We’d been saving checking out Ireland Brook for a day when we needed a quick, somewhat close-by hike.
Since many of New Jersey’s trails still aren’t in great shape or are closed, we’ve been using this winter to finally get some projects done that we keep avoiding in favor of trotting off to a trail.
As expected, it’s taking up almost all our of hiking time (hence our procrastination) so we’ve been trying to hit closer parks.
For complete hike info visit our main “Ireland Brook Conservation Area” page.
While checking out the Middlesex County parks site awhile ago, I noticed several trail systems that were close to each other: Ireland Brook, Farrington Lake, and Davidson’s Mill Pond.
The trails are short but it looked possible to piece them together into a longer route. So when we’ve had a little bit of time we’ve been stopping by to check them out in sections.
There are two trails within Ireland Brook Conservation Area, Forest Brook and Ireland Brook, that can be connected by walking a pipeline cut (we’re assuming the clearing is for a pipeline… it doesn’t say).
We did the Forest Brook loop first, then decided to check out the other parking lot for Ireland Brook and did that trail from there.
On the map, it does appear the pipeline could be followed from BLUE to link up to YELLOW however.
Both trails are nice and well-maintained but short, and road noise is a bit of an issue.
Don’t drive far to get here but if you are in the area, they are good for a quick leg-stretcher.
Forest Brook Trail (BLUE)
Miles: 1.0
Route: BLUE
Forest Brook trail has a nice view of Ireland Brook in the beginning.
It’s a pleasant, flat, easy trail that loops around, with a turn that is easy to miss off of the pipeline cut.
Then another after that (turn left before the section of gravel road, and if you’ve gotten to the wooden trail kiosk, you missed it.)
We were surprised to encounter a small section of fence with a gravestone for Gertrude Provost, 1809 – 1839.
You just never know what you’ll find in the woods.
Ireland Brook Trail (YELLOW)
Miles: 1.9
Route: YELLOW
Flat easy trail, but the later part of Ireland Brook Trail is torn up from off road use, and has a section of trash.
Part-way through the trail, it branches off in a Y, but both directions lead back together – we went right to start with and returned on the other section.
We cut Ireland Brook short due to not being able to cross where it is marked “no-bridge” on the map…
…it was way too wide to jump, and not worth wading through as the trail ends shortly after at Fresh Ponds Rd.
We’ve been told there are yellow markers on the other side of Fresh Ponds Rd that leads to other trails.