OT: NJ Hiking Trails

[mdk01]

Palisades is fun. Did you make it up the giant stairs?

The Giant Stairs – Palisades | njHiking.com

Scramble over the Giant Stairs – a long section of huge boulders that have tumbled from the Palisades – with views over the Hudson River into NY.

www.njhiking.com

Since the shutdown was lifted the Statelne Lookout parking area has filled and been blocked on a lot of weekend afternoons. Those giant stairs are brutal. But there are a lot other circuits available that are more reasonable. Including the Women's Federation Monument .can be fun.

 

[Ronnie_B]

Terrace Pond Loop | njHiking.com

Rugged, rocky route with rhododendron tunnels to pretty Terrace Pond.

www.njhiking.com

Lindsay sent me this one Saturday:

High Point State Park: Where Leaf-Peeping Reaches New Heights

Don't miss this stunning Sussex County gem.

njmonthly.com

She should do more of these.

 

[Scarlet Beach]

Allaire State Park (though do note that the trails accessed from the Hospital Road parking lot are very popular with mountain bikers at this time of year, especially on a weekend if the weather is decent).
Huber Woods (Middletown)
Monmouth Battlefield State Park
The Sourlands
The D&R Trail
Batona Trail
Clayton Park (Upper Freehold)
Turkey Swamp Park
Forked River Mountain Trails
Duke Farms (may not be fully open right now)

 

[Ronnie_B]

I hiked Harriman's in NY a couple weeks ago, it was pretty good.

 

[Duff366]

All Trails is a great app.. I have been religiously trying to find the best trails.

Some trails that I love:

Ken Lockwood Gorge Trail - gorgeous flat trail in a gorge; can get crowded

Raccoon Ridge and Sunfish Pond - Worthington State Forest; beautiful views of the Delaware

Animal Shute Trail - where the old Jungle Habitat was in West Milford (still see the old enclosures)

Bearfort Ridge and Surprise Lake - peaceful hike up to a little lake in
West Milford

Merrill Creek Reservoir perimeter trail- near Easton Pa

Terrace Pond Loop - West Milford - off of Clinton Rd in West Milford

 

[DJ Spanky]

I just wear orange and there aren’t that many people hunting anyway, especially by Noon.

You just have to be careful as you may become engaged in conversation with any Vols fans who wander by.

 

[bitnez]

All Trails is a great app.. I have been religiously trying to find the best trails.

Some trails that I love:

Ken Lockwood Gorge Trail - gorgeous flat trail in a gorge; can get crowded

Raccoon Ridge and Sunfish Pond - Worthington State Forest; beautiful views of the Delaware

Animal Shute Trail - where the old Jungle Habitat was in West Milford (still see the old enclosures)

Bearfort Ridge and Surprise Lake - peaceful hike up to a little lake in
West Milford

Merrill Creek Reservoir perimeter trail- near Easton Pa

Terrace Pond Loop - West Milford - off of Clinton Rd in West Milford

AllTrails is an excellent app, and it works even when there’s no internet, which comes in handy in the ADKs

 

[BigWill]

Did that once Johnny with my two Great Pyrenees as pups. Didn't realize it was over 5 miles around. Started off early in the morning, one dog started loafing it the other had to piss on every tree. By 9am I'm carrying Savannah as she wouldn't move, by 10am I'm calling my wife, "how long is this fvcking trail?" By 11am people think I'm an animal abuser as everyone wanted to give us water as my two dogs lay pathetically on the ground panting. I had to thank each one and point to the two bowls of water they weren't drinking. It was a complete and utter disaster.

This is where we found our first Choc Lab would only retrieve 3 times into the water.
4 times she would just sit down and stare back at us.

Mary Anne lied to me and told me it was just 2 or 3 miles the first time she took me. Like the Lab I realized that she had "tricked" me.

The walk I like is parking in the lot at the Spring Lake Boardwalk by the outlet pipe.
Walk to the brick towers it's 2 miles to the AP draw bridge another 2. Turn around and you did 8 miles and got to look at everyone in swim suits.

"Backroads" is a hiking/walking catalogue tour service for world wide 'ramblers'

 

[koleszar]

AllTrails is an excellent app, and it works even when there’s no internet, which comes in handy in the ADKs

Nothing beats the Adirondacks in early to mid August. When it's I wish I could peal my skin off hot and humid in New Jersey, the Adirondacks is like God turned on the air conditioner 60 to 70 degree days. Used to take a week off that time of year just to get a refresher.

 

[charliem24]

Terrace Pond Loop | njHiking.com

Rugged, rocky route with rhododendron tunnels to pretty Terrace Pond.

www.njhiking.com

Used to go to Terrace Pond in high school, occasionally camped out for the night. Our favorite swimming hole, clear water and cool cliffs to dive off on the far side of the pond. Great memories

 

[RUinPinehurst]

https://appalachiantrail.org/explore/explore-by-state/new-jersey/

 

[RU Diesel07110]

Booth park through boys park through yanticaw park though the mud hole through memorial park through nickels park. Nutley Loop

 

[Jm0513]

Booth park through boys park through yanticaw park though the mud hole through memorial park through nickels park. Nutley Loop

That's our nightly route
...minus Booth add in Kingsland and the Starbucks.

 

[zappaa]

iCloud Photos - Apple iCloud

View, organize, and share photos and videos with iCloud Photos on the web. Changes will sync across your devices with iCloud.

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This rattle snake, copperhead sign is at the base of Terrace Pond.
Are they located at other hiking areas also?
I haven’t seen one

 

[Jm0513]

I went to Hemlock Falls today. Extremely easy trail.
Tomorrow Rifle Camp/Garrett to hopefully see deer... do they eat Arugula? I have a ton that's almost expired.

Edit: Feeding them is probably a bad idea. 🤷‍♀️

 

[RUSK97]

I went to Hemlock Falls today. Extremely easy trail.
Tomorrow Rifle Camp/Garrett to hopefully see deer... do they eat Arugula? I have a ton that's almost expired.

If they’re hungry enough, but usually they won’t. It’s too peppery for them.

 

[zappaa]

There’s an old reservoir on Rifle Camp Rd we used to Cliff dive into....so much fun

 

[RUSK97]

Someone mentioned the Columbia Trail esp through Ken Lockwood Gorge. Easy walk more than a hike but gorgeous and grest place to cool off in the summertime.

Didn’t see anybody mention the Cushetunk trail at Round Valley Reservoir. Some decent elevation gain/loss on singletrack. Some really nice views and might even spot a bald eagle. Trail is well marked but a lot of loose decomposed limestone makes for tricky footing.

 

[mdk01]

iCloud Photos - Apple iCloud

View, organize, and share photos and videos with iCloud Photos on the web. Changes will sync across your devices with iCloud.

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This rattle snake, copperhead sign is at the base of Terrace Pond.
Are they located at other hiking areas also?
I haven’t seen one

Nothing that specific, but at the Stateline Lookout parking lot off the Palisades Interstate Parkway there is a large board descibing the wildlife on and around the trails. Copperheads were included and described, but I've never seen one. Deer a lot and occaisonally a bald eagle.

 

[Duff366]

I almost stepped on a copperhead in Harriman. Stupid me was not paying attention and was walking up by a rocky overlook, the perfect place for them to sun themselves. I heard a sound but didn't recognize it as a rattle until a few seconds after. Saw the snake go into a den with at least 20-30 heads poking out.

 

[Jm0513]

I almost stepped on a copperhead in Harriman. Stupid me was not paying attention and was walking up by a rocky overlook, the perfect place for them to sun themselves. I heard a sound but didn't recognize it as a rattle until a few seconds after. Saw the snake go into a den with at least 20-30 heads poking out.

Do they eat Arugula?


See my above post.. hahahah

 

[RW90]

And if in the Long Valley area she must go eat at the Long Valley Pub and Brewery about 100 yards from the Columbia Trail. There is also a coffee shop on the trail right there also.

At the other end of the Columbia Trail in High Bridge is the Highrail Brewing Company where we sometimes finish our day. Also a local coffee shop across the street.

 

[zappaa]

You don’t want to get bit by a Timber Rattler, that’s really serious

 

[RUSK97]

Do they eat Arugula?


See my above post.. hahahah

How long does your arugula keep? Mine keeps going slimy after 5-6 days. I love the stuff but its shelf life sucks.

I just discovered baby pea shoots - really flavorful but same problem! It’s those darn plastic containers.

 

[zappaa]

Do they eat Arugula?


See my above post.. hahahah

C’mon now, don’t kid around.
Don’t you get near any snakes

 

[goru1869]

At the other end of the Columbia Trail in High Bridge is the Highrail Brewing Company where we sometimes finish our day. Also a local coffee shop across the street.

I think I have heard about the brewing company. High Bridge is a nice town .

 

[zappaa]

I want to hear more poisonous snake sighting stories

 

[mildone]

Some of the most beautiful places to hike are in the Wildlife Management Areas. Most of the trails are unmarked, but some are just very long old sand roads with no traffic. These have hunting sections, but there aren’t that many days of the year when people hunt and there is NO Hunting in New Jersey on Sundays I hike even when there is hunting . I just wear orange and there aren’t that many people hunting anyway, especially by Noon.

I like to wear my deer outfit and then, when shot at, shoot back. 😁

 

[mildone]

I want to hear more poisonous snake sighting stories

There's a paved greenway made from an obsolete railroad track that goes through Fords, Edison & Metuchen. It continues, unpaved, through Metuchen and out into the other side of Edison. I was mountain biking along the unpaved portion one day and there is/was a kind of mini-crevasse, maybe 3' deep and kind of broken up inside, in the dirt path. Couldn't ride over it or jump it because it was too wide.

I was just about to step down into it, carrying the bike, when a loud rattling sound came out of it. Looked closer and there was a rattlesnake coiled up right on the ledge where I was going to step down to. 😨

Needless to say, I found another way around.

 

[zappaa]

There's a paved greenway made from an obsolete railroad track that goes through Fords, Edison & Metuchen. It continues, unpaved, through Metuchen and out into the other side of Edison. I was mountain biking along the unpaved portion one day and there is/was a kind of mini-crevasse, maybe 3' deep and kind of broken up inside, in the dirt path. Couldn't ride over it or jump it because it was too wide.

I was just about to step down into it, carrying the bike, when a loud rattling sound came out of it. Looked closer and there was a rattlesnake coiled up right on the ledge where I was going to step down to. 😨

Needless to say, I found another way around.

Awesome story.
My brother Larry has been a train chaser for 50 years
The freight and tanker cars line that passes through Metuchen is still going strong

 

[BigWill]

I believe they used to be called "Hobos"

 

[RW90]

I think I have heard about the brewing company. High Bridge is a nice town .

I don't know how much if anything changed, but after our hikes last Fall, Highrail Brewing was only offering takeout, so we simply brought their home brewed cans to the pizzeria for outdoor dining across the street.

 

[Jm0513]

 

[DJ Spanky]

I hope you're treated for Lyme disease.

I want to hear more poisonous snake sighting stories

Well I was reading some Clay Travis tweets...

 

[RW90]

As I recall there was a sign at the entrance of one of the Sourland Preserve trails listing the resident wildlife. Among the breeds of birds, rodents, and insects was a mention of bobcats in the list. Sad to say, though really no surprise, we never seen any.

 

[Jm0513]

this one was talking crap about the iceberg I left. I'm so happy I got to see them!!

 

[DJ Spanky]

 

[Raritan83]

I went to Hemlock Falls today. Extremely easy trail.
Tomorrow Rifle Camp/Garrett to hopefully see deer... do they eat Arugula? I have a ton that's almost expired.

Edit: Feeding them is probably a bad idea. 🤷‍♀️

Not sure if you will see the herd of deer I can guarantee you will see so many different types of fencing at Rifle Camp.

Seen Mills so many times this year recently did Apshawa Preserve in West Milford. Wasn't bad. Good to go somewhere different with the kids.

 

[RUSK97]

You just have to be careful as you may become engaged in conversation with any Vols fans who wander by.

Yeah and don't be surprised if they're in the midst of painting and talking to giant boulders.

 

[RUSK97]

I like to wear my deer outfit and then, when shot at, shoot back. 😁

mildone, you sure you're not partaking in your own product?