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Highlight Hiker Blog

October 14, 2020

Newark-Pequannock Watershed, Highlands West - REALLY far west

Are you ready for some fall color??? This is the time of year that I long to be out on the trails every day. The leaves change and drop so quickly that I prefer to be out walking everyday while the trees are at the pinnacle of their glory.

On Wednesday I had a short afternoon break and a short trail at the farthest south-western edge of my NY/NJ Trail Conference map #116 to complete. It was kind of perfect: the weather, the leaves, the timing, and the trail length. Remember when I hiked the Highlands Trail South not so long ago, crossing two counties and LOOK HOW FAR I’VE COME! Yeah, this was a tiny extension from where I’d left on on the Highlands Trail that was a little further south and a little further west. It was a whopping 2.5 miles (clocking in at 1:20) with an elevation gain of 495’. It was such a perfect walk, that I brought the Olden Golden with me knowing how much he would enjoy the fresh air. Poor dog - he can’t do the 7+ miles he used to do. Now I have to think about his joints and consider length and terrain before I bring him with me. It’s hard to see your hiking buddy get older. But this wasn’t a sad day, this was a day to rejoice - it was beautiful, the colors were popping and I had my dog at my side.

The terrain here is nice. It’s a broad piece of land that stretches between Holland Mountain Road and Rock Ledge Road in Hardyston Township (well, technically the trail on the map goes about .5 miles further than Rock Ledge Road, so I incorporated that into this hike as well). You can actually look up while you walk without fear of tripping, so long as you’re not ascending or descending hills. A few brook crossings and one road crossing keep things interesting and you’re done before you know it.

But the sunlight through the trees! Oh! The sunlight through the trees! I was walking through a golden forest touched with sunlit magic. It was quiet, beautiful and peaceful. I only saw one other couple out there, and I heard them more than saw them because they were bushwhacking and not on the Highlands Trail. Regardless, I’m really looking forward to exploring more of western New Jersey trails. Once you climb out of the Appalachian Mountain range proper, the forest changes and becomes very friendly and steady. It’s a gratifying change of pace.

So without further ado… I’ll let nature do the talking in the photo journal below.

NOTE: ALL HIKING WITHIN NEWARK-PEQUANNOCK WATERSHED REQUIRES A PERMIT. THE ANNUAL PERMIT COSTS $14.00 FOR NON-RESIDENTS AND IS CHEAPER THAN THE FINE YOU’LL GET IF CAUGHT HIKING WITHOUT PERMIT. YOU CAN PURCHASE YOUR PERMIT ONLINE OR AT THE WATERSHED OFFICE ON ECHO LAKE ROAD IN WEST MILFORD, NJ. FYI: THE WATERSHED IS REGULARLY PATROLLED BY RANGERS ON WEEKDAYS AND WEEKENDS AND IS FIERCELY PROTECTED BY REGULAR HIKERS WHO WILL REPORT CARS WITHOUT APPROPRIATELY DISPLAYED PERMITS.

 
 
The parking is easily found on Holland Mountain Road, though it is a tiny turn-off with room for only two cars.

The parking is easily found on Holland Mountain Road, though it is a tiny turn-off with room for only two cars.

The road walk to the trail head from here is exactly .2 miles. I thought that was odd. But beware: people drive very quickly down this road and there isn't much room on the side of the road to walk. Now to mention, the side of the road is strewn with

The road walk to the trail head from here is exactly .2 miles. I thought that was odd. But beware: people drive very quickly down this road and there isn't much room on the side of the road to walk. Now to mention, the side of the road is strewn with litter and ticks.

Yes, a permit is required to hike even in this far corner of the watershed.

Yes, a permit is required to hike even in this far corner of the watershed.

The Olden Golden was strutting his stuff out there on the trail. He blended right in!

The Olden Golden was strutting his stuff out there on the trail. He blended right in!

The trees have a way of smiling in the fall when the colors are at their peak.

The trees have a way of smiling in the fall when the colors are at their peak.

Though the trail is well marked, there are all kinds of animal paths and woods roads strewn about, so keep an eye out for trail blazes.

Though the trail is well marked, there are all kinds of animal paths and woods roads strewn about, so keep an eye out for trail blazes.

The trail goes from single track, to woods road, to single track, to brook crossing relatively quickly. This brook goes unnamed. It shoots off from the Pequannock River, but it ends up in Lake Stockholm. So it is Stockholm Brook? Or Pequannock River?

The trail goes from single track, to woods road, to single track, to brook crossing relatively quickly. This brook goes unnamed. It shoots off from the Pequannock River, but it ends up in Lake Stockholm. So it is Stockholm Brook? Or Pequannock River? No idea. But there it is nonetheless.

This is looking south from the brook crossing of Whosey-Whats-It Brook.

This is looking south from the brook crossing of Whosey-Whats-It Brook.

This was the only part of the trail where I could say, "Yep! That's the trail!" It wasn't that bad, though. The boulders were big enough that I could confidently hop from one to the next.

This was the only part of the trail where I could say, "Yep! That's the trail!" It wasn't that bad, though. The boulders were big enough that I could confidently hop from one to the next.

Another view of the Whosey-Whats-It Brook.

Another view of the Whosey-Whats-It Brook.

The trees are very thickly settled near the brook

The trees are very thickly settled near the brook

After the brook crossing, you'll climb into a long pretty valley where tall, majestic trees stand all around you. Because the swampy marshland has dried after a hot summer, the ground is just dappled with trees rather than thickly forested.

After the brook crossing, you'll climb into a long pretty valley where tall, majestic trees stand all around you. Because the swampy marshland has dried after a hot summer, the ground is just dappled with trees rather than thickly forested.

But the colors are still all around you

But the colors are still all around you

There is another small brook crossing, but this brook isn't even on the map. Just a swampy area.

There is another small brook crossing, but this brook isn't even on the map. Just a swampy area.

Up out of the valley you suddenly find yourself crossing Rock Ledge Road.

Up out of the valley you suddenly find yourself crossing Rock Ledge Road.

Looking south down Rock Ledge Road

Looking south down Rock Ledge Road

Looking north up Rock Ledge Road

Looking north up Rock Ledge Road

The Olden Golden and I push on further up the trail to (approximately) where the trail ends on the #116 map

The Olden Golden and I push on further up the trail to (approximately) where the trail ends on the #116 map

I was immediately smitten with this part of the Watershed. The leaf-strewn trail, the tall green trees, the sun barely kissing the earth.

I was immediately smitten with this part of the Watershed. The leaf-strewn trail, the tall green trees, the sun barely kissing the earth.

Interspersed in the forest are small stands of Pitch Pine that, though they be skinny, they are tall.

Interspersed in the forest are small stands of Pitch Pine that, though they be skinny, they are tall.

I have no idea what this is or why it is here, of all places.

I have no idea what this is or why it is here, of all places.

Be erratic!!

Be erratic!!

It was a perfect autumn afternoon with the long sun lighting up the yellow leaves

It was a perfect autumn afternoon with the long sun lighting up the yellow leaves

I wanted to show you that this enormous piece of glacial erratic is actually balance on top of small boulders. Click on the photo to enlarge it, and you can see it a bit more clearly.

I wanted to show you that this enormous piece of glacial erratic is actually balance on top of small boulders. Click on the photo to enlarge it, and you can see it a bit more clearly.

Due west.

Due west.

Every step through the Pitch Pine released more of its incredible scent.

Every step through the Pitch Pine released more of its incredible scent.

Meanwhile, back at Rock Ledge Road

Meanwhile, back at Rock Ledge Road

Rock Ledge Road looking south, but this time a little less sun in your eye

Rock Ledge Road looking south, but this time a little less sun in your eye

The trail is there somewhere!!

The trail is there somewhere!!

Whosey-Whats-It Brook was active. I can imagine in the spring it is a much more challenging crossing. I was fortunate enough to have my pick of the litter with boulders to skip across. Even the Olden Golden managed it without getting a paw wet!

Whosey-Whats-It Brook was active. I can imagine in the spring it is a much more challenging crossing. I was fortunate enough to have my pick of the litter with boulders to skip across. Even the Olden Golden managed it without getting a paw wet!

This was a fresh fall. I had to squeeze though to stay on the trail. The dog, however, had to problems...

This was a fresh fall. I had to squeeze though to stay on the trail. The dog, however, had to problems...

The colors went on in every direction.

The colors went on in every direction.

Every other step required a moment to stop, spin around, and enjoy the beauty

Every other step required a moment to stop, spin around, and enjoy the beauty

LOOK UP!

LOOK UP!

Meanwhile, back at Holland Mountain Road...

Meanwhile, back at Holland Mountain Road...

The Olden Golden came away with four tiny ticks from this .2 mile walk on the side of the road. I didn't notice them at the time. I was too taken by the plethora of colors.

The Olden Golden came away with four tiny ticks from this .2 mile walk on the side of the road. I didn't notice them at the time. I was too taken by the plethora of colors.