looking down Pine Creek towards Rattlesnake Rock.

A great spot for a break.

Continuing on the MST down the other side.

At the time of the hike, because I did not have a good map, I was not sure if I should turn on this woods road or not.  The turn was to be on Big Run Road but I did not know if it eventually turned from gravel to dirt or not and if this was Big Run Road.  Since it was getting late, I decided it was best to turn here.  Having found the better map after the fact, I see now where I should have crossed over and continued on the MST, that this was not Big Run Road.  But it does  ...

... lead directly to Big Run Road and isn't a bad walk.  I actually liked walking on the woods road better than on the gravel Big Run Road.

Bug Run Road - a smooth descent but not as pretty as the woods road.

Back at the car, which fortunately was not stuck in the ruts!

HIKE SUMMARY:
[  0.00]  Turn left on the orange-blazed Mid State Trail where Big Run Road bends to the right
[  0.60]  Trail makes a sharp left and continues uphill
[  1.10]  Gillespie Point Overlook
[  1.70]  Turn right on woods road (or keep straight to follow the MST along Brill Run to Big Run Road)
[  2.70]  Turn right on gravel Big Run Road at the gate
[  3.50]  Back at car if parked on Big Run Road