Roaring Rocks Park

Roaring Rock Park (8/16/2014)

I found this lovely, somewhat remote area on the awesome Birding and Wildlife Trails website run by the NJ Audubon Society. There aren't any views (though there is a look-out denoted on the map, which is probably seasonal) but lots of climbing through lush forest, an abandoned reservoir and a nice stretch which parallels the beautiful Roaring Rock Creek.

We parked in the lot right off of Harmony-Brass Castle Road where there is enough room for at least six cars. Following this map, we first headed west along White doing the entire 1.9-mile loop before arriving back at Roaring Rock Creek. We then took the Blue trail east along the creek and climbed to the summit (there was no view at the spot marked "East Overlook") before returning back to the creek by taking the leg of White (again) from the summit to the creek. We then explored the abandoned reservoir before heading east from the parking area to the picnic bench on the Family Trail. The map shows this as a loop but it ends at the picnic area.

Total distance hiked was 3.6 miles in 2.75 hours with a fair amount of climbing.

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