Harold N. Peek Preserve, NJ

ABOUT THE PARK:
Harold N. Peek  Preserve - Natural Lands Trust

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 39.375985, -75.026397

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Visitor parking just after pulling in and before the gate.

TRAIL MAP:
Harold N. Peek Preserve Trail Map - Natural Lands Trust

HIKE DISTANCE:
3.25 miles
Hiked in together with:
Maurice River Bluffs Nature Preserve - 3.25 miles
Parvin State Park - 5.5 miles

THE HIKE:

Access road from visitor parking into the preserve.

Leave access road on sandy path to the right.

Interpretive sign at the beginning of the trail.

Trail marker.

Solar panels at the beginning of the River Overlook loop.

Trail along River Overlook.

View of Maurice River from River Overlook

Heading back, take the mossy trail to the right at the fork towards Jenkins Landing.

River views along the way.

Maurice River

145 ft. boardwalk over wetlands

View from the end of the boardwalk - Maurice River Bluffs Nature Preserve on the far side

Nesting osprey couple visible from boardwalk.

Heading back on the boardwalk.

Trail  to Red Cedar Overlook

Atlantic white cedar swamp.

View from Red Cedar Overlook.

HIKE SUMMARY:
[  0.00]  Proceed through gate on access road
[  0.25]  A footpath goes to the right, continue straight on access road
[  0.35]  At intersection with mossy path on the left, turn right on sandy path towards interpretive sign
[  0.50]  Arrive at clearing with solar panels, turn left for River Overlook loop which returns to same spot
[  0.70]  After completing River Overlook loop, retrace from the solar field
[  0.90]  Take right fork on mossy path
[  1.10]  Keep right at intersection and proceed to boardwalk
[  1.25]  End of boardwalk, retrace
[  1.35]  At intersection keep right
[  1.45]  Left at intersection with park office on the right
[  1.60]  Turn right on mossy trail opposite sandy trail with interpretive sign from earlier
[  2.10]  Keep right at fork
[  2.20]  Cross stream (easier to cross to the left)
[  2.45]  Cross stream on board
[  2.50]  Right at intersection
[  3.00]  Turn right on access road
[  3.25]  Back at visitor parking

Bass River State Forest, NJ

ABOUT THE PARK:
Bass River State Forest - NJ DEP

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 39.621324, -74.439516

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Parking lot on East Greenbush Road.

TRAIL MAP:
Bass River Trail Map - NJ DEP
According to the park, a new updated map should be posted online soon.

HIKE DISTANCE:  5.75 miles

THE HIKE:

At the end of the parking lot opposite the trail head, a firefighter memorial.

With your back to the road, go to the far right corner of the lot through the opening.  The trail forks immediately; keep left.  Right is the return route.

Remains of the former CCC camp.

Some remaining CCC camp pavement along the trail.

Trail is marked with pink blazes on posts.  Trails are very well maintained.

Beginning of the boardwalk through the cedar bog on the silver-blazed Absegami Trail

It's dark and noticeably cooler in the bog.

Atlantic white cedar and sphagnum mosses in the bog.

Lake Absegami from Falkinburg Branch drainage.

Turtles in Lake Absegami.

Joe's Trail runs along Lake Absegami for .6 miles.

Lake Absegami from Joe's Trail

The end of Joe's Trail at the picnic pavillion.

Heading back the other way.

Heading back on the pink trail.

Trail maintenance

HIKE SUMMARY:
[0.00]    Go through break in fence at far right corner of parking lot and immediately take left side of fork; left again at second fork towards CCC Site A
[0.30]    Cross straight over AT&T line
[0.40]    Straight at intersection when trail crosses over
[0.55]    Cross wet/swampy area on small, loose logs
[0.80]    Straight at intersection when trail crosses over
[1.40]    Straight at intersection when trail crosses over
[1.65]    Straight at intersection when trail crosses over
[1.75]    Cross East Greenbush Road
[1.90]    Turn left on sand road at T-intersection
[2.20]    Continue straight across AT&T line with green coming in from the right; continue on pink/green as it veers to the left after the intersection
[2.55]    Shortly before State Road where pink also goes left, veer right on pink as a footpath leaving sand road, plum and green join in from the right after few steps
[2.65]    Cross Stage Road then power cut
[2.70]    Turn right on red and cross paved park road
[2.85]    Turn left on red where it comes out on paved park entrance road with park office on right and beginning of Joe's Trail on the left
[2.90]    When red comes to paved park road again, cross paved road to start of silver-blazed trail
[3.00]    Beginning of boardwalk through Atlantic cedar bog
[3.10]    Turn left on silver/yellow when yellow comes in from the right
[3.20]    Left on paved road a few steps then left on paved park entrance road
[3.25]    View of Lake Absegami from Falklinburg Branch drainage
[3.30]    After guardrail turn right on Joe's Trail
[3.60]    Two benches with view of Lake Absegami
[3.90]    End of Joe's Trail at picnic pavillion; retrace
[4.50]    Right on park road then right on red trail
[4.65]    Cross paved park road on red then turn left on pink/green/plum
[4.80]    Cross power cut then Stage Road
[4.90]    At White Pine Plantation sign where plum and green leave to the left and split into two trails, veer right, cross sand road and continue on pink parallel to Stage Road
[5.65]    Cross East Greenbush, continue through clearing, turn left into woods on path parallel to East Greenbush
[5.75]    Veer left at fork to parking lot