This is the third time in six weeks that we hiked this rugged area in Somerset county, New Jersey. Previously we hiked the western-most part, then the eastern-most part. Today
we returned to hike some of the middle. And there are still trails here we haven't yet covered so I'm sure we'll be returning again.
We parked in the large parking lot for Chimney Rock Park on Chimney Rock Road and started by taking the trail behind the left field bleachers. You can see this trail on this JORBA map. After entering the woods we took the trail east, did the loop north of East Branch Middle Brook and then continued south on Orange along the reservoir, visiting Buttermilk Falls once again, though this time from the western side. It was our intent to continue southwest on Orange, then north until we got to Chimney Rock Road and then walk the road back to the car. But we ended up taking a spur to a lookout point over Chimney Rock Road and the very busy quarry just across the street (that spur is not on the JORBA map but can be seen on the official park map). We then headed northeast within the small network of Orange (as can be seen on the map) and eventually heading back to Brown which we took back to the car. We kept it short today, so the total distance was about 3.2 miles in just under 2.5 hours. (Click on the thumbnail to bring up a bigger image in a pop-up window)
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Paved path along left field line |
Tiny bridge crossing in woods |
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[Photo by Laura] |
Another bridge |
Herd of deer |
Beautiful petrified trees |
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Old culvert |
Stairs back to park |
Sturdy bridge over Middle Brook |
Middle Brook |
Fall is on the way |
Bridge yoga |
On the ... |
... Brown loop |
Muddy bike tracks |
Pointing to ... |
... a downy woodpecker |
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Gorgeous greens |
Above Mill Brook |
At level of Mill Brook |
Old rusty tank |
Mill Brook |
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Good! We didn't make wrong turn! |
Mill Brook |
Gilbride Road bridge in distance |
Climbing |
Crossing Gilbride Road |
A jagged Orange trail |
Middle Brook ... |
... from Orange |
Marshy |
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Rocky path heading south |
Crossway over ... |
... East Branch Reservoir |
Huge spikes hold it together |
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Buttermilk Falls |
Colors are changing |
Wildflowers above falls |
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Lower cascade |
Zoom view |
Downstream view |
Buttermilk Falls |
View of quarry |
Climbing on Orange |
Zoom to Chimney Rock & Hawk Watch |
Wildflower |
Quarry across ... |
... Chimney Rock Road |
Cough, cough |
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Canada geese over quarry |
Cough, cough |
View south |
Quill? |
Old maker off Orange |
Lovely narrow path |
Huge blow-down |
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Gilbride Road crossing |
Middle Brook |
Frisbee goif |
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Frisbee golf course |
Taking stairs back |
Grassy frisbee golf course |
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