Hike #145
At Kay Environmental Education Center
8/29/4
For my next new scouting hike, I decided it would be alright to post a route between
Succusanna NJ and the Black River area near Chester since so much of it was in public
parks, and other parts were proposed as trails anyway. The plan was to walk from Chester
into Black River Park and walking the Patriot’s Path and abandoned railroads to
Succasunna.
Along Pottersville Road
Conifer Pass Trail, Black River Park
We met in Succusunna in the morning, as we were planning on finishing at Dover, Tea
Biscuit and I drove around looking for where to park, but could’nt find a place, and we
turned back. I drove through a light the wrong way along the way which was crazy. I lost
Tea Biscuit on the way back, and was able to contact him via his cell phone with a pay
phone I found in Succasunna. Meeting us here other than Tea Biscuit were David Noble,
who came barreling up in his old Volvo with the license plate “BMW NOT”, John
Spiridon, and one newcomer, Richard Wells. Rich would go on to do many hikes with me
later on. He kept an incredible pace during his time hiking with us.
Conifer Pass Trail, Black river Park
Stream in Black River Park
An old bath tub in Black River Park
Along former Langdon Mine Railroad, now Patriot's Path
Along former Hacklebarney Mine Railroad, now Patriot's Path
We began by heading to the Shop Rite in Chester, and walking down Old Chester Road to
Pottersville Road, which was a nice walk. I think John was off in the fields eating more
raw crops as usual. We must have looked weird to Rich, as Tea Biscuit and I showed up
wearing loud Hawiian shirts, and Lea necklaces; I was also wearing my straw hat! We had
some interesting political conversations, which Tea Biscuit was always good at instigating.
We continued down Pottersville Road to the Patriot’s Path crossing, and followed it south
to the Conifer Pass Trail, then headed north back across Pottersville Road and down along
the Black River. This was a beautiful trail section, first up and onto a small ridge, then
downhill through mixed hardwood forest, and over a small stream near a stand of Spruce
Trees.
Approaching Cooper Mill
Cooper Grist Mill
Along Rt 24 at Milltown
Pedestrian underpass at Milltown
Black River dam at Milltown
We soon reached the Black River, which was beautiful. I walked into the river and
downstream a bit as I had heard voices. I did’nt go too far before turning back. Rich
walked quite a bit ahead over the many rolling hills in the area. As the trail led us up
higher above the river, we found an old bathtub which Dave felt he had to get in. We soon
reached the Elizebeth D. Kay Environmental Education Center, where there are many
different trails in all directions through woods and fields looping about. While here, I used
Tea Biscuit’s cell phone to contact Chris Jones, who agreed to meet up with us at the
Cooper Mill at Milltown just west of Chester on Rt 24.
Black River dam from former CNJ Chester Branch right of way and bridge
The four of us hiked around a loop through the Kay Center, taking us back to the Black
River Trail/Patriot’s Path where we headed back downhill to the river. The trail took us
down to where a bridge for vehicles used to cross the river, then along the river over a few
puncheons. Soon, the trail took us onto the right of way of the former Langdon Mine
Railroad, a narrow gauge railroad used for only a few brief years in the late 1800s. The
trail stayed on this right of way to the Hacklebarney Mine, now all fenced off, where it
joined with the Hacklebarney Mine Railroad, a short line that broke off the CNJ Chester
Branch further north. We continued past the mine area and a dam, then along Kay Pond in a
beautiful trail section. The trail deviated from the railroad bed a few times until it made
it’s final turn to the Cooper Mill, and the railroad used to continue across a now long gone
trestle over the Black River. We stopped for a break at the Mill, and I waited along the
road for Chris to show up, and soon we were met by Alan Eisberg and his girlfriend, Jenny
Walsh! They joined us at the Mill for a while as we waited for Chris. We stared at cars
with bewildered looks to freak them out until Chris showed up wearing a Shop Rite smock
I had given him.
Along the former Chester Branch of the Lackawanna
Along former DL&W Chester Branch in Chester Twp.
Bernie's Hillside Lounge
Abandoned industry in Chester Twp.
Former DL&W Chester Branch, Chester twp
Snake on Patriot's Path
Former DL&W Chester Branch near Ironia
Former DL&W Chester Branch in Succasunna
Horseshoe Lake, Succasunna NJ
Former DL&W Chester Branch in Succassunna
DL&W Chester Branch crossing Rt 10 in Succasunna
DL&W Chester Branch in Kenvil
Next, we walked under Rt 24 through a tunnel used for the trail, then past a dam
paralleling the river. This section of trail led us away from the river and near a large
swampy lake before heading uphill through the woods. Along the way, the trail took us
along a brief section of the former Chester Hill Branch of the Central Railroad of NJ, then
broke off once again leading us down to Furnace Road. John and Rich decided to cut out at
the railroad right of way, using it to return them to their cars.
At Furnace Road, I decided we should walk up the road to the CNJ Branch again, then
follow it out to the Black River bridge crossing, then follow the Patriot’s Path, which
follows somewhat closely the right of way of the Chester Branch of the DL&W Railroad,
and passed by the ruins of the Chester Furnace. We continued on this route to where it led
us back out to Furnace Road. Next, we headed up Furnace Road following blazes when I
spotted older painted out blazes to the left, leading away from the road earlier. I decided
we should follow this instead. The trail took us over puncheons, sort of covered over by
weeds, but still walkeable. After the puncheons, the trail took us onto the old DL&W
Chester Branch. Painted out blazes were still visible until the current location of the trail
obviously came in from the road on our right.
This trail section was nice and narrow, deviating only briefly from the right of way where
it was wet or unrecognizeable. We soon came out onto Rt 206. This was marked as the
temporary end of the trail, but we were able to continue on the right of way clearly across
the way out to Hillside Road. We walked up Hillside Road briefly to Bernie’s Hillside
Lounge, an old bar, to see if we could get some drinks and food, but it was closed.
Historical note: This was near the station, and the engineers used to stop and get drunk
here. One particular occasion saw an engineer so drunk he took a train into the turntable pit
when not aligned correctly!
We headed from here into some woods, then behind an abandoned industrial area where
the station used to be. The turntable pit was still in existance, full of algea. We saw some
signs indicating that this was owned by Hercules which had the powder plant in Belvidere
as wall as a larger complex near Kenvil, north of here.
Next, we walked across someone’s yard, then reached the parking area for where the right
of way is used as part of Patriot’s Path again. This section from here out near Ironia to
Pleasant Hill Road was kind of boring for the most part. The main part of the Patriot’s Path
turned right, and we continued ahead along someone’s yard, then out to the road. The only
really exciting thing on this stretch was a large snake we saw.
At Pleasant Hill Road, there was an intimidating sign saying No Trespassing and
promising prosecution to trespassers, as this was Water Authority Land. I felt a bit uneasy
about crossing land owned by the Water Authority, but we headed in anyway. The right of
way was being used as an access road here, and about mid way through this section we
heard a vehicle approaching from nearby. We all dashed off into the weeds and layed
down. I don’t remember hearing anything go by, but they easily could have.
At the end of this tract, we climbed over a large metal fence, then crossed the road along a
ball field in the trees. Tracks soon became visible again, and then clear as part of the
railroad is used as an industrial spur here. We were now just south of Succussunna. The
railroad paralleled a large lake, so we walked the grassy area for a bit along it’s edge to
take away from the pain of walking on tracks with ballast rock.
We soon crossed Rt 10, then continued through industrial areas out to where the junction
used to be with the CNJ High Bridge Branch. I climbed on a rail car here briefly; Dave
was hurting pretty bad. We headed back on the High Bridge Branch to the Succussunna
Shop Rite. We were tired, and had walked far enough even having not gone all the way to
Dover. I believe it was something like 18 miles!
We had dinner at the Chester Diner and laughed insanely. Jim Delotto met up with us for
dinner and we had a great time laughing histerically to the dismay of other patrons!
PICS! Here's a link to all of them...
DL&W Chester Branch and it's junction with the CNJ High Bridge Branch at Ferremonte
Succasunna Shop Rite, our end point
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