Hike along the Black River from Cooper Mill to the ruins of Kay’s Cottage.
4.1 or 3.6 miles, total round trip. Roots, minor rocks, surface is a bit more rugged to view Kay’s from the other side of the river (can skip).
| 4.1 or 3.6 miles | This hike guide: Detailed instructions, photos, and video follow below. 4.1 miles: Full route. 3.6 miles: Skip viewing the ruins from across the river and some rugged trail (noted below). 1.4 miles: Just to the spillway and back (noted below). |
| Longer; 7.2 miles | Extended version of this hike: “Black River County Park – Cooper Mill“. |
| Nearby | Hacklebarney; Schooley’s Mountain; Jockey Hollow – Grand Loop; Jockey Hollow – Grand Parade Loop. |
Our two cents:
This shorter version of our Best Hike packs the best bits – the scenic Black River, Kay’s Pond and dam, and Kay’s Cottage ruins and dam – into a more manageable hike.
Updated: 11/2023 – Minor edits, adjusted description for blaze change at the bridge (to GREEN DOT from GREEN/ORG); re-hiked 10/2023.
Hike Info:
Map:
Print ahead. Didn’t notice any paper maps in the kiosk. Follow along on your smartphone with our Interactive Map link above.
Note on trail color changes: GREEN DOT is shown on the overall trail map but no longer on Inset Map #3. As of this writing the current map on the park site is dated September 2023, version 1.2.1. When we hiked in October of 2023 the trail map (version 1.2.0) showed GREEN DOT on both. GREEN DOT is likely just missing from the inset map but aren’t 100% on that.
Also Note: The trail names (i.e. Black River) no longer referenced on trail maps but they may still be on trail signs. The Patriot’s Path tree+path marker is on some trails.
Books:
Hiking New Jersey (2023), 50 Hikes in New Jersey, Hike of the Week, and 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: New York City have longer variations.
Parking: N40 46.698 W74 43.217
Cooper Mill County Park, 66 Route 24, Chester Township, NJ 07930. Large dirt lot adjacent to the Cooper Grist Mill.
Restrooms:
Portable toilets in the parking lot. Multiple stores in Chester.
Related: Waterfalls in NJ / Best Waterfall Hikes in NJ
Hike Directions:
Overview: BLUE (Black River Trail) – GREEN – ORANGE – GREEN DOT (BLK DOT on GREEN) – GREEN – BLUE (Black River Trail)
From the parking lot, walk towards the Cooper Mill.
0.0 – Walk down the steps next to the Cooper Mill.
Check out the water wheel at the base of the Cooper Mill.
Cross a small footbridge and follow BLUE.
View of Cooper Mill along BLUE.
The trail follows the Black River and passes a fenced-in area of the old Hacklebarney mine.
BLUE is generally level but rooty as it follows the water.
Continue on BLUE as it passes Kay’s Pond.
0.7 – The spillway at the end of Kay’s Pond:
// Shorter option, 1.4 miles: Retrace the route back from here. //
Continue following BLUE along the Black River.
1.3 – Turn RIGHT to now follow GREEN at a marker post.
1.4 – Turn RIGHT to now follow ORANGE on a wide path. [GREEN continues ahead].
Cross the Black River on a wooden bridge with views of the river on either side. Continue following ORANGE as it heads uphill.
The river will come into view, keep an eye out on the left for stone steps leading down to Kay’s Cottage.
1.8 – Take the steps downhill to the ruins of Kay’s Cottage next to a dam.
A wall of the stone is covered in thick moss.
Kay’s Cottage History, part 1: Elizabeth D. Kay (1894-1987) and her husband Alfred owned Hidden River Farm on this property before it was a park. They created carriage roads throughout in addition to a summer cottage by the Black River. [Source: Morris County Parks website].
Inside the remains of Kay’s Cottage:
Walking around inside the cottage and looking out through the window:
Kay’s Cottage History, part 2: The summer cottage had changing rooms, showers, a fireplace, and a terrace. They built a dam to create a pool in front, complete with diving board. Only the stone foundation and pool remain. [Source: Morris County Parks website].
The pretty Black River runs along side the cottage and spills over a dam.
There is a wide gap in the concrete edge of the dam where the water flows through, so crossing here isn’t viable despite what we’ve seen on some maps. The trail mapping app GAIA, for instance, shows this as a trail.
Trying to leap across, or wading through, is definitely in the “not worth it” department in our opinion so our hike guide takes trails around to the other side of the river.
Viewing the dam near Kay’s Cottage:
When ready climb back up the stone steps and retrace the route to the bridge.
2.1 – Just after crossing the bridge, turn RIGHT to now follow GREEN DOT.
// Shorter option, 3.6 miles: To skip seeing the ruins from the other side of the river and a short section of rugged trail, retrace the route back from here instead: ahead on ORANGE, to left on GREEN, to left on BLUE which leads to the parking lot. //
GREEN DOT hugs the river on a sometimes narrow trail with rocks and roots. While not exactly challenging, it isn’t an easy or beginner trail in spots.
The gorge is very pretty with rushing water and cascades over rocks.
2.3 – Now follow GREEN. The trail sort of merges into GREEN and you might not notice that GREEN DOT ended.
2.4 – Watch for a casual side trail off of GREEN that heads downhill on the right towards the river. Take this down to arrive on the opposite side the river from Kay’s Cottage.
The pond created from the Black River in front of the cottage:
When done checking out the ruins, head back to GREEN, turning LEFT on it to retrace the route. Pass GREEN DOT on the left.
2.8 – Continue on GREEN through the intersection with ORANGE from earlier.
2.9 – Turn LEFT to follow BLUE again. [GREEN ends, BLUE also goes right]. Retrace the route on BLUE along the Black River back to the parking lot.
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Hiked 10/15/23.
Hiked 10/24/20. Longer 7.2 mile version.