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December 2009 Blog Posts (9)

Helyar Woods at Rutgers Gardens - 12/19/09

With a ton of snow predicted and it already flurrying with a dusting by 8am, we scrapped plans to try and squeeze in a longer hike before the snow hit. We headed for a short hike at Helyar Woods, a small parcel of woods adjacent to Rutgers Gardens, in New Brunswick. Of course the snow stopped as we arrived and didn't really kick back in until 3pm or so. Oh well.

Map of the Gardens with the woods indicated, but… Continue

Added by njHiking.com on December 20, 2009 at 5:30pm — No Comments

Cheesequake State Park, Blue Trail - hike info is up

Cheesequake State Park contains a diverse mix of hardwood forest, Atlantic white cedar swamp, and pineland. This short route passes near Hooks Creek Lake, onto the Blue Trail to Perrine Pond before picking up the Green trail.

4.3 miles. Easy, with some rolling hills, a few minor steep sections.

Added by njHiking.com on December 20, 2009 at 3:59pm — 3 Comments

Parvin State Park - hike info is up

Parvin State Park in Salem County, South Jersey - A short, easy loop around Parvin Lake through South Jersey's pinelands and Atlantic white cedar swamps.

Added by njHiking.com on December 15, 2009 at 11:40am — No Comments

Watchung Reservation - 12/12/09

Located in Union County. Parkway to 78W, exit 43... directions here. Park map here. The Trailside Museum at the main parking lot is open 12-5 and is very nice. Other restrooms were open earlier in a nearby building, follow the signs from the lot.

Did the Sierra Trail, an 11-mile loop around the perimeter. We have mixed feelings… Continue

Added by njHiking.com on December 13, 2009 at 5:18pm — 1 Comment

South Mountain Reservation 12/12/09

South Mountain Reservation (Millburn/South Orange/Maplewood) does not allow hunting (except starting 1/19/2010 on Tuesdays and Thursdays for three weeks) so with Sunday having freezing rain and sleet forecast, this was a good option to get in a weekend hike on a Saturday. The terrain is very… Continue

Added by Daniela Wagstaff on December 13, 2009 at 10:53am — No Comments

Maurice River Bluffs info, photos, video is up

Maurice River Bluffs, Cumberland County in South Jersey. - A short, pleasant loop through pinelands along the bluffs by the Maurice River. This park is in NJ's Coastal Plain. If you are used to hiking in northern NJ, this is quite a change in scenery.

Added by njHiking.com on December 7, 2009 at 11:17am — No Comments

Washington Valley Park

What a difference a day makes. Yesterday snow and today bright and sunny. We set out for a short hike nearby to take advantage of the sunshine and picked Washington Valley Park. A nice little park with several different sections to hike, We chose the middle section by the reservoir and got off the blazed trail and climbed what I believed to be an artificial 'mountain' built from tailings from the rock quarry next to the park. Somewhere behind Irina in her picture from the 'mountain' top is… Continue

Added by Keith Slicner on December 6, 2009 at 8:29pm — No Comments

Wells Mills County Park 12/6/09

Wells Mills County Park is an absolutely delightful park. According to the signs posted no hunting ever in this park. Surprisingly, there are plenty of hills to climb and even ridges to walk along, something you don't generally find in the Pinelands.

It is very easy to get to. Exit 69 off the Garden State Parkway going either direction, left on Wells Mills Road (route 532) for 2.5 miles, park entrance on the… Continue

Added by Daniela Wagstaff on December 6, 2009 at 5:01pm — No Comments

Norvin Green 12-5-2009

I love when it snows on my birthday, cant abide it the rest of the time but on 12-5 I'll take it. I love to hike in snow on my birthday. I love to hike with Irina. So when we set out for Norvin Green under grey skys the stars were lining up just so. The snow started falling about the time we were pulling into the parking lot. We bought a trail map in the Weis ecology center and lit out. Within a half an hour the snow was coming down at a good clip as we made our way up the mountain. Reasonably… Continue

Added by Keith Slicner on December 5, 2009 at 9:30am — 1 Comment