The Pequest Wildlife Management Area, located in the Kittatiny valley in northwestern NJ, has approximately 4,000 acres of land and is used mainly for hunting and
fishing. But there are lots of unblazed trails, including two abandoned railway beds, as well as three blazed trails near the headquarters and trout
hatchery. Unfortunately, those were both closed today, as well as the connecting road between Route 46 and Janes Chapel Road. We ended up parking in the lot for the fisherman
at the Pequest River (just off of Route 46) at the beginning of the entrance road to the hatchery, and walking (for 15 minutes or so) to the red-blazed trail.
We ended up hiking a lollipop which included the road walk to the red interpretive trail, then the yellow trail, and eventually back to the car.
Total distance was 3.5 miles in about 2.5 hours. The snow was substantial on the trails, over a foot in some parts, though much of it was at least partially trodden. Had it been less snowy we would have hiked the long blue trail as well. That will have to wait for next time, when we return to do that as well as part of the Lehigh & Hudson River Railroad bed that parallels the Pequest River. A nice trail map can be found here.
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Fishing in the Pequest River |
On Janes Chapel Road |
Lime kiln on red trail |
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Info sign for black bear |
Large boulders on red trail |
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Wooden blazes |
Abandoned nest |
Climbing on red |
Stream crossing |
Intersection of red & yellow |
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Taking a break on yellow |
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Powerline cut |
Climbing eastward |
View downhill west |
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More climbing |
The cut goes for miles |
Still not at the top |
Wide view to Kittatiny valley |
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View west |
Yellow turns north |
Snow was deep here |
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[Photo by Laura] |
Heading downhill to pond |
At the frozen pond |
View from the hill |
Bat house! |
Intersection of blue & red |
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A snowy path ahead |
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Kittatiny Mountains |
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Another info display |
Back on red |
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Open field to the east |
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Information kiosk |
Farm field |
Corn |
Close-up |
Field to the west |
Winding rows |
Trail head for red trail |
Fish tanks ... |
... at the trout hatchery |
It was closed |
Visitor's Center |
Live trout in there! |
Outside visitor's center |
There's one! |
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Vultures love it here |
Weather station |
Owl nest box |
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House on the hill |
Hatchery building |
Bluebird house |
Entrance sign for the WMA |
View west of fisherman |
Closer view |
View east of fishermen |
Watching them fish |
Photographs and content copyright © Dan Balogh Web design by Dan Balogh |