Newark Watershed?

[Hank Hall]

Anyone here hike the watershed?  I am going to make my way to their offices to buy the hiking permit (you have to go in person, during the week, during business hours)-the whole thing is 35,000 acres, so there's a lot to see.  I really just want to go this year to scout it.  My daughter is only 5 months old, so even with our carrier she won't be up to any long hikes, at least this year.  I'm pretty much going to pay the $12 just so I can get the sticker and drive around up there to see what its like.  From what I've heard you can be up there all day and not see a soul-probably due to the fact that the permits are such a pain to get.  That and apparently before the 1970s or so the area was off limits entirely-they only started issuing permits fairly recently, so mainly people still believe that they'll be charged with trespassing if they go up there. 

[njHiking.com]

We did a few hikes in the area back in 2009 and enjoyed the remoteness. I don't recall seeing many (if any) people (though we ran into a mama bear w/cubs), as I think the hassle/price of the permits keep the traffic down.

We'll get around to buying permits again one year, but since they are per person (I think), I want to plan up a bunch of hikes to do within a year to justify the $24 in permits for us to hike there. :)

Four Birds Trail (North)

Hanks Pond – Bearfort Fire Tower

and Daniela recently did Pequannock Watershed, NJ: Clinton Reservoir

For info on the permits: Pequannock Watershed Hiking Permit

--Dawn

[Brom Vermeulen]

I did a few hikes there last fall, and enjoyed it very much. I was surprised, however, to find that the permit is for a calendar year, not for one year after purchase. My permit, purchased in October, was good for only 3 months!

[Daniela Wagstaff]

This is the first year I have gotten the permit and yes, because it is such a PAIN to get.  I was there a couple of years ago on a Saturday and they weren't open.  I believe starting in April they are open on Saturdays, I think until noon, but that never worked out for me either.  If I am hiking on a Saturday, it's during the hours they are open that I am already out hiking.  Earlier this month I happened to have an appointment about 10 miles from the watershed office on a Monday so while in the neighborhood, I ran in and got it.   It looks like they are building new kiosks at the parking areas.  P4 had a completed kiosk with a "you are here" map.  P1, where I parked for the hike Dawn mentioned above, had an unfinished kiosk.  Maybe they are trying to attract more hikers by making the trail heads more obvious.  It would definitely help if it were more convenient to get the permit.  When I did the Clinton Reservoir hike a few weeks ago on a Sunday, I did not run into anyone at all.

[njHiking.com]

I recall reading an article about some grant money for more hiking signage in that area, perhaps that is where that kiosk comes from.

There are some rules during hunting season with the Watershed that limit access to certain times (at least there was in 2009 when we got ours) – so that just adds to the difficulty in trying to coordinate a hike. Then on the other hand... all the hoops to jump thru keeps the area less-trafficked and that can be nice...

Dawn