Shark River Park, NJ - Shark River Run Trail

ABOUT THE PARK:
Shark River Park - Monmouth County Parks

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates  40.20108, -74.08104

TRAIL MAP:
Shark River Park Brochure - Monmouth County Parks

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HIKE DISTANCE:  3.75 miles

THE HIKE:
When I hiked here on Thanksgiving Day I had scouted out the Shark River Run Trail to be sure it exists and was accessible from where it crossed roads.  It appeared to be.  But once on the trail, turns out most of this trail is impassable and the part east of Gully Road should not even be on the map any more.

We started by walking back out of the Gully Road parking lot ...

... then left on Gully Road for a short road walk around the bend to ...

... the Shark River Run Trail on the right.

It starts out very clear and open ...

... but quickly becomes swampy and overgrown.

We were following deer tracks in the snow.

A short distance in it became to difficult to go where deer had gone ...

... so we aborted and climbed a hill to the left ...

... to a residential street with the intention of road walking back to try the other side of the Shark River Run.

Problem with that plan was we got stuck in a maze of dead end residential streets.

We ended up having to walk along Old Corlies Avenue to ...

... left on Gully Road.

Just before the American Legion right on the Shark River Run heading west.

This was much better and mostly clear although a bit swampy sometimes.

The snow made for beautiful scenery.

I knew a bridge was out for construction but thought it was a different bridge since this one was still intact just a few weeks ago.

Now it's gone and there was no way across Shark River to get to where I wanted to go.

No other option than to head back.

Beyond the barrier ...

... right on Gully Road ...

... back to the parking lot.

Fair Hill NRMA, MD - Blue, Green and Yellow Loops

ABOUT THE PARK:
Fair Hill NRMA - Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Visitors are required to purchase an honor system pass daily ($3 Maryland residents; $5 out-of-state visitors).

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 39.71424, -75.82220

Appleton Road Parking

TRAIL MAP:
All I could find online was a photo of a map which seemed to be a little outdated and not completely accurate, although it was of help.

Picture of the map in the kiosk but it is faded.

Per the web site:  "A color trail map can be obtained at the park office, or by sending $6 in a self-addressed stamped envelope."  I am in the process of confirming the address that should be mailed to.

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HIKE DISTANCE:  10.9 miles

THE HIKE:

Self-pay station to the left of the kiosk.

We turned right at the kiosk to ...

... right on blue at the intersection.

Bridge over Appleton Road.

White-throated sparrow.

Just before that last rise the trail apparently turns right into the woods but I saw no markers.  The way I found out was I went up the rise, came out on a gravel road, then saw a blue marker at a footpath just to the right.  When I came out in the gas pipeline, I realized what happened and retraced back to the gravel road.

This is where I turned in, where I should have come out had I known to turn right in the gas pipeline cut.

It's a pretty section, much prettier than the gas pipeline.

After retracing, coming back out on the gravel road where there is no indication which way to go so based on my GPS, left was the correct way.

Not seeing any markers at all along this loooooong stretch of gravel road, I still wasn't sure.

Finally, a confirming marker which indicates a right turn just before Appleton Road.

A few steps after the right turn, a left turn ...

... then under Appleton Road.

At the gravel road, left on green.

This is another looooong stretch of gravel road.

Balloon #44 of the year.

Did I mention this is a loooooong stretch of gravel road?

Green leaves the gravel road just before the bridge but to get to the yellow loop, we kept straight on the gravel road.

Bridge over Route 273.  It's nice that there are no road crossings since at least on this hike there was always a bridge or a tunnel.

After a little more gravel road, watch for an old square yellow blaze because the right turn to get on yellow is just after that tree.

Finally a footpath!

When yellow splits, we went left.

The marker at this intersection is confusing and has arrows going both straight and to the left.  Turns out straight is the correct way (after I turned left first, of course).

A bridge over Big Elk Creek.

Yellow leaves the gravel road back into the woods on a footpath.

Brodie found a glove and promptly picked it up and carried it for a bit.  I then packed it out.  I doubt anyone would come back looking for a missing glove that costs all of about $1.99 a pair.

Coming up on another bridge ...

... over Big Elk Creek.

Brodie saw his first horses.  I leave the choke collar on him so I can hook the leash to that and get it up behind his ears where it gives me total control when I don't know what his reaction to something is going to be.  In this case he did nothing until the horses passed then he lunged and and let out one WOOF.  So brave he is.

Where the yellow trail turned right on a gravel road seemed to be where I needed to turn left.

Sure enough I turned around looking for that square faded blaze and there it was.

Heading back to green.

There is green the other side of the bridge, now turning left.

Just after the bridge ...

Green turns right on a gravel road.

A loooooong stretch of gravel road.

Female Eastern Towhee

At a T-intersection, green continues on yet another gravel road.  Although I don't mind some gravel road to get from one footpath to another green was turning out to be all gravel road so as soon as I saw a footpath in the woods ...

... we abandoned the green trail and took an unmarked footpath instead.

This is so much nicer and it actually followed along above green.

This park has over 80 miles of trails and more are being contructed.

Somebody was getting tired and starting to walk behind instead of taking the lead.

Then we had about 8-10 more horses pass in a single file.  Brodie did nothing this time so either he was too tired or there were just too many of them versus one of him.

When the footpath heads east it is following along Black Bridge Road which has car traffic.  This part f the unmarked path is not on the map.  Green continues north of Black Bridge Road

We just kept following this unmarked path and it spit us out right back at our parking lot.

Tons of horse trailers in the afternoon.  This place has so many trails and is so huge we ran into very few people during our hike.  There are so many unmarked trails that it is definitely a place to return to for more exploring.