Checking out Hacklebarney in Spring.
This is a gorgeous park in Chester, NJ (Morris County) that has the Black River as it’s centerpiece.
It’s VERY popular for picnicking and light hiking/meandering around the river areas… so don’t go here looking for a nice quiet hike.
For detailed hike directions visit our main Best Hikes in NJ – Hacklebarney State Park page.
3.4 miles roundtrip, easy. It was unseasonably hot in Jersey again today, in the upper 80’s and very little leaf cover from the blaring sun.
Route: WHITE to RED to YELLOW to WHITE to BLUE to WHITE.
There are only about 6 miles of overlapping trails here, however, and a lot of that is paved/gravel – we hiked pretty much the entire park in 2 hrs – and that’s with stopping to shoot video and take pics.
So this is not the park for an experienced hiker looking for a long/challenging trail.
Related: Waterfalls in NJ / Best Waterfall Hikes in NJ
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.
Restrooms: Comfort stations are place strategically around the park. On the main path just beyond the ranger station and kiosk, they are on your right. There are 2 or 3 others.