Watchung Reservation, NJ - Yellow/Orange/Red Trails

ABOUT THE PARK:
Watchung Reservation - Union County, NJ

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates  40.683070, -74.372946

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TRAIL MAP:  
Watchung Reservation Trail Map - County of Union, NJ
Watchung Reservation - Yellow/Orange/Red Trails at EveryTrail


HIKE DISTANCE: 3.75 miles

THE HIKE:
It was 62 degrees today on December 1 so of course, we had to hike again.  After yesterday's successful hike of 1.9 miles, we cranked it up to 3.75 miles and Shawnee handled that beautifully, too.  She is getting an adjustment at the chiropractor tomorrow so hopefully that will fix her occasional wobble and stiff-legged Frankenstein gait that happens every so often.  Other than that, she kept up fine and could have kept going.  She can go more the next time.

From the parking lot look for the white blazes of the Sierra Trail, follow them to the right along New Providence Road for a short distance, then turn left on to the trails.

It seems to always be muddy in this area but with snow melt, it was a soupy mess.

She just can't get enough sniffing.

At one point Shawnee was sniffing and she started acting differently like she wanted me to come look.  She was trying to show me this injured mouse.  I think we probably startled a fox that was in the process of procuring breakfast.  As much as I wanted to snatch the mouse up, take him with me and make him better, he was too severely injured so I felt the best thing was be to leave him there. 

Still catching up on reading her pee-mail.

This hike was actually long enough to stop for a drink.

Nearing Surprise Lake there was a section of nasty, muddy construction.

Coming up on Surprise Lake which looks surprisingly empty.

This Great Blue Heron stood crooked like this for a very long time.

He may have been watching that construction.  Looks like the old dam is being torn down.

Drained Surprise Lake

Up ahead on the trail along Surprise Lake, blue jays and a cardinal were bathing in a mud puddle.

The blue jays took off and a few other birds joined in.

Leaving Lake Surprise on an unmarked trail with old, dry pavement.

Looks like an old light fixture.  This was probably a paved, lit trail in the olden days.

The Loop

The red-blazed Hill Top Swamp Trail was the driest trail we were on!

Cheesequake State Park, NJ - White Trail

ABOUT THE PARK:
Cheesequake State Park - New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
This park charges an entrance fee between Memorial Day and Labor Day

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 40.438541, -74.260755

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TRAIL MAP:
Cheesequake State Park Trail Map - NJ Department of Environmental Protection
Cheesequake State Park - White Trail at EveryTrail


HIKE DISTANCE: 1.9 miles

THE HIKE:
Just a little hike at the closest state park to see how Shawnee would do back on the trail after being away for 5 weeks and she did awesome!  Just a little wobbly in the rear end off and on.  We'll be visiting the chiropractor for that.  But she is back on the trail and it was so good to have her back.  I found myself hiking with a big smile on my face knowing she was right there beside me :)