Farny State Park (and the new Wildcat Ridge Trail) - 08/26/2012

[Daniela Wagstaff]

The last time I hiked the white-blazed Four Birds Trail along the western side of Splitrock Reservoir through Farny State Park, it was absolutely miserable.  The trail was poorly blazed, completely undefined in most places, it was frustrating.   I heard the trail had been reblazed a while back and had found that to be the case farther north on the Four Birds Trail so I went back to check out the section just north of Split Rock Road.  Sure enough, there is now a kiosk south of Split Rock Road, the blazes are easy to see and the entire length of the Four Birds Trail through Farny State Park was beautifully blazed and maintained.  Made for very pleasant hiking!  Additionally, there is now a new trail in the Wildcat Ridge WMA, the yellow-blazed Wildcat Ridge Trail, that is not on Jersey Highlands map #125.  Looking at that map, follow the white-blazed Four Birds Trail south from Split Rock Road.  It crosses a power cut then a woods road (black dashes) crosses over.  This woods road is now the yellow trail.  Taking this trail west, it comes out at the parking area in the power cut just before the Oreland Branch abandoned rail bed.  The yellow trail turns left on Upper Hibernia Road briefly, then left on the Oreland Branch rail bed for about half a mile until it terminates at Upper Hibernia Road.  Turn left on Upper Hibernia Road and it is a short walk to the parking area and trail head for the red-blazed Beaver Pond Trail.  Click here for details of the hike.

[njHiking.com]

Good to hear that the Four Birds trail at Splitrock is blazed better... though the deer and the chipmunks will no longer be amused by our spinning in circles, looking for blazes as we wander through the forest...

Dawn