Highlight Hiker Blog
May 16, 2022
Franklin Lakes
Old Mill Woodlands
PLUS
Parsons Pond Park
biking, walking, roller blading, skateboarding
dog park available at Old Mill Woodlands
I had gone somewhere… as I write this in January 2023 it’s difficult to remember but… I had gone somewhere prior to arriving in Franklin Lakes. It was in the afternoon and I was dead set on getting these tiny trails in a city park over and done with. In my mind these aren’t hiking trails and I was simply wandering here to complete the sections on my map.
And I wish I had more to say about these parks than that. Some of the trails are paved and some are natural but it’s a city park surrounded by condos or homes and it gets a lot of daily use. Even Parsons Pond, which is a bit more…. remote..? Is still full of visitors daily, just by their proximity to it.
I carried my backpack because that’s how I haul my water around with me and I got a few people looking at me funny. It’s that kind of city park. Tennis courts and baseball fields. Kids biking as fast as they can, laughter, mothers and children on the playground. It really is a city park with a few little trails sprinkled in for good measure.
What I can tell you, though, is that Parsons Pond is a haven for bird watching. My neighbor, who is an amateur wildlife photographer, has had an abundance of good fortune there. So if wildlife photography is your jam - this is a great place to do it.
I earnestly think that city parks have their merit. They are a great place to introduce children to adventures in the forest and this park is perfect for that: it has just enough nature trail to get little kids comfortable with walking among the trees but also close enough for Mom to get back to the car quickly. It’s also good for those whose mobility might not be good enough for a remote hike on uneven terrain. These trails are manicured (and just short enough) to feel like your in the woods without venturing too far from home.
Franklin Lakes
Old Mill Woodlands
I parked in the municipal lot across the street from the Franklin Lake Public Library. Nice Library. Big parking lot.
To get to the marked trails you must walk past the library, a baseball field and a playground
There is a memorial garden dedicated to the residents of Franklin Lakes who lost their lives on 9/11
It also serves as a peace garden with learning kiosks
It is a very peaceful place.
The Memorial Garden
The Memorial Garden
The Memorial Garden
The Memorial Garden
The Memorial Garden
Pass over the bridge and you will arrive at the trail head for the yellow trail
Skunk cabbage in abundance!
Another small bridge to protect the fragile wetland landscape (and to keep your feet dry)
The trail heads out of the forest and onto a paved trail which you can use to lengthen your walk
The yellow trail only lasts briefly on this paved section
It skirts back into the woods
The blue trail will lead you to the dog park and the tennis courts
The yellow will meander the edge of the park
I followed where it led
Baseball field
And the blue trail
Leads back to the yellow and...
... the road crossing
Across the street there is another trail
This is a light blue trail
It goes in the circle through a denser forest. I spotted several deer here
Then back to the road
And the park and the library and my car
From there I headed to another parking lot to another small set of trails
The main trail is paved and connects to the precious section and Old Mill Road
See?
You can putter about or walk very fast: it is flat and easy walking
There is a little brook
It was fairly clean
This half of Old Mill Woodland has two .1 mile section of natural trail: red and white
I passed by the red and decided to hike the white first
Tiny little loops that take you from the paved trail back tot he paved trail
Not much to see since they are such short trails
The red was a bit more interesting
But only because it was littered with strange and unusual tings.
And that pretty much sums up this area!
Franklin Lakes
Parsons Pond Park
Parsons Pond Park has two large parking areas. The welcome center was closed during my visit.
It starts as a paved trail the winds around a large field, which I imagine would be good for traditional picnic-ing
You walk up a short but steep incline and come to the natural trails
They wander around Parsons Pond
But only one half of the pond, as the other half is privately owned
There were a few places to get down to the water but they weren't large nor remarkable
At the top of the hill you get a nice view of the field and the buildings below
It's a short trail and will take no time at all to see
But a good place for bird watching