Binky Lee Preserve, PA With Pickering Creek Bridge-to-Bridge Trail

ABOUT THE PARK:

Binky Lee Preserve - Natural Lands Trust

Bridge-to-Bridge Trail - West Pikeland Township

DIRECTIONS:

GPS Coordinates 40.09725, -75.60310

Binky Lee Preserve Parking

TRAIL MAP: 

Binky Lee Preserve Trail Map - Natural Lands Trust (also shows Bridge-to-Bridge Trail)

HIKE DISTANCE: 

These two hikes are a 3-mile drive away from one another.

Bryn Coed Preserve, PA with Opalanie Park - 7.4 miles

Binky Lee Preserve, PA With Pickering Creek Bridge-to-Bridge Trail - 3.8 miles

THE HIKE:

Because Brodie had already hiked 7.4 miles at Bryn Coed Preserve, it wasn't too warm yet and it was getting VERY muddy,  he stayed in the car for this hike.

Heading up the walk to the trails on the right.

Going right to loop around the preserve counterclockwise.

The raised Mill Brook Trail goes into West Pineland Township open space property.

A side trail to the right ...

... leads to Pickering Creek.

Continuing on the Mill Brook Trail ...

... back into Binky Lee Preserve.

Really, really muddy.

Like others had apparently done before me, I opted to road walk the last little bit to ...

... a right on Pikeland Road.

I looked back at the road I had just come off of and oops, I had no idea.  Looked like a road to me.  Sorry!

It's a short distance on Pikeland Road ...

... over the bridge to ...

... the Bridge-to-Bridge Trail at the other end of the guardrail.

There are a few side trails to views of Pickering Creek but the creek cannot be seen from the trail.

Downy Woodpecker

This is what the entire trail looks like.

That section of land jutting out behind the tree straight ahead is where I stood on the other side previously.

Coming up on the bridge at the other end of the trail ...

... where the rest was completely flooded out.

Heading back.

Coming off of the trail and crossing the field back to ...

... the first bridge.

Walking back on Pikeland Road.

A few steps after that private road a trail just around that pole enters back into Binky Lee Preserve.

Cedar Bridge Tavern Historic Site, NJ

ABOUT THE PARK: 

Cedar Bridge Tavern County Historic Site - Ocean County Parks

Cedar Bridge Tavern County Historic Site Brochure - Ocean County Parks

DIRECTIONS: 

GPS Coordinates 39.78346, -74.36035

Parking across from the tavern.  Note that the drive in is about 1/2 mile on a single lane, sometimes rutted sand road.  I was really worried that another car would be coming towards me with no room to pass but fortunately there was nobody else around.

TRAIL MAP:

Cedar Bridge Tavern County Historic Site Trail Map - Ocean County Parks

I found the map above to be accurate.  At his time, the kiosk map as well as the paper maps at the kiosk only show the white trail.

HIKE DISTANCES: 

Great Egg Harbor Shared Use Path - 3.4 miles

Egg Harbor Township Nature Reserve - 6.5 miles

Cedar Bridge Tavern Historic Site - 3.5 miles

THE HIKE:

This hike was not planned in conjunction with the Egg Harbor hikes but with it being half way towards home on a really pretty day and with trails not long enough to warrant a separate trip, why not?

Even though there had been rain the previous day, wet spots were either mulched or had bridges.

Crossing the entrance road.

The blue shortcut trail to the right.

The other end of the blue shortcut trail.

There was still some of snowcrete here from the last storm.

There is a short paved trail behind the tavern but we are heading to the left ...

... over the bridge.

It's a very short but pretty trail ...

... out to a picnic table.

Heading back.