Clayton Park

Hike over rolling forested hills and along Doctor’s Creek in a small park surrounded by Jersey farmlands.

4.4 miles. Hilly, packed dirt, roots but not a lot of rocks.

• Shorter: Glen loop: 0.7, Bridges loop: 1.8, other loops from combining trails
• Longer: Not really, would have to loop back around to do the inner trails too

Our two cents: Worthwhile for a moderate or short hike in a pretty, farm-filled area of central Jersey.

This park was recommended to us multiple times but we kept avoiding it as it’s known more for biking. It’s not been an issue, we’ll briefly see a bike or two, but your results may vary.

Updates – 6/2018: Minor tweaks. 1/2018: Linked to newer map file; updated GPX, added Google Map.

Map: Print it online or there were some in the trail kiosk. Smartphone users, check out the GPS-enabled map created by Hidden Trenton.

There are signposts at trail intersections instead of color-coded blazes.

While this isn’t a large park, the network of trails can get confusing and it’s easy to lose track of where you are on the trail map.

Books: Not in any books we are aware of.

Parking: 40.1559,-74.5045167
Detailed directions on the park site.

Restrooms: Porta-john in the parking lot

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Hike Directions:

We traveled the perimeter of the park and stitched multiple trails together to create the longest route we could. It’s easier to show than explain the route step-by-step:

Starting from the trail head kiosk, we just kept turning or veering RIGHT at intersections:

• Glen Trail
• Bridges Trail
• Over two wooden bridges
• Old Forge Trail
• Doctors Creek Trail
• Over a bridge again
• Doctors Creek Trail
• Over a bridge/boardwalk to a field near a pond
• Bridges Trail past a field edge to the other end of the parking lot

—
Hiked: 1/27/19.
Hiked: 1/1/18. ~1-2″ Snow. Trail Blog: “Clayton Park on New Year’s Day 2018“
Hiked: 6/28/15.
Hiked: 1/01/15.
Hiked: 12/14/14.