Where am I going?
Highlight Hiker Blog
March 27, 2022
Long Pond Ironworks
Jennings Hollow Loop
So, I’m going to come out with a big bold statement that I still standby today, nearly one year after hiking this route: Jennings Hollow is one of the most remarkable places to explore in Northern NJ. There. I said it. I did. I committed my opinion on paper. Errrr… in the cloud…?? Well, either way you get the picture.
I think part of the reason I like Jennings Hollow so much is because it’s fairly unpopular and pretty quiet as far as human occupation. But what I really love it about are the beaver den, the pond brimming with birds, the traces of wildlife habitation, and last but not least: the rope-assisted river crossings!
April and May are mud season in NJ. So areas like Jennings Hollow are either fun (if you have the right footwear) or messy and disgusting (if you have the wrong footwear). So be prepared and wear the right kind of gear: water resistant or waterproof boots that are worn in. Something that you be upset about if they get sucked in under mud up to your ankles. Because, uh… that’s more than likely going to happen at some point on this trail.
My least favorite thing about the Jennings Hollow loop are the ATV’ers that ride illegally through the state park, damaging the ecosystem, making huge ruts and muddy pools in the trail, and who have created a disaster on the east side of the pond. They suck and should be fined heavily. But that’s my personal opinion. Some people think it’s fun. But that kind of fun is not legal in this park, so to me it’s plain old disrespectful. Mostly to the terrain and wildlife that live here. There are turtles and other slow moving animals that live in the boggy areas that the ATV’s have dug track into, and they have been killed for the sake of “fun” in a place where their habitat is supposed to be protected. Where they shouldn’t be disturbed. So. Yeah. ATV’ers: YOU SUCK. And I don’t care who knows that I am vehemently against you joy riding in areas where it is clearly stated you are not allowed. I am the person turning you in. As far as I am concerned you have no respect the law, or the land.
But anyway - Jennings Hollow is amazing. Visit it. Have fun. Protect the habitat. Bring a folding chair and just sit by the pond and bird watch. It’s such a beautiful place. And if you fish, there is a perfect place to fish at the trailhead on Wanaque River.
LONG POND IRONWORKS
JENNINGS HOLLLOW
The trailhead is here, at this gate.
A small kiosk marks your entry to the Hollow. It's small and unremarkable: except that it clearly states that four wheel recreation vehicles are illegal on this property.
I mean....!!!!! Look at it!!!!
Oh.
Signs of a flush spring after a lot of rain.
Coming up to the Hollow, where Jennings Creek widens and becomes a large beaver pond.
Jennings Creek
Jennings Creek.
Parking is roadside. I'd say 5 - 6 cars can fit in this particular spot which is right across the road from the trailhead.
As I write this, it is the beginning of April and everything is still brown and trees are void of leaves. Looking at this photo makes my mouth water for spring.
The Hollow.
The beaver lodge in Jennings Hollow.
Jennings Hollow
More beaver lodge in Jennings Hollow (a Canadian Goose was nesting on the top of the lodge).
I could have stayed here, warmed by the sun, listening to the birds, for hours. But I was sinking in mud. So I didn't.
This is an example of what I mean when I say "trail damage from four wheelers".
The beauty of Jennings Hollow persists, though.
More boggy trail. The best thing to do is to walk right through the middle of the trail rather than to walk on the side of it. Widening the trail by walking on the dry sides means damaging the ecosystem. But walking through it means getting your feet wet. Pick your poison, I guess.
As the trail leaves the Hollow, you begin a lovely walk through the thick green forest.
By the shadows, you can see juts how dense the tree cover really is.
The Jennings Hollow loop is yellow, which matches the rope color at the river crossings. I thought that was a nice touch.
It was very hot in the sun, but on the Hollow loop it's always cool under the shade of the trees. The path is very wide and on the western side, quite dry in some spots.
This is not Jennings Creek proper. It may be a distributary. But it's a boggy section here. You can rock hop if the mud is too slick to walk on.
The flowers will bloom in every sunny spot along the trail.
This is the first creek crossing complete with rope to help.
Gotta admit: ropes makes crossing waterways so much more glamorous.
Looking south at the crossing (Jennings Creek)
Looking north at the crossing (Jennings Creek).
The creek crossing after having crossed.
Rope crossing at Jennings Creek
All the water in the boggy Hollow really helps the forest flourish!
The pond is somewhere over there, but the forest is so dense, you can't see it from the trail - but you can hear it as you get closer!
The trail is much wider on the west side of the hollow after the river crossing.
Ok. So here is where I start to take issue the the ATV'ers. This is a clear cut example of the damage they do. Just.... follow along with me on the next set of images....#1. they create more erosion in wet areas, widening the trail and making long and wide puddles.
I'm sure it's pretty fun to ride through this muddy little section, but it makes it impossible for hikers to travel on foot, and then the hikers have to find higher ground, and further damage the ecosystem.
Yes, these are deep ruts, wheel tracks, and they were fresh. There was poison ivy on either side of the trail. the wheels move the soft, wet soil, and there is no good place to step without a foot getting sucked down into the mud past your ankle.
Ruined.
No, it's not a truck. It's not the forest service. These are ATV tracks: more compact than a vehicle and knobby. Any section they found too boggy to get through, they would drive over saplings and push down trees in order to pass. Just a little further is where I found the dead turtle, which had been crushed by an ATV'er. And there are dead frogs, too.
ATV'ers SUCK but Jennings Hollow does not. Coming back to the beautiful, peaceful edge of the pond, I was able to put my anger aside and admire the beauty of the pond.
So much life here.
Jennings Hollow.
Proof of beavers!
Blooming, thriving in the Hollow
Jennings Hollow = sigh = Tranquility at its finest.
Jennings Hollow.
Jennings Hollow
To get back to the parking lot from the east side of the loop, you have to step away from the pond and walk through the bog to two more rope crossings.
When I say bog, I mean: BOG. There are no rocks to hop here. And it is thick, sticky, boot trapping mud.
But in that kind of terrain you can see who traveled the trail before you!
Jennings Creek
Jennings Creek
This is one of two rope crossings on the south side of the Hollow. The rope is so useful, I'm really grateful for it... especially during mud season!
Back to where I started....
Up the hill and out of the Hollow. It's an easy climb, though a bit steep. And navigating the rock, tire ruts and roots did slow me down a little bit. Or maybe I was just reluctant to leave.
A short three mile hike... over all too quickly.
This is the fishing hole along the Wanaque River at Jennings Hollow.
The fisherman I saw here (I was careful to respect their wish not to be on camera) said it was a quiet day and they hadn't caught anything at this location, but just up the river, they had caught several fish earlier that day.
See the mud/water marks on my boots? And yet... DRY SOCKS! Thanks, Oboz!!!