After the number of people I saw in the parks last week, I thought I would find something a little more off the beaten path, so to say. For this trip, I headed to Sourland Mountain Preserve, and the famed Devil’s Half Acre. Sourland Preserve is known for its bouldering, both in the Devil’s Half Acre and by the Roaring Brook. There were more cars in the parking lot at 9:00 a.m. than I expected but still plenty of spaces.
Trails are mostly dirt, with some roots, and lots and lots of rocks.
The hike up to the Ridge Trail – fairly tame
After about 100 yards, the trails would be exclusively
And that is not a lot, by comparison.
The boulders in the Devil’s Half Acre were huge, and there were lots of people all over them. I did not partake: a) there were too many people, not many masked, and b) I wasn’t really dressed for it. But it was cool to see. The trails around these boulders were not well marked, as evidence by my map. If you look at the northern-most part of my map, you’ll see where it appears I went around in circles. I did. AllTrails didn’t really help either. I almost broke out the compass. Once I figured out where to go, it was smooth sailing from then on.
A “small” boulder
After turning on the Roaring Brook trail, the path became mostly rock.
From here to the end there were numerous small creek crossing that entailed fairly easy rock hopping. It was also at this point that the sun became blazing hot. Surprisingly, I had to pass through, not one, but two chain link fences – I suspect the same fence in two locations. And after looking at the map, my guess is the fence is the town border. Also, I had to cut across a pipeline cut twice.
When the Roaring Brook meets back with the Ridge trail it is mostly downhill and more level terrain. At this point I started meeting more people, probably 80/20 masked; and I came across a group with unleashed dogs.
Getting back to the parking lot around noon I noticed it was packed. In fact, closed. I’m sure a great many of the people were bouldering, as I did not see many people on the trails away from the big rocks. People by the lake were not social distancing. And at least one car followed my back to my car for my space. While it was great in the woods, the parking lot was another story all together. This was a great hike, though, and I would definitely come back.
Trails: I was on most of them: Red, Yellow, Green, Blue, connectors – Orange was closed
My map:
The Ides of March. When I left home, it was cloudy and low 40s. I got to the park and was the fourth or fifth car there; the temperatures had warmed up to about 45. I stopped in the Environmental Education Center for a map, and by the time I got back out the sun was coming out. I could tell this would be a great day. And it was.
Lord Stirling Park (part of the Somerset County Parks) is immensely diverse, and should be on your list of hikes; if it already isn’t. There’s forest, mud, ponds, mud, swamp and wetland, mud, fields, mud, observation towers, mud and even blinds to check out both the scenery and wildlife. I would be remiss not to mention that the trails in the southern part of the park can be muddy. To me, the southeastern portion of the park reminds me of the La Brea Tar Pits. Looking at my split times for miles, I see my times are down – partly because there is so much to see and read in the park; and partly because the really muddy sections will slow you down. Really though, what was I expecting hiking in The Great Swamp?
The trail in the southeast starts off nice and flat and wide.
One of your first stops, if starting in the southeast, is the eastern observation blind, right outside Lily Pad Pond.
Eastern Observation BlindLily Pad Pond
As you are walking, you can tell you are near the Passaic River.
Passaic River
This section of the park has lots of mud:
You really don’t have to worry about losing the trail, look for the mud (or the boardwalks when you get to them.) There are plenty of blazes and you don’t really need to worry about turns. As a bonus, at EVERY trail junction, there’s a sign that shows exactly where you are and because of that I really did not need my trail map. Frequently, I changed my mind on where I was going when I reached a sign.
Trail junction – I headed right at this one
My next stopping point would be the East Observation Tower, overlooking the Passaic River. Bonus points were given as I was out of the mud and onto a boardwalk.
East Observation TowerPassaic RiverPassaic River
Back on the trail, I headed for my next waypoint.
What the…?
I thought I was out of it, but
I wouldn’t see mud again until I finished with the northern section of the park which included the swamp and boardwalks. It was very pleasant walking at his point; the sun was out and it was getting warmer.
Loch Ness Monster?
Finally, onto the boards.
wetlands
I came across a landing overlooking the Passaic River called the Dance Floor. No music was playing, but there were benches to sit and watch the river amble by.
The Dance Floor
It would be boards all the way to the Boondocks Boardwalk, which traversed La Plus Grande, part of the Great Swamp. This was by far my favorite section of the park. Just before La Plus Grande:
Boondocks Bypass
It’s shown on the map as Boondocks Bypass, but taking it would detour you around the fabulous wetlands and boardwalk. And you can see, looking down the trail in the picture, yep: mud.
There was no question in my mind where I was going.
Entering La Plus Grande
I can imagine this section of the trail is HOT in the Summer months. Off the boards and back into the woods made a nice change of scenery. It should be noted that there are benches at almost all the trail junctions.
After walking around Woodpecker Swamp, I came to The Great Swamp Oak. This tree was huge; I figure it would take three or four people holding hands to be able to reach around it.
The Great Swamp Oak
The Southwestern portion of the park skirts a bunch of fields and leads to the West Observation Deck.
West Observation Deck
There was evidence of recent burning in the fields and I read that this was a result of prescribed burns, so that the fields can grow anew. I made a quick detour up to the Sugar Shack, where they were making syrup. This was the last weekend of the year for the demonstration.
I had to stop at Bullfrog Pond – I didn’t see any frogs but I heard one.
Bullfrog PondA little too close to the trailBranta Pond – just outside the Environmental Education Center
This was a great hike! It is only the middle of March, but I would be surprised if this hike does not end up in the Top 5 by the end of the year. The weather was perfect, the trails were great (despite the mud) and there is so much to see. I had planned to hit the orange trail as well, but it was closed due to construction; looks like I’ll be back. I finished hiking around 12:30 and by this time the parking lot was packed. I stopped into the center after the hike, and there are great exhibits detailing the wildlife and the history of the Great Swamp. Finally, I headed over to the Turtle Pond. No turtles.
Ticks: 0 (Though I imagine that number changes in the Summer)
