<<<Hikes in NJ - Trails Less Taken
Baldpate Mountain - Ted Stiles Preserve
Summary: Small Central Jersey park located in Mercer County, near the Delaware River and next to Washington Crossing State Park. Park contains the Kuser Estate House and the Ridge Trail passes old farm buildings. There are about 10 miles of trails total.
8.6 miles. Easy to moderate trail surface; minor elevation change. Some muddy/rutted trail sections due to use by bikes/horses. The trail was mostly hard packed earth, like clay almost, and it has to get quite muddy when wet. Few rocks.
This park is more suited for shorter loops from one of the many parking areas; we stitched a bunch of trails together in order to see most of the park
Map: Print out the trail map and the detail of the Honey Hollow section before you head out. Not sure if the visitor center has maps; wasn’t open.
Books: Could not locate this park in any of our books, not even the NJ Walk Book. Some info and history of the area can be found on njskylands.com. (scroll down a bit for Bald Pate)
Parking: There are 5 access points, described on the park page. 95S to Exit 1 for 29N/River Road. This route uses the first lot on Fiddlers Creek Road off of Rt 29. There is signage for the lot to its easy to spot, and the lot was brand spanking new with a shiny new trail kiosk and a nice large trail map display.
Restrooms: None in parking lot. The trail kiosk map showed restrooms at the visitor center and lodge, which is 1.3 miles up the blue trail. They were not open at around 11am on a Sunday. Not sure if there are so new there aren’t ready yet, or if it just wasn’t open… didn’t see any signs with hours posted.
Hike Directions: Look for the BLUE square marker (Summit Trail) on a tree by the trail kiosk.
Trail is immediately very pleasant, level at first and then heads up. The forest in this park was very dense, and with very tall trees… like it was old growth and hadn’t been clear cut in the past.
.4 miles – climb steeply up stone “steps”.
.8 miles – cross the park road and continue straight along a mowed path. The park buildings are ahead on the left. The path continues along the mowed path to your RIGHT.
1.0 miles – Several picnic tables in a mowed grassy area, overlooking the Kuser Mansion, orchard. The Delaware River can be seen on a clear day.
BLUE ends here, now start following WHITE which is a black arrow on white here. Follow the mowed path then make a LEFT where indicated, going downhill to the Orchard and Kuser Mansion and buildings. There are restrooms here that were not open the day we hiked.
At the road, turn RIGHT and go a short ways. Look to your right again to find the trail marker.
1.5 miles – Start following RED (NW Loop). The Ridge Trail (WHITE) goes to the right here, you will join this again later so turn right if you want to skip the NW Loop.
1.6 miles – At this unmarked junction, you need to turn RIGHT. After turning RIGHT, you will eventually see RED markers again, but they are not there until you start walking.
The trail goes straight also, but if you go that way you end up seeing “no trespassing” signs shortly.
2.6 miles – turn RIGHT and follow RED. To the left is WHITE (Pleasant Valley) which leads to another parking area.
2.8 miles – RED ends at the Ridge Trail (WHITE). Turn LEFT and follow WHITE towards old farm buildings. If you’d like to cut it short… turn RIGHT and take the Ridge Trail back to the visitor center and BLUE trail.
2.9 miles – old farm buildings, nice place for a break and snack. You can walk around and look at the outside of them, they are of course boarded up. Great if you like to take photos. There is a little pond that is not really visible until you walk over to it, it’s by the old well and a little building.
When done with the buildings, continue on the WHITE Ridge trail. This trail is mostly easy and level with some wide muddy ruddy spots.
4.1 miles – Turn RIGHT onto the ORANGE Copper Hill trail. The WHITE trail continues straight. The ORANGE trail heads steeply downhill over some loose rocks, then levels off and is muddy is sections.
4.5 miles – remains of a house’s stone chimney are to the right.
Shortly after that is a junction with BLUE (Creek Spur) trail which leads to another parking area. Continue on ORANGE.
4.8 miles – Entering the “Honey Hollow” area with its slightly confusing network of trails. and at the junction of RED and ORANGE, start following RED to the RIGHT (Honey Hollow Trail)
4.9 miles – Continue following RED to the RIGHT, while BLUE (Kuser Trail) goes both left and right.
5.1 miles – Continue on RED past an unmarked trail and the overgrown ORANGE (Cedar Grove) trail. RED continues along a small stream area and loops around.
5.4 miles – turn RIGHT and follow ORANGE (Cedar Grove) now. If you continue straight on RED you will head to another parking area.
Shortly after, pass an unmarked trail on the left. Continue LEFT, still on ORANGE.
5.6 miles – Start following BLUE (Kuser) straight. Orange (Cedar Grove) is to the right and overgrown.
Turn left onto RED (Honey Hollow) and start retracing your steps. Turn LEFT on ORANGE and follow back uphill to the WHITE Ridge Trail.
6.5 miles - Make a left on the WHITE Ridge Trail.
7.8 miles – Past a field area, turn LEFT onto the gravel road. Up a bit further, turn LEFT onto BLUE and take this down to your car.
