I've been getting away from the e mail list a bit, because I was having trouble with my account locking me out at first, and then because I've been getting so many new participants through the metrotrails website and our meetup site, www.meetup.com/metrotrails
I will try to send the e mails out a bit more infrequently but with more information.
Well, a new year is upon us. As usual, we will start out the new year with a First Day Hike! This year, that will be on the Highlands Trail between Long Valley and Spruce Run Recreation Area, a distance of 15.1 miles! Half of it is flat, along the Columbia Trail, with the rest having moderate elevation gain. We will be meeting at 8:45 am in Long Valley where the Columbia Trail crosses Schooley's Mountain Road. We will shuttle with as few cars as possible from here, which includes a 15 passenger van loaned to me by the State of NJ for this event! I am fortunate to have NJ DEP support for my First Day Hike, and more thanks goes to my Superintendent Jenny Felton for printing us out packets of maps and detailed trail info for everyone!
Because there are so many signed up, we may have to move some of the cars to other nearby parking lots. Contact me for more details at (908) 343 8374.
For this weekend, the hike will be Saturday, here's the description:
Join us for a very interesting hike through the open spaces in and around Princeton NJ! Hikers will be amazing at just how many trails and parks there are in Princeton. Although it is near to developed areas we will be mostly off roads on many different kinds of trails.
We are meeting at 8:30 am near the Whole Foods, Wendy's, Marshalls, and Staples along Rt 1 at the following address and GPS coordinates:
3495 U.S. 1, Princeton, NJ 08540
Lattitude: 40°18'33.62"N
Longitude: 74°39'59.34"W
This hike is a 17 mile loop. No car shuttling is necessary, so we will begin walking directly from the shopping center. We will follow a pathway that leads along a golf course to the Delaware and Raritan Canal. We will turn off of the old canal towpath and enter Institute Woods, a nice preserve which takes us across the Stony Brook on an amazing swinging bridge pictured above.
The route will take us from here across Princeton Battlefield State Park, and then through two more small preserves by way of paved paths. These paved paths lead near to Hun School and into a park known as Greenway Meadows, a lovely preserve that follows more of the Stony Brook further north.
The route continues along a couple of back streets, then makes it's way onto paved development paths which also give way to foot paths. They take us onto property adjacent to the Educational Testing Service, and on to Province Line Road, a partially abandoned road that takes it's name because it was once the boundary between the colonies of East and West New Jersey. It leads over a nice bridge over Stony Brook.
Much of the abandoned roadway retains the look of a regular road, only the lack of traffic has made it appear very narrow. We follow this road north for less than a mile after it becomes residential, and another trail leads us into the Woodfield Reservation, with more rustic natural surface foot paths.
The trail takes us past interesting points such as the Devil's Cave, a small rock overhang, and the Tent Rock pictured above. The trails of Woodfield Reservation continue connectively to the Pond View/ETS Trail. The character of the trail changes to being more open, near to a private school and along scenic ponds.
From here, we cross into the Community Park North area. Many trails criss cross this property which was used at one time to harvest ice for Princeton. We'll continue through Community Park north and on to Witherspoon Woods, named for a signer of the Declaration of Independence. This trail leads us out to roads with paved parallel pathways on the north side of Princeton.
We'll head south through Princeton, utilizing these pathways across town as well as the college campus, both of which are very lovely. By this time, we will be able to take our time, and find a place to stop and eat somewhere. Those who wish to continue on to the end may take Alexander Street to the canal towpath, and continue back to the access from which we started.
Although this hike is in a suburban area, the majority of it is away from any businesses, so everyone should have a lunch or snack, as well as plenty of water. Most of the trails are not very rocky, with a pleasant natural surface or pavement.
Contact me for more information: M'ke 908 343 8374
The following weekend I have not figured out what the hike will be yet, but it might depend on weather, and be a Jersey Perimeter hike. If there's not a lot of snow, it could end up being mostly woods, and if there's snow it could be the next section between Mahwah and Montvale.
The following weekend, 1/18, we will be doing the Jersey City/Bayonne/Newark Bay waterfront between Jersey City and Bayonne, which includes a lot of nice waterfront walkway and even substantial boardwalks. Here is the description:
This hike will trace as closely as possible the ease side of the mighty Hackensack between Jersey City and Bayonne. Some of the parks are in segments, but participants will be surprised at how much very nice waterfront we can actually walk on manicured paved and crushed stone paths as well as lovely boardwalks.
Distance will be about 16 miles.
We will be meeting at 8:30 am at the Hudson Bergen Light Rail station at Liberty State Park located on the corner of Communipaw Ave and Johnston Ave at the following GPS coordintates:
Lattitude: 40°42'39.47"N
Longitude: 74° 3'22.81"W
No car shuttling will be necessary because we will utilize the train for our return.
We will continue from here, following some of the JC route of the Liberty-Water Gap Trail across Jersey City to Lincoln Park. Once at Lincoln Park, we'll take to some of the other paved paths and explore the waterfront. We will have to cross Truck Rts 1 and 9, pass some retail stores, and then get back out onto the waterfront, which follows paved or crushed stone paths, as well as outstanding boardwalks. Hikers will be amazing at just how much of the Hackensack River/Newark Bay waterfront is walkable!
Despite heavy development, great urban hiking is possible along this section. We'll be walking directly along Rt 440 for a time, but it's well worth it for the incredible sections we'll hike in Richard A. Rutkowski Park, Bayonne Park, Veterans Park, City Park, and Mayor Dennis P. Collins Park.
We will also never be too far from food, so we will probably stop for some at some point along the way.
After reaching the waterfront at the south end of Bayonne, we'll walk a few blocks to the north to reach the light rail station and catch a ride back to our staring point. It only costs a couple of dollars to get back.
When we return, we have the option of continuing walking back into town for food, and/or heading to the Liberty SP waterfront for views of Manhattan at night.
We will close out the month on Jan 26 with another perimeter of NJ hike, meeting at Red Bank Battlefield Park in National Park NJ. Here is the description:
This hike will be the next in the series to hike the entire perimeter of NJ. This time, we will be connecting the towns of National Park NJ with Greenwich Township.
The hike will be very diverse, travelling through small parks along the way, as well as back and main roads in an effort to connect as close as we can with the lower Delaware River. There will be a very nice section of sandy dirt road with views of the Commodore Barry Bridge, and then we'll walk through the main sections of the towns of Gibbstown and Paulsboro. There will also be part of Red Bank Battlefield State Park.
This is sure to be an interesting and different hike in the heart of the Delaware Bayshore Region, and relatively easy terrain. About fifteen miles.
For any further information, feel free to call or text me! Plenty more good stuff coming up!
Best Regards
M'ke
