Hike #291 7/1/7
7/1/7 Warren Glen/Rieglesville/Milford with "Amish Paul" and Wyatt Hassler, Skyler Jermyn, Bill "Guillermo" Fabel, Jason Itell, Joe Tag, Ron Lozowski, Gerry Martiniak, Jay and Sangita Shah
In Warren Glen
I arranged my next trip to complete some of the route I proposed would eventually be part of the Highlands Trail network on it's way to Pennsylvania, between Warren Glen and Milford NJ. I felt I had not done enough scouting on the previous trip in the area, so this one would take us more extensively through the region.
Park in Warren Glen NJ
Warren Glen
Musconetcong Gorge Preserve
Musconetcong Gorge Preserve
Musconetcong Gorge Preserve
Musconetcong Gorge Preserve
Scout Run, Musconetcong Gorge
Scout Run, Musconetcong Gorge
Musconetcong Gorge Preserve off trail
Old road in Warren Glen
Old road in Warren Glen
Abandoned farm, Warren Glen
Abandoned farm
Abandoned farm
Abandoned farm in Warren Glen
Abandoned farm, Warren Glen
Along the Musconetcong
Along the Musconetcong in Warren Glen
Along the Musconetcong
Musconetcong below Warren Glen
Crossing the Musconetcong
Fields below Warren Glen
Farm west of Warren Glen
Abandoned paper mill I think near Hughesville
Abandoned paper mill
Abandoned paper mill
Walking the back roads to Finesville
Finesville NJ
Finesville dam, to be removed in 2011.
Finesville historic sign
Future Highlands Trail route, Finesville
Future Highlands Trail route, Finesville
Future Highlands Trail route, Finesville, Merry Christmas.
Future Highlands Trail route
Near Finesville
Musconetcong trestle
Along former Bel Del tracks, Rieglesville
Skyler's mean ride in Rieglesville
Rieglesville NJ
Bel Del near Rieglesville
South of Rieglesville
Bel Del south of Rieglesville
Bel Del south of Rieglesville
Abandoned passenger car
Abandoned passenger car
Abandoned passenger car
Abandoned passenger car
Abandoned passenger car
Down along the old Bel Del
Another passenger car
South of Rieglesville
South of Rieglesville
Along the old Bel Del Railroad tracks south of Rieglesville
We had to walk parallel fields south of Rieglesville because the old Bel Del tracks were too overgrown
Near the Milford Bluffs
Small hidden falls on Milford Bluffs
Prickly Pear growing naturally on Milford Bluffs
Prickly Pear on Milford Bluffs
Rope swing in the Narrows
Rope swing into the Delaware below Milford Bluffs
Rope swing in the Narrows
Rope swing in the Narrows
Milford Bluff narrows
View from Milford Bluffs
View from Milford Bluffs
View from Milford Bluffs
Milford Bluffs
On Milford Bluffs
Milford Bluffs
Milford Bluffs
Blossoming Prickly Pear Cactus on Milford Bluffs
View from Milford Bluffs
View from Milford Bluffs
Descending Milford Bluffs
Swimming in Milford NJ
Milford NJ
We met in the morning in Milford at the same parking area near the church on River Road we'd used in the past, then shuttled three cars to my step-grandfather's house in Warren Glen where we were greeted by both him and my stepmother, Donna. Joining me for this hike were "Amish Paul" and Wyatt Hassler, Irina Kulikovskaya, Ron Lozowski, Bill "Guillermo" Fabel, Joe Tag, Gerry Martiniak, Jay Shah and the only newcomer, his wife Sangita, and Skyler Jermyn who had not been on one of my hikes in almost a year! I was surprised to see that Skyler had shaved his head bald! We began walking up the driveway onto the road, heading to a little municipal park with a ballfield where we met Ron Lozowski. Once we were all together, we skirted the edge of the park behind a chain link fence eating lots of blackberries along the way. We walked around to the back of the basketball court, then turned around and followed Rt 519 across the Musconetcong River to the former Lehigh Valley Railroad's paper mill spur. Both of the paper mills that once operated in the area were now defunct. We followed the railroad bed, observing the right of way to an old siding below us to the left, to the site of where a bridge used to cross an area of water. We had to cut into the woods up hill from here to the Nature Trail in the Musconetcong Gorge Preserve. We followed this trail down and across the creek (either Pine Run or Scout Run, can't remember), then continued along the creek up hill to the Highlands/Ridge Trails. Along the way was the site of an old dam and possibly where a water tower sat. Once we reached the Highlands Trail, we turned right and continued along the ridge to the trail parking area for the preserve on Dennis Road. Ron told us how this road used to be the main route of the road up the hill, and that it was changed years ago. We walked down Dennis Road to Rt 519 and crossed bushwhacking through the undeveloped section of the Musconetcong Gorge Preserve. It was rough, but we fought though to a gravel road which served as an access to a gas line I believe it was. We continued on along the road, making a turn and reaching an old farmstead. The farm house was long gone but the barns were still standing. We had a look at some sort of a conduit area for the gas line, then explored the old barns a bit before moving on. We made our way down toward the Musconetcong and reached the former LV Railroad spur right of way. We followed the spur for a while, but it soon bacame overgrown. There was a parallel former power canal, but even it was not really possible to follow. We fought through some terrible weeds, then came into a meadow area, and back to more weeds. We finally opted to make our way to the Musconetcong and follow shore line. Still, even the shore line being slightly more clear than what we'd been going through was tiresome. We soon opted to wade across the river and make our way to the road breifly. On the other side, we took a quick lunch break and then made our way up to the field on the other side. The farmer saw us and asked what we were up to, but did'nt mind us being there, fortunitely. We cut up to the road, continueing to Hughesville where we crossed the river on Cyphers Road turning right on Willow Lane. This road was a dead end, with a mowed off path breaking away from the road into fields. We followed the path around the outside of teh fields, heading about a third of the way around before entering the woods on an old carriage road. We continued through woods until we reached another field where we skirted the edge again and cut off trail into the woods along the Musconetcong. We were able to move on rather easily and soon reached some well manicured mowed off paths in the woods. We began following the paths which looped us up and down hill back and forth almost at random. Just when we thought we must be going the wrong way, the trail would make a turn that would make us guess otherwise. Eventually, it led us out to a farm fields a short distance from Bellis Road. We opted to walk along the field to Bellis Road to save some time, then turned right. The road led us aroun two sharp corners, then out to Finesville. Ron had prior commitments and arranged for a ride home from this point, so the rest of us continued on along Bellis Road out to Milford-Rieglesville Road. Most of the group waited behind while Skyler, Wyatt, and I made our way to the Rieglesville Roebling Bridge where we spotted Skyler's car in the morning, as he had to get to work later. Wyatt and I continued back along the former Bel Del Railroad heading south, and we rejoined the rest of the group at the grade crossing nearby. We continued on along the abandoned railroad, once again visiting the old passenger car on the siding south of Rieglesville near the power plant, and continued along the tracks to where they became overgrown when the road and tracks come close together again. We cut out to the road, then continued southbound. We also checked out the waterfall we'd visited the previous trip, but hardly any water was flowing over it this time. We continued on to the rope swing we'd seen on the previous trip to the area, and decided to try it out. On the way down, we got in the Stinging Nettle really bad, so it was necessary to jump in! It was'nt too deep, and not nearly the best rope swing ever, but still fun. We swam a bit, then continued on. Wyatt, Jason, and Guillermo hung out there for a bit, while the rest of the group began clinbing the little waterfall along the road up the Milford Bluffs. I waited for the other three, and Guillermo passed his backpack off to me as he wanted to head back home a bit earlier. Wyatt and Jason followed me climbing steeply up the bluffs. When I reached the top, Gerry, Jay, Sangita, Joe, and Amish Paul had discovered a viewpoint I'd missed on the previous trip, and this one was superior to the other's I'd seen with a better view of the Milford-Upper Black Eddy Bridge. After a break, we continued along on top of the cliffs at first off trail, then along an old woods road and trails. Views continued as we neared Milford. The trail skirted a field, then continued through woods on top of the cliffs eventually heading to someone's back yard. We opted to turn back and try to stay near the edge of the drop off. The homes continued to become more dense and close to the edge, so we had to be extra careful to stay close to the edge, but not enter anyone's yard. As soon as it looked feasable, I decided we needed to make our way down hill. It was very steep, and we had to make our way over one small piece of vertical rocks. It took some time and effort, but we all made it down safely to the road. Once there, we headed south along the road to the cars. Wyatt and I detoured over to a little hotel place where Jason found a great little private dock he got permission for us to swim from. We spent a bit of time here swimming around and cooling off before we turned back to the parking area. Amish Paul, Wyatt, and I had dinner at McDonald's in Easton on my way home.
1.) Ron L and Guillermo in the front along the municipal basketball court in Warren Glen2.) Crossing the municipal ball fields in Warren Glen with a nice view of a gap in the Musconetcong Ridge in the background3.) Jason crossing the creek4.) A round foundation, probably a former pedestool for a water tower5-8.) Nice creek views9.) Cutting through the woods off-trail in Musconetcong Gorge Preserve's undeveloped west section10.) More in the preserve's west section11.) Along the access road near the gas line12.) The old barn at the farm site13-17.) Various scenes in and around the old farmstead18-19.) Guillermo and I taking a break along the Musconetcong downstream from Warren Glen20.) The group resting along the river21.) Guillermo on an island in the Musconetcong debris had caught on during a recent flood. The bridge looks like one that was missing in Musconetcong Gorge!22.) Crossing the Muscey23.) Crossing farmland out to the road downstream from Warren Glen24.) Lovely farmlands in the lower Musconetcong Valley near Hughesville25.) Abandoned paper mill in Hughesville26.) Another shot of the paper mill27.) A shot of the paper mill from the fields to the east.28.) Walking along Bellis Road29.) Lovely little truss bridge over the Musconetcong in Finesville30.) Dam and slack water on the Musconetcong in Finesville31.) Finesville historic marker32.) In Musconetcong River Fish and Wildlife Management Area's mowed trai, Finesville area33.) Jason with a Christmas tree he dragged out of the woods34.) "Merry Christmas" from Guillermo35.) In the Musconetcong WMA, I don't know what they're doing...36.) Skyler and Wyatt with a giant dandilion37.) Former Bel Del Railroad's trestle over the Musconetcong38.) Skyler on the Bel Del Trestle in Rieglesville39.) Skyler leaving us in his Miata! Rieglesville40.) In Rieglesville on the Bel Del41.) The Bel Del Railroad tracks looking south from Rieglesville area42.) Overpass in Rieglesville43.) More of the tracks getting overgrown south of Rieglesville44.) Though you can't tell, we're still on the Bel Del tracks heading south45.) Inside the old passenger car46.) Paul in the rail car47.) Me stepping out of the rail car (WH)48.) Wyatt in the rail car49.) Jason checking out the rail car50.) Nearing the power plant south of Rieglesville on the Bel Del51.) Old Erie Lackawanna passenger car on the fenced in siding52.) Walking along the old train cars53.) Still near the power plant54.) Continueing south along the tracks55.) The group making their way from the tracks toward the road north of Milford56.) I think this is Joe making his way up to us through the fields57.) The waterfall north of Milford was now totally dry58.) Prickly Pear Cactuses growing on the Milford Bluffs59.) More Prickley Pears on the bluffs, some of them in bloom60.) Me swinging off the rope swing into the Delawere!61.) I think this is Wyatt swinging62.) Wyatt going off the swing!63.) Jason treading water!64.) The group walking the Narrows at Milford Bluffs65.) View south of Milford-Upper Black Eddy Bridge from Milford Bluffs66.) Another view of the bridge67.) View up stream68.) View across into PA69.) The group at the viewpoint70.) Another view of the Milford Bridge71.) Wyatt and I at the viewpoint72.) Prickly Pear growing naturally and blooming on Milford Bluffs73.) A great view of the Milford Bridge74.) Another view, more of Upper Black Eddy PA75.) Making our way down the bluffs76.) Jason swimming in the Delaware in Milford77.) The Milford-Upper Black Eddy Bridge
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