Stephen's State Park Trail (Warren County)

Trail Map

This is a relatively long trail so you might want to take advantage of amenities along U.S.Route 206 before you take your drive down CR 604 to our first site of Stephen’s State Park. Tucked away in Warren County, this hidden gem sits on the Musconetcong River. From there Allamuchy State Park’s Deer Park Pond is a short drive and then north to the botanical jewel known as Johnsonburg Preserve. As you travel further west, stop by White Lake and Ferla’s Pond in Hardwick before you reach the Kittatinny Ridge where the Mohican Outdoor Center provides access to Catfish Pond, the Appalachian Trail, Raccoon Ridge and Rattlesnake Swamp Trail. Returning from the Ridge, the trail continues on to Limestone Ridge Preserve, Columbia WMA and after passing through the historic town of Hope (est. 1769), where you’ll have access to food, gas, antique/gift shops and a walking tour of the town, it ends at Jenny Jump State Forest and the infamous Shades of Death Road and Ghost Lake.


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The Trail Directions are in the first posting of the forum below.  Please use the forum to enter any comments or feedback regarding this trail. Registration is required.

 
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New Post 4/12/2008 10:33 AM
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Trail Directions 

To Stephens State Park

From Interstate 80 west take exit 26. After 1.6 miles turn left at the traffic light onto Waterloo Road and follow signs for the park.  After 1.1 miles parking for the Sussex Branch Trail is on the Right. After 6.8 miles turn left into Stevens State Park entrance.
After 0.3 miles turn Right at stop sign into office parking area.

To Allamuchy Mountain State Park

Follow exit signs for park. Turn Left onto CR 604 South and after 0.9 miles turn Right onto Bilby Road. Proceed 0.8 miles and turn Right at the stop sign onto CR 517 North. After 1.2 miles turn Right onto Deer Park Road and continue 0.7 miles to parking area.

To Johnsonburg Preserve

Return to CR 517 North. After 2.3 miles bear left onto CR 667 North. After .2 miles bear left onto CR 612 North. After 5.1 miles turn Right at stop sign onto Main Street.After .3 miles turn Left onto CR 661 North.. After 1.3 miles turn Right at the stop sign onto State Highway 94. After 0.5 miles turn Left into parking lot for Frelinghuysen Elementary School. Trails begin across the street at the other end of the field, look for the Nature Conservancy sign.

To White Lake

Turn Right onto State Highway 94 North. After 2.1 miles turn Right onto CR 659/Spring Valley Road. At 0.3 miles, as soon as you cross the river, there is parking for the Paulinskill Valley Trail. After approximately 0.4 miles look for parking on the right for trailhead.  This is a grassy pullover, look for green acres sign and gate. After 0.8 miles turn Right onto CR 521 North/Stillwater Road. After 0.5 miles turn right, by white fence, into main parking area for White Lake.

To Spring Valley Preserve (Ferla’s Pond)

Turn left out of parking area.  After 0.5 miles turn right onto CR 659/Spring Valley Road.
After 1.1 miles turn Left into Hardwick Municipal Building parking area. The trail begins at the back of the parking area behind the building. A sign introducing the trail can be found to the left of the municipal building.

To Mohican Outdoor Center

When leaving parking area turn Left onto CR 659/Spring Valley Road. After 0.8 miles turn Right at the stop sign onto CR 602 North/Millbrook Road. After 0.2 miles turn Left onto Maple Lane. After 1.6 miles turn Right at the stop sign onto Mohican Road. At 0.3 miles the road splits stay Right on Mohican Road. After 1.9 miles turn Left at the stop sign onto Gaisler Road. After 0.5 miles turn Right onto Mohican Camp Road. Follow road approximately 1.0 mile to the center on the Left.

To Limestone Ridge and Marsh Preserve

Exit via Camp Mohican Road, at the end turn Left onto Gaisler Road. Proceed 0.5 miles and turn Right onto Mohican Road. After 2.7 miles bear to your Left to stay on Mohican Road.  Proceed 0.5 miles and turn Left at the stop sign onto State Highway 94 North. After 1.0 mile and one traffic light turn Right onto CR 616 South/Cedar Lake Road. The preserve is 0.8 miles on the Left across from the Wilson Estate parking is on the grass, look for the signs

To Columbia WMA

Turn Right onto CR 616/Cedar Lake Road and after 0.8 miles turn Left onto State Highway 94 South. Proceed 8.2 miles and turn Left onto CR 605 South/Warrington Road. If you pass under Interstate 80 you have gone too far. After 0.4 miles turn Right into the dirt road, there is a Columbia Lake sign at this point. Follow 0.6 miles to parking area at end.

To pond parking from Columbia Lake

Right onto CR605 South for 0.8 miles turn Right onto Walnut Road look for NJ Div. Fish and Wildlife sign. Less than 0.1 miles turn Right into parking area for pond.

To Upperfields Trailhead from Columbia Lake

Exit Columbia Lake and turn Right onto CR 605 South.  After 0.8 miles turn Right onto Walnut Road. After 0.3 miles turn Right into parking area for upperfields trailhead.

Exit Columbia Lake and turn Right onto CR 605 South. After 1.3 miles turn Left into driveway for Heirloom Seed Society. The driveway is before the house, stay to the left and follow road down to lake.

To Honey Run

Turn Left onto CR 605 South and after 0.7 miles turn Left onto Lime Kiln Road. Proceed 1.8 miles and at the stop sign turn Right onto Knowlton Road. After 0.2 miles turn Left onto Nightingale Road.  Take it slow here this turns happens quickly. After 1.5 miles turn Right at stop sign onto CR 609 West/Delaware Road.  After 0.2 miles take your first Left onto Honey Run Road After 0.3 miles the WMA begins, look for signs, there are several spots on the shoulder of the road to park.

To Jenny Jump State Forest

Proceed southeast to the of Honey Run Road. After 1.2 miles turn Left onto CR 610 North/Swazye Mill Road. After 1.3 miles merge to Right onto CR 609 North. After approximately 1.8 miles proceed straight at stop sign and the road becomes CR 519 North/Hope-Johnsonburg Road. After 1.1 miles turn Right onto Shiloh Road. After 1.0 mile turn Right onto State Park Road. After 1.0 mile the office entrance is on the Left.

To Shades of Death Road/Ghost Lake

When leaving office parking area turn Left onto Farview Road and after 1.6 miles turn Left onto Great Meadows-Hope Road. Proceed 0.7 miles and turn Left onto Shades of Death Road (don’t let the name scare you). After 3.0 miles Ghost Lake will be on the Left. After 0.4 miles Parking will be on the Left.

 

 
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