<<<Best Hikes in NJ
Hacklebarney State Park - Chester, NJ
Park Summary: This gorgeous park in Chester, NJ has the Black River as it's centerpiece.
Mileage: 3.4 miles roundtrip, easy.
The trails here are good for:
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Beginner hikes, or just taking a quick, short, easy hike
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Hiking with kids - there is lots to look at and the park has lots of bridges etc, plus you are never far from the car if they've had enough
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Picniking - there are TONS of picnic tables scattered throughout the park
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Anyone who wants to experience a wonderful outdoor setting without a lot of hiking or effort
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Fishing - the water is stocked with trout.
There are only about 6 miles of overlapping trails here, however, and a lot of that is paved/gravel - this is not the park for an experienced hiker looking for a long/challenging trail. It’s also extremely popular so do not expect solitude at all.
Books: "Hiking
the Jersey Highlands"
Restrooms: Comfort stations are place strategically around the park. On the main path just beyong the ranger station and kiosk, they are on your right. There are 2 or 3 others.
Parking: Rt 206 to 513 W. Just past Cooper Mill make a left onto State Park Road. (There are signs) Continue for about 2 miles and make a right onto Hacklebarney Road. Park entrance on your left.
There is a small parking lot with a monument just as you enter, turn left within that lot and follow the park road to a larger lot.
Hike Directions:There is a small ranger station and trail kiosk at the end of the parking lot. There was a container for trail maps but it was empty the day we were there. We used the map from the book, "Hiking the Highlands".
As you descend slightly on the paved path (Main Trail is blazed WHITE), Trout Brook is immediately is in view. For this hike, take the stairs down on your left and walk over the bridge over Trout Brook. Follow the paved RED trail.
At about .3 miles, continue straight on RED. Junction with BLUE is to your right, over a bridge.
At .65 miles continue straight on RED. BLUE goes down to the right. Trail is mostly paved, but becomes more rocky trail when you get close to the river.
At 1.2 miles go over a bridge and continue following RED by the water. The BLUE trail is on the right, after the bridge.
At 1.5 miles the BLUE continues straight, RED goes to the left.
At 1.7 miles – RED goes right but the trail marker indicates a left turn.
--You can take the left here and go a short way to stone markers for Susan Parker Borie and Hacklebarney, and a bench which has a view over the river. Beyond this is posted Private Property and you can’t continue on the trail. Backtrack to the junction and continue on RED.
--If you don’t take the left here to the bench/markers, make a RIGHT and continue on RED.
Go uphill then down to a bridge. At about 2.1, junction with WHITE to the right, and YELLOW (Windy Ridge) on the left.
Turn left onto YELLOW and follow it uphill, and there are some stone steps near the top. YELLOW is not paved either.
At 2.45 miles the trail starts to level off, at a bench and an old stone water fountain. No view of the river but a nice trail nonetheless. On a busy day, this is probably where you could go to avoid some crowds.
At 2.6 miles the YELLOW joins in with WHITE. You can turn left here onto WHITE and make your way back to the lot, or turn right onto WHITE to keep going. (WHITE is a paved trail again)
At about 2.66 miles turn left onto the BLUE. WHITE continues straight here.
At 2.95 miles follow BLUE to the left. RED continues here straight as well. Pass a small waterfall.
At 3.1 mile turn left onto BLUE and cross over a bridge. Turn right onto the WHITE Main paved trail and head back up to the parking lot.
