This Week: 7/7 Warren County Lost Treasures

Join us for a very diverse long day hike in Warren County showcasing some of the hidden gems of the county's Highlands region Sunday 7/7!
We will meet at 9 am at the Townsbury Lot, along Pequest Road where it crosses the Pequest River, a short distance from where it intersects from Rt 46. Google maps shows it in areas as Janes Chapel Road. There is not a ton of room to park, maybe 15 cars at best. It may be necessary to shuttle some to nearby Pequest Rd lots. There are a few WMA lots a bit further up. I will motion everyone to these sites on the day of the trip and shuttle back. We will then shuttle to the beginning point, Buckhorn Creek Wildlife Management Area, which is one of the few Warren County preserves I have not showcased on my hikes.
We will begin the hike by following woods roads and then bushwhacking along the Buckhorn Creek to a small almost forgotten village area known as Summerfield.
We'll continue from here along the pleasant back roads toward Brass Castle, including Washington Township's last dirt road, Spring Lane. This will lead us to the Roaring Rock Park, which as planned will be part of the Warren Highlands Trail when I complete it this far. We will make our way over a hill on the trails here, then visit a small reservoir, and head to cross Brass Castle Road. We then head into Lake Marguerrite and Griffith Woods with more trails. From here, we'll either bushwhack a bit to near Oxford Lake, or we'll head to the road down to Oxford. Here, we'll pass the our nation's first Hot Blast Furnace, well restored, as well as the Shippen Manor which served as an iron master's house.
From here we follow the old Warren Railroad, which is a trail for a bit, in to Pequest WMA. We'll turn away from the rail bed near the slag piles from Pequest Furnace, then head east. We have several possibilities for the route from here, depending on the time. I would like to use some forgotten rail beds, and a section of the trout hatchery that is abandoned, as well as some of their trail system. There is also an excellent little known route for walking between their trail system and Townsbury that would finish off the hike. Again, it will depend on time.
There will be off trail bushwhacking, up and down climbs, and walking through water, so be sure to be prepared for a rather difficult but diverse hike!
For more info contact me at 908 343 8374