White Lake Natural Resource Area

Updated:
Stone wall ruins surrounded by green foliage.

Hike around White Lake and past the remnants of a large ice house.

3.8 miles. Surface is root and dirt, not that rocky; minor hills.

Our two cents:

Short hike through forest and fields with a few views of an interesting crystal clear lake, and the remains of large buildings once used as an ice house/marl processing plant.

Bonus: Pair your hike with an easy paddle on White Lake.

Fun Fact: The name “White Lake” comes from the white chalky material that lines the bottom called “marl”. Marl is composed of freshwater shells and clay and was processed for use in fertilizer and cement.

Updated: 8/2023 – The remains of the icehouse have been fenced off [thanks Lori. P for the update]. 3/2022 – Added photos of the bench and view. Re-hiked to viewpoint and back 10/2021.


Map:

Print ahead, or there may be brochures in the trail kiosk.


Parking: N41.00207° W74.91660°

White Lake Parking Lot. 97 Stillwater Rd. Hardwick, NJ 07825. Large dirt lot adjacent to the road. Don’t continue further down the driveway as that’s just the kayak launch.


Restrooms: 

Portable toilet in the parking lot.


Hike Directions:

Overview: BLUE – YELLOW (Ridge & Valley) – BLUE

0.0 – From the parking lot, continue down the driveway to the kayak launch to check out White Lake.

Launch area of White Lake.

Head out on the dock for a closer look.

Green trees reflected in crystal clear lake.

With your back to the lake, turn LEFT to follow BLUE on a mowed path through a field.

Mowed trail through a field of wildflowers.

In the right season there may be wildflowers on either side.

Close up of yellow wildflowers.

RED co-joins BLUE for a section on the trail map, though we don’t recall seeing red markers.

Blue marker on a tree next to a trail.

0.4 – Continue on BLUE as it heads to a bench and viewpoint over the lake.

Bench looking over White Lake.

The view of White Lake from the bench.

Lake with blue sky and clouds reflected in it.

Continue on BLUE up an elaborate section of stone steps.

Stone steps on a trail.

BLUE continues, from the forest to crossing open fields on mowed paths.

Path through a field.
Trail through grassy field.

1.0 – View of White Lake. The posts in the water are from an old dock.

White lake with old dock posts seen in the distance.

Continue following BLUE.

Blue marker on a tree next to a dirt path.
Large old tree with sunlight streaming through the branches.

1.1 – Turn LEFT to now follow YELLOW (Ridge & Valley). [BLUE ends.]

1.2 – Arrive at the remains of the marlworks/ice house. Note: These are now fenced off and can’t be explored. We’ve left the photos here as an archive. Just continue past them, following YELLOW (Ridge & Valley).

Path to stone wall with arches overgrown with foliage.

We meandered through and around the buildings. Some areas may be overgrown.

Path to large stone wall.

Many of the openings have brick archways over them.

Brick arch over doorway.

Walking through an opening to the other side of the stone wall.

Stone buildings with graffiti.

Trees are growing all through the building interiors.

Old large stone wall with openings for windows.

Tall stone walls being taken over by the forest.

Tall stone wall.

From the marlworks is a view out to an open marshy area.

Open marshy area.

Continue following YELLOW (Ridge & Valley). Pass the remains of a chimney.

Remains of a stone chimney.

2.1 – Sign for a lime kiln nestled somewhere in the foliage.

Lime kiln interpretive sign.

Continue following YELLOW (Ridge & Valley) past the GREEN trail on the left. Pass GREEN again in a bit. Note that the trail map only shows one junction with GREEN.

// Shorter: Take GREEN back instead. At the junction with BLUE, turn LEFT and follow BLUE back to the lot. //

Continue following YELLOW (Ridge & Valley) as it loops back around.

Wide path with trees on each side.

3.0 – Turn LEFT to start following BLUE. [YELLOW (Ridge & Valley) continues a bit further before ending at Stillwater Road.]

Tree over a trail.

Continue on BLUE, crossing the GREEN trail. BLUE continues across a field and back to the log.


Hiked: 10/21/21. To viewpoint and back.
Hiked: 8/6/20.

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