<<<Hikes in NJ - Trails Less Taken

Beaver Brook Trail

Mahlon Dickerson Reservation - Morris County

Summary: Pleasant Highlands hike that starts right off at pretty Saffin Pond, then follows the Highlands trail on a easy woods road to the mildly rugged Beaver Brook trail. Mid-point of this hike is Lost Lake with beaver lodges and dam visible. There are a couple viewpoints along the second half of this route but they are quite limited; the main attraction is the lake and just nice pleasant forest to hike through.

10.7 miles*. easy to moderate trail surface; Highlands trail is an old woods road, while Beaver Brook trail is somewhat rocky. The trail is more rugged with several elevation changes from Lost Lake on. *If you do this whole route it should actually be roughly 12.5 miles, we cut it short due to a bear, see below.

• Shorter option: Turn around at Lost Lake for a nice 6 miler.

• Super Easy: just walk around the pond, bust out your picnic basket and call it a day.

• Alternate: Start at the parking area on Berkshire Valley Road and go the opposite direction. To just the lake and back is about 6.2 miles roundtrip from that direction.

• Another popular hike destination in the park is Headley Overlook.

Map: This entire hike is covered by the Jersey Highlands Trails map set.

There was a paper park map in the kiosk in the parking lot, but best bet is to print out from their site in case they are out of them. The park map does not cover the 2nd half of this hike, we used the diagram in Nature Walks in NJ. (you can manage without that)

Books: A complete description of Beaver Brook trail is found the New Jersey Walk Book. The second half of this route can be found in Nature Walks in New Jersey.

Update 1/1/2012: There is construction at the dam on Saffin Pond, which reroutes part of the Highlands trail. The water level for Saffin was low when we hiked it last on 1/1/12, and was not nearly as pretty as usual. The parking lot for Saffin may be blocked off and the porta-john gone. We saw cars parked along the shoulder so you may still be able to do this route.

And you could always give the park to call and see if the Saffin Pond lot is open. The project started in April 2011 and is expected to run 10-12 months.

Beaver Brook Trail

Parking: Rt 287 to Rt 80 W. Exit 34 to Rt 15 North. Right onto Weldon Road. Large parking area is on the right. Go past the first sign and driveway to the 2nd lot; shortly after the first (first signed lot is for the yellow trail and has a kiosk but no porta-john).

Restrooms: Porta-john in the parking lot.

*Bears: The forest is rather open for this hike and not many blind corners to worry about startling a bear as much. However, about a mile from our planned turnaround, while on a ridge we spotted a very large black bear in a TREE in the small valley below us. Since we were close to our turnaround point we opted to just head back as to not risk the bear moving onto the trail and getting between us and the way back.

Hike Directions:This route starts on the Highlands Connector trail – BLACK DIAMOND on TEAL diamond. Trailhead is at the back of the lot, next to the porta-john and if you are facing the pond.

Immediately you are at Saffin Pond – probably one of the quickest view payoffs on a trail, ever.

Head LEFT on the BLACK DIAMOND on TEAL diamond trail and cross a little bridge. The trail hugs the pond and is very rocky – the rest of the trail will not be like this. There are also many fallen trees – and by the looks of it, from beaver activity.

.3 miles - At the end of the pond, turn left onto TEAL DIAMOND (Highlands). Follow this for a bit.

.5 miles - T-intersection. There is a sign on your right showing the way to Saffin Pond. Turn RIGHT onto an easy woods road and continue following TEAL DIAMOND. To the left, the woods road continues, unmarked.

Woods road curves around.

1.6 miles – Beaver Brook Trail (WHITE) starts. Turn RIGHT and start follow the WHITE blazes the rest of the way. The Highlands Teal goes to the left here, and a trail appears to go straight here but is not on the map.

2.0 miles – The Yellow trail crosses the trail left and right. Continue straight on WHITE. There is a trail sign here with a map under glass. There is a sign stating you are leaving Mahlon Dickerson and entering Weldon Brook Wildlife Management Preserve.

The trail becomes more rugged, traversing some rock slabs and heading downhill in spots. Lost Lake will come into view on your left, walk a bit more to get to a nice snack spot.

3.1 miles – the trail goes through a huge split rock called, amazingly, Split Rock.

3.2 miles – the trail comes close to the Lake here and there are logs to sit on to enjoy the view. Two beaver lodges can be seen out in the lake, and the water is damned by trees and debris on the one end.

**you can turn around here to make it a 6.2 mile hike if you like, or continue on.

Continue following the WHITE blazes. Beaver Brook can be seen to your left.

3.5 miles – cross Beaver Brook on planks, and it’s also a powerline cut. It’s very rocky on the other side of the planks and covered in tall grass so watch your step… never know what kind of critters could be in there.

There are some unmarked woods roads that cross the trail here and there, so just watch the markers. The trail is mostly easy woods road here, and you will pass some deer stands.

4.7 miles – come down a large rocky slab that has a very limited view. Notice there is a rock cairn – you need to turn RIGHT here and it’s not blazed, plus it looks like you the trail could go straight. When you turn, there are more rock piles to follow and then you will see WHITE blazes again on your left. Trail then heads downhill.

The trail becomes a bit more moist and lush as you have dropped a bit lower. The trail does change elevation more than the first half and you have some steep ups and downs.

The trail continues on in this rugged way for the rest of the hike, finally ending at the parking area where you can turn around and head back; or of course just go as far as you like.

It’s been quite a few years since we’ve been at the parking area on Berkshire Valley so we don’t have any current info on the state of that lot.