Where am I going?
Highlight Hiker Blog
May 18, 2021
Norvin Green State Forest
Chikahoki Falls and Posts Brook
I decided on this hike to do something that I rarely do: I followed an unmarked trail. It’s less of a trail and more of a fire road, actually. Most folks walk this road to Chikahoki Falls, and there are a few reasons why: #1. the terrain is a lot easier to navigate and #2. the trail ends up on the money shot side of the falls. I’m not one to tell you to take this route. I believe in sticking to the designated marked trails but this fire road is better for those who want to see the falls who mobility might keep them from entertaining the idea of hiking Wyanoki Crest trail or the Otter Hole, both which have big water crossings and large boulders to traverse.
Earlier in 2021, I had intentions of hiking the Posts Brook trail. but I came after a large rainstorm in the spring and the water was too high to actually cross the Brook. Thwarted by Mother Nature, I turned tail and vowed to return another day.
Well, after my creepy hike on the Stonetown Circular from the 16th, I decided to head into more familiar territory and complete the Posts Brook trail.
The hike took longer than planned because of the terrain. I didn’t expect the boulders and the steepness of the ups and downs. Because time is relative, the last section through the Doty Road neighborhood seemed to take a lifetime, and I realized just how much I had underestimated my travel time. Which doesn’t happen that often, I have to say. I have become familiar with the time:distance ratio of these maps. Posts Brook threw me, though. Of course, I spent an inordinate amount of time looking at a spider that was larger than the size of my palm who was having a spider party on a blow down that crossed a boulder that I needed to hop. I debated if it was a poisonous spider and whether or not it might venom me to death if I disturbed it. I had come so far and I didn’t want to turn back… again. And then there was the decision as to whether or not I could get back the way I came due to said spider and the time I took to stand there staring at my map to find an alternate route back. It all worked out in the end…. it was just a very long time to get to the end. And when this hike was over, my body fuel was depleted and I was thirsty and tired.
My reroute had me do something that I am generally very opposed to: I had to hike through part of the watershed area that is supposed to be closed to hikers. It didn’t take long for me to realize my error and get back to state forest property, but I felt badly about it. It was a very unintentional detour but I trespassed nonetheless. No good.
Of course, that’s no reason why YOU shouldn’t try this trail.
Just keep in mind: there are so many fire roads/watershed roads through this area, it’s easier for navigation purposes to just stick to the marked trails. Even if you DO come across the largest spider you’ve ever seen. If you do? Take my advice: just turn around and go back. You can tackle this corner of Norvin Green another day!
Norvin Green State Forest
Chikahoki Falls and Posts Brook Trail
Starting out from the southern most parking lot along Glenwild Avenue.
Rather than hopping on the Wyanokie Crest trail, I followed the fire road.
It's a wide road with some muddy sections, some rocky sections, but overall it's a pleasant enough trail.
Along the fire road...
You can hear and see Posts Brook for mot of this walk. This means one thing for hikers: mosquitoes. Be prepared for gnats and bugs of all sorts.
Little falls here and there. The forest is pretty dense right by the water, so it's pretty tough to see it sometimes.
Chikahoki Falls is less aggressive in the drier months.
I came back here in the fall and the water pool was dry and mucky and FULL of bugs. It smelled bad, it sucked up shoes and it was not much fun.
Chiahoki Falls with fellow hikers having a snack.
Heading east after the falls, the trail is less traveled and sometimes hard to find.
On the marked trails this section is much easier and faster.
Let's play the game Find the Turkey Vulture!
The trail looks like this for the most part, until you get to the first brook crossing.
Once you pass the first brook crossing (which was fairly easy with lower water levels), you pop onto the marked trail, Posts Brook trail.
This was the crossing (& the second crossing) I wasn't able to make earlier in the year due to high water levels. Only a smidge of these rocks were visible.
Looking east on Posts Brook
Looking west on Posts Brook
From the second brook crossing, the trail weaves back and forth along the trail for a long way. Sometimes skirting back to the brook and sometimes dipping deeper into the surrounding forest.
This is the first significant sign of the Wanaque Reservoir along the trail. It's little mucky and muddy along this section of the path.
There is another water crossing - it's very easy.
I somehow didn't come back this way. I really got turned around trying to get back to the marked trail with all of the roads that crisscross through the water supply area.
Despite the hot day, the tree cover kept the forest cool.
Skimming along the banks of Posts Brook again. This was a very pretty section and it smelled amazing.
The terrain started to change, though. It went from dry and rooty to... well, this. And it was about to change again.
This marks a significant change in terrain. From here to the neighborhood, the terrain is covered in misshapen boulders and slender trail all rocky and rooty that waves next to, and over, the brook.
The downed tree was huge. The boulders just make it look small. This is a rock hop section that was bad enough without the giant spider. I very literally flattened myself against the large boulder on the far left side of the photo and just left my body drop, trusting that I would be able to not slip and fall into Posts Brook below.
This photo makes it look small. I'm not afraid of spiders, and this isn't an exaggeration: that spider was the size of my palm. It is the largest woodland spider I have ever seen. I talked to it for a long time, wanting to coax it to move on. I thought maybe it was dead until it moved. Too quickly for my liking.
I managed to get around Sir Spider, but it definitely changed my enjoyment of the trail. Well... that and the trail itself which was tough terrain.
This was the only part of the trail that was easy. I relished it.
On my way back, I ended up climbing above this section. Not sure which route I would pick if I had to pick one to do again: they were both challenging in their own way.
"Is it going to be like this the whole way??" I asked myself. No. But at the time I was just over it.
Finally the trail became easier. It was just felt longer because I was tired.
Through the neighborhood you don't see any homes, though you know you are near them.
The trail winds around a lot through this section. And for it being flat, I sure was doing a lot of climbing!
I call this the Doty Road section. I was expecting it to be shorter than it was.
More hiking along the brook, which becomes quite tame past the reservoir.
Another brook crossing.
You come to/cross Doty Road a few times.
There is no parking along Doty Road to access the trail. The only way to get here is via Posts Brook trail.
I think it was at this point where I was like, "When is thing going to END??"
Every corner felt like it should be the last one but the trail continued on.
And on
HOORAY!! Time to turn around!
G'bye Posts Brook trail. Cna't say I'll be back.
I didn't notice this tree until I had turned around and headed back. I thought that was kind of a cool landmark.
This was the last photo I took in the Doty Road section. I kept seeing the bars on the trees. I wondered what they were for.
This should have been my first clue that I was lost. Instead I was like, oh look! That's cool!
And here is where I actually figured out I was where I shouldn't have been. Luckily this was on my OUT of the watershed area. I had turned the wrong way at a fire road intersection but somehow managed to get back here, otherwise I might still be out there today!
Meanwhile, back at Chikahoki Falls....
I had, like, seriously had enough. No more energy for photos. I was dragging my feet the rest of the way back to the parking lot.
Last picture of Posts Brook. Yes! It really was THAT GREEN under the trees!