For detailed hike directions, maps, and photos, visit our Wells Mills page.
We hike on New Years Day every year – it’s a great way to kick off the new year. Weather was cloudy when we started out but not windy. The sun came out around noon and it got up in the mid-40s and was very comfortable.
Located in Ocean County, super easy access – right off the Parkway at exit 69, left onto 532 W, entrance is about 2.5 miles down, on the left. This is a no-hunting park. Get the trail map here.
This was our first time here and we wished we’d check out this park sooner, it’s just really nice with well maintained facilities and trails. It’s also a great intro to the terrain of the Pine Barrens. Right at the start of the hike you walk through an Atlantic white cedar swamp which was just really neat – and pretty.
The terrain switches to just pine barren with areas of cedar swamp sprinkled throughout. There are many narrow boardwalks over wet areas or streams which can get slippery when wet or icy… Read more…
For detailed hike directions, maps, photos and GPS coordinates, visit our Watchung Reservation page.
Located in Union County. Parkway to 78W, exit 43… directions here. The Trailside Museum at the main parking lot is open 12-5 and is very nice. Other restrooms were open earlier in a nearby building, follow the signs from the lot.
Did the Sierra Trail, an 11-mile loop around the perimeter. We have mixed feelings about this park. In fact, we’ve been here only once before, about 5 yrs ago, and it’s taken us this long to give it another go. With rain forecasted for Sunday and recent snows in northern Jersey, we were looking for a park that was no-hunting and not snow covered… Read more…
Headed to our favorite go-to park when we don’t have a lot of time to drive to something longer: Cheesequake State Park. Did a quick 4.3 miler that combined the YELLOW, BLUE and GREEN trails. It was a nice day, but you could certainly tell that winter is coming – was glad I grabbed my fleece at the last moment.
A lot of the park is marshy with boardwalks and the trail surface is easy. One of our favorite parks for getting a quick 4 or 5 miles in.
For detailed hike directions, maps, photos and GPS coordinates, visit ourHarriman page.
Headed to Harriman because it was Saturday during hunting season. (No hunting at Harriman at all). Parked at the visitor center and was surprised to see it packed since it was raining out.
Trail conditions were really slippery so we chose a mostly level trail and did a 7.2 mile loop around Pine Meadow Lake. RED to WHITE to Unmarked Trail to Woods Road to RED to WHITE/BLUE-WHITE to WHITE/YEL to YEL to RED…
