Musconetcong Gorge Preserve

Park Site

Trail Map

Hike Distance:  7.56 miles

Trails:  Orange, Blue, Yellow, White, and some unmarked trails

My Map:

It was a gorgeous day, getting into the mid 80s.  I wore pants with zip off legs thinking if it got too hot, I could take the legs off.  However, it rained a little last night, and the Orange trail was wet, and overgrown.  I’m glad I left the legs on.

After parking, I hiked the Orange trail as an out and back.  Before 519, it’s a nice trail, well maintained.

After crossing 519, there are stretches of the trail that are extremely overgrown.  And there were numerous spider webs crossing the trail; I felt like Indy going after the idol.

There are a couple of spots where the trail opens up.

The trail ends while passing a cornfield just by a road.  The Highlands Trail keeps going, but I was not cutting through the overgrowth.  There was a nice view, and a great breeze by the cornfield.

Naked-flowered Tick Trefoil

Back at my car, I jumped on the Yellow Trail (which is part of the Highlands Trail as well.)  This trail climbed to the top of a ridge and followed the ridge for a while.  It was much easier to move with a day pack on as opposed to the backpacking pack.

Like last week, there were a lot of wineberries out.  This time, I channeled my inner bear, and gorged when I saw ripe berries.  Last week would have been the mother lode though.

The first stream crossing is Scout Run, which had lots of water flowing through.

All throughout the ridge top I saw toads scurrying about and made sure not to step on them.

The highest point on the ridge will have a great view once the leaves are off the trees.

I followed the Yellow trail until the next stream crossing at Pine Run.  Instead of crossing, I took the White (?) trail down to the old rail bed.

This trail is not on the map.  And the trail is pretty much straight down to the base of the gorge, with lots of rocks.  When I came to the base, there was yellow caution tape closing off the trail going up.  There was no tape at the top preventing anyone from coming down.  Here’s a shot looking up, the picture doesn’t do the steepness justice.  You can see the yellow caution tape to the right.

Walking on the old rail bed was pleasant.  There were plenty of wineberries, and the trail was pretty flat and smooth.

After a few minutes I could hear people down in the Musconetcong river.  There were loud yells, and then a crash.  I found a small spur trail that headed in that direction, it had one steep section I sort of slid down.  The trail came out at a dam, where people were using the dam as a water slide to go down and fall into a big pool.  There was enough water that kayaks were going down as well.  I would have loved to have tried it, but I had no idea the dam was here and I wasn’t getting soaked without a good way to dry off.  I watched one kayak go down, and it was awesome.

Someone at the dam suggested I take an old trail that split a stream and the river back towards the car.  It would go by the old paper mill and factory, so I changed my plans and followed that path.

The stream on the left was really nice, and supposedly had fish.

The trail went over a small set of falls where the stream fell towards the river.

I passed the paper mill in the woods and found the old abandoned factory.

Butterfly Bush

However, I was now off trail and needed to find my way back.  I found a small spur trail that looked like it would head back towards the trail to the car.  Sure enough, I found the trail I was looking for, but I had to cross an old rickety dam first in order to reach the marked trail.

Eventually I found my way back to the car.  Coming back, I’m packing for swimming and sliding down the dam.

Ticks: 0

Blazes:

Hiked:  7/30/2022

Point Mountain

Park Site  (northern section)

Trail Map

Hike Distance:  6.9 miles

Tails:  Orange, White, Blue (northern section), Red, Blue (central section)  (The brochures have actual trail names, I’ve just used the colors from the trail map.)

My map:

Point Mountain has been a place I’ve been to a couple of times as I dropped off and picked up my daughter from Camp Bernie.  It was time to climb to the viewpoint and explore the park.  Arriving at the trailhead, it was in the mid 40s, yet when I reached the viewpoint, it was already in the upper 60s.  The sun felt great, and I’m not going to complain about 70 degree weather the first weekend in November.

I have some mixed emotions about this hike, which I’ll get to.  However, know that practically all of the leaves are down (which hasn’t happened yet at home.)  This was a blessing and curse – the curse to be revealed later.  However, as the ground and surroundings are brown, anything non-brown became picture-worthy.

From the trailhead, start on blue (for a very short time) until orange splits off.

American Wintergreen
Resinous Polypore
Christmas Fern

And those were just within the first 100 feet.

Orange splits off, and you can see what you will be in for as the trail works its way up to the top.

Ultimately, you will wind your way around to the right, and come up the shoulder.  Once to the top, there are numerous viewpoints looking north over the farmlands.

The Orange trail leaves and meanders northeast along the ridge.  You’ll see a couple of rocks to scramble out on for more viewpoints.

Garlic Mustard

The ridge walk was especially pleasant as temperatures had really warmed up.  The trail was easy to follow and you can see views off to your left.  To the right is all forest and an army of squirrels gathering food for the winter.

As you descend, you will reach an area with a small stream crossing.

I took the White trail north heading into the Northern Section of the park.  This trail was well marked and easily followed.  I had read that there were sections that were overgrown, I did not find that to be the case today.  As the trail emerges by Penwell Road and a creek, I found these Turkey  Tail fungi.

 

Spotted Wintergreen

This tree was covered with Turkey Tail.

The trail comes out on Penwell Road and it is not immediately obvious where to go.  Cross the road, and head to the left.  There is a private driveway, with a “No Outlet” sign.  Just to the right is a large cairn marking the continuation of the trail.

Head up.  It’s another climb.  And at this point, on this day, all the leaves were down.  I felt like I was wading through water.  The leaves were knee-deep in some parts, and it was very easy to lose the trail.  I’m pretty sure I was off trail quite a bit.  Essentially, I hiked blaze-to-blaze, when I saw the next blaze, I walked to it whether the trail could be seen or not.  And, it was very loud, with all the leaves.  Coming down I figured would be treacherous.

I took the White, which crested the mountain, then descended, to the Blue, to the Red, which connected back to the white.  On the red you go through a large stone wall.

Funeral Bell Mushrooms

Don’t eat those…they’re toxic.

I backtracked on white to eventually get off the mountain, and head back to the central section of the park.  What I found interesting is there a section of the white trail where it appears that someone walked with a portable blower and blew off the leaves.  It’s only for about 100 feet or so, and you can see where this person’s trail heads back towards private property.  It was a welcome, brief, respite from the noise.

Back in the central section of the park, I continued on Orange until it joined with Blue – which paralleled the Muscunetcong River.

While walking this section there are many nice rocks to sit on, take a break, and watch the river flow by.

Canadian Wild Ginger

The Blue trail splits, taking the left fork will take you back to where you parked.  I went right and followed the river a bit more.  Eventually the bridge comes into view.

Clustered Black Snake Root

I decided to cross the road by the bridge, and finish up that last section of the blue trail.  You can see by my map that I didn’t finish the whole trail.  There was a huge blowdown obscuring the path.  Also, this section is wildly overgrown, and you don’t want to go off trail.  I’m sure I picked up a hitchhiker here.  On my way back, there were so many leaves down, that I’m sure I was off trail in spots.

Thin-wall Mazed Polypore

The lot was full when I reached it after finishing the Blue trail.  And it was warm, in the 70s by now.  All in all, I really enjoyed the Central Section of the park.  I do not think I would hike the northern section unless it is before the leaves dropping.  I did not see a single person on this hike until I reached the river, and back at the lot.  I would definitely hike to the viewpoint again.  Trails were well marked, and aside for the overgrowth and leaves, were easy to follow.

Ticks: 1

Blazes:

Northern Section
Northern Section

Hiked:  11/7/2020