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:
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.
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| Nelson House |
Continue around the Nelson House veering left on the pedestrian overpass into the park.
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| Pedestrian Overpass |
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| The green dot trail starts at the end of the overpass but go left first for a view of the Delaware River. |
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| View of the Delaware River from the overlook. |
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| Heading back to the green dot trail. |
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| The first part of the hike is along the Continental Lane |
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| The yellow dot trail meanders along Steele Run. |
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| The blue dot trail. |
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| Trails and intersections are well marked. |
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| Trails around the Nature Center are marked with solid squares instead of dots. |
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| 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. |
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| A duck pair swimming in the pond. |
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| Access the red trail at Ted Stiles Preserve directly across Church Street from the parking area/pond. |
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| Current information was not posted but during these times of the year, best to plan on Sunday hiking. |
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| Red trail towards Baldpate Mountain (formerly Kuser Mountain). |
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| Bridge over Fiddlers Creek |
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| The orange Power Line Trail comes out into a large parking lot, another access option. |
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| The white Summit Trail passes abandoned farm buildings and a small pond. |
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| The red NW Loop Trail goes downhill and back up again for a better workout. |
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| Plaque at the former Kuser Estate. |
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| Head back on the white Ridge Trail. |
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| Coming off the red trail back over to the parking lot at the pond in Washington Crossing State Park. |
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| A horse trail along the northern side of Washington Crossing State Park. |
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| 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. |
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| D&R Canal Towpath |
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| 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.
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| From the parking lot, continue on the gravel road beyond the metal gates. |
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| The trail winds gradually up to the top of the hill. |
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| 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
