Help with MT. Minsi hike please!!!

[Joseph Cybulski]

Hello everyone! I am brand new hiker just getting into the scene and this is my first post here. In the late spring I did the Mt Tammany hike with my Wife and 7 year old son and are now looking to head back to the water gap and try out MT Minsi.

I have a couple questions about the trail and the paths I will take. I need to make sure I am 100% confident on which trails I am taking and where I am going. My wife gets nervous if I take a wrong turn off the highway, so saying something like "I'm not sure which way we should go" in the middle of the woods would send her into a panic attack. LOL

I am going to refer to the NJ Hiking article here... http://njhiking.com/best-hikes-in-nj-mt-minsi.php for the mileage marking info further down the page and this image I have quickly edited in paint to help you all help me and get me 100% on my hike.

 

Here come the questions:

#1. The blue dot I have put on the map. Does this represent the 1.3 mile mark and the first overlook?  I should take the little unmarked trail on the left to get to this overlook?

#2. My yellow dot is the 1.8 mile mark where it crosses the fire road right?

#3. My red dot is the 2.0 mile mark and second overlook correct? I go a little left on the fire road there to get to the overlook?

I tihnk all the above I have correct But here is where I am a little shaky.

#4 Is the purple dot where it says scenic view the 2.7 mile mark and 3rd overlook? The article says most people turn around at the second overlook at the 2.0 mile mark. Is this 3rd overlook worth the extra .7 miles? It looks too close to the 2.0 mark on the map but maybe its not to scale?  And to actually find this overlook I will find a small unmarked trail off to the left off of the AT?

Thats pretty much what I need to know right now. Getting to the 2.0 mile mark at the 2nd overlook seems pretty clear to me, but I am a little confused about finding the 3rd overlook at the 2.7 mile mark.  Im someone can help me get there and keep my family headed in the right directions that would be great. Is the 3rd overlook at the 2.7 mile mark a good spot to have a lunch?

Heading back I would take the left trail which would be the woods road right?  And just follow that all the way back to the parking lot?

Thank you so much for your help!!!

---Joe

[Linda Frank]

Hi, Joe and welcome to the wonderful, rewarding world of hiking and NJHiking specifically. :) 

Tell your wife that I can fully appreciate that panic mode when you think you're going the right way and all of a sudden you find out your not.  Been there, done that and felt that....and I've been hiking for quite a while now.  Still, in many ways, we're all novices.  We may redo a trail a dozen times, yet each time it's like the first.  I've gotten er...."lost" on trails I've hiked several times before.  

Having done Minsi three times now and beyond out to Totts Gap on a different hike altogether, it's a great hike and something you and your family will enjoy and remember especially when the foliage starts to turn!   

I'm not certain about that extra .7 miles you referred to which leads to another scenic, but if it's where I think it is along the AT once you've reached Minsi's summit, then it's worth it.  Suffice to say, any additional scenics up there usually are.

While I know I'm not giving you specific answers to each of your questions (my mileage varies), check out the NY/NJ Trail Conference's Mt. Minsi hike. If you haven't already, that is.  

One thing about hiking:  You can NEVER have to much information, maps, descriptions or ice cream when the hike is over. :)

Again, welcome and have a great hike...at Minsi and wherever you go in the future.

Linda

[njHiking.com]

Hello Joseph - Mt. Minsi is a wonderful hike, you'll have a great time! Let me see if I can help out with your questions.

Getting lost is always a concern, but you will probably not be alone on the trail. You never want to just blindly follow the crowd but here there will most likely be someone to ask if you are unsure at a junction.

#1-3) Yes. The 3 viewpoints listed in our hike description match the 3 that are marked with stars on the Kittatinny Trails map, which is what we always use and recommend. The park map is a little less clear. Check out the link that Linda provided for additional directions.

#4) yes, that is viewpoint #3. I just reviewed our GPX files to check and see that it should actually be 2.4 miles, not 2.7 and have updated the page on the site accordingly. Even though we triple-check things, typos happen, so I am glad you asked these questions!

It is worth going to the viewpoint, and there is more room for a lunch break there than at #2. It's best to gauge how everyone is feeling at view #2 and make the choice to continue or not. There are several unmarked but rather obvious trails to the left off the AT. If you miss the trail to view #3, there are others to similar views nearby.

Heading back is on the woods road to the parking lot. It will merge in with the AT as it nears the lot. I've added a few additional notes to the description, as well as posting the GPX for anyone using a GPS.

Hope that helps a bit,

--Dawn

[Joseph Cybulski]

Thanks a lot for the help everyone! I'll think now I will be all set for this hike.

 

I think you'll end up seing a good bit of me asking questions around here in the future. My son is a cub scout and I would like to get the scouts outdoors more. I am working on setting up a hiking club and will surely be back for suggestions for some great hikes in the next few months!

 

Thanks again!

 

---Joe