It was another scorcher in New Jersey today (with temperatures topping above 100 F), so while we decided to hit the trails, we hid under the cover of trees, with
an almost guaranteed level path, by doing another rail trail. It's hike #3 ("Black River WMA Trail") in the book
24 Great Rail-Trails of New Jersey and was one of the most
remote rail trails we have done, without a single road crossing and just minor signs of civilization at the end.
We started early, at 8:45 AM when it was still only in the high 80s and finished by 11:45 AM, with temperatures in the low 90s. Total distance hiked was 7.2 miles in 3 hours.
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Trailhead on Pleasant Hill Road |
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Tiny trail wildflower |
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Car remains |
Very sandy path here |
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Swamp near Black River |
Swamp |
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Christmas ornaments! |
Tiny trail mushrooms |
Patriot's Path blaze |
Blow-down |
Sphagnum moss |
Damselfly |
Swallowtail |
Black swallowtail |
Field of wildflowers |
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Giant blow-down |
Farm implement? |
[Photo by Laura] |
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Very green path |
Bridge |
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Marsh |
Plenty of shade |
Wooden bridge |
Northeastern end |
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Backyard trampoline |
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Lower view of bridge |
Dwarfed by trees |
Twisted branches |
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Power line cut |
In cut looking north |
Ferns |
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Garter snake |
Brook |
View across river |
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Giant mushrooms |
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Muddy section |
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Another swallowtail |
Back to the Christmas tree |
And its decorations |
Swamp wildflowers |
Swamp |
Photographs and content copyright © Dan Balogh Web design by Dan Balogh |