Hike #1000! Warren Highlands First Day Hike!!!
Details
Join us for our traditional First Day Hike, this time returning to the route of the Warren Highlands Trail in western Warren County!
The hike includes lovely vistas and historic sites!
NOTE: watch this posting the week of the event in case of any slight changes in meeting point.
We will meet at the Van Nest Hoff Vanatta Farmstead on Rt 519 at 9, then shuttle with as few cars as possible to Phillipsburg to start the trip.
The current terminus of the trail is at the Free Bridge, however we may begin a bit further to the south and talk a bit about the future of Phillipsburg's trail system.
Soon, there will be a new rail trail in Phillipsburg, and there will be plenty of other improved connections including Morris Canal and more.
We'll then move on to the Warren Highlands Trail which follows a few streets to the south before climbing Marble Hill with some nice Delaware River views.
We'll take to a side trail and visit the historic Fulmer Iron Mine on top, and then continue to an overlook of the Delaware River into Weygadt's Gap.
The trail continues from here past the new Phillipsburg high school, then continues to skirt the hill passing lovely giant trees, a power line view, and then enter state park land.
This has been a tough year for the trail because private land owners have blocked off parts of it, painted over blazes, torn out marker posts, and put up their own no trespassing signs masquerading the parks as their own private hunting clubs, but we will pass through safely.
It is necessary for more people to use the trail and report issues so that we might keep the route better marked and justify further improvements.
The trail soon passes through lovely state owned fields, passes the site of the original Harmony one room school house, a lovely spring, and nice views of the countryside.
We then pass through the county owned Geiger tract after a short road walk, followed by another short road walk to more state park land. We'll continue to a great view of Delaware Water Gap before Fox Farm, and other great pastoral settings.
I marked the trail through to Merrill Creek last year, however this is the area where blazes and signage was all torn out. I will show everyone where to go, and others are welcome to step up and help us fix the trail route in the future.
Next, the trail reaches Merrill Creek Reservoir. We co align with a few of those trails, then descend through their access roads, not open to traffic, down along pipelines and such.
We'll cross a footbridge constructed in 2016, then climb from a branch of Lopatcong Creek through another historic abandoned farm site on more state land. More posts were torn out in this area, but the trail is rather obvious to follow.
We will have a few more outstanding views including of Wind Gap PA. The last section is trail under development from Ridge Road down to Van Nest Hoff Vanatta Farmstead. Much of it is utility clearing, but there is also a rather new side hill down there.
The hike ends at Van Nest Hoff Vanatta, after which we may gather for dinner in Phillipsburg.
For any further questions, contact me at 908 343 8374
Hike #1000! Warren Highlands First Day Hike!!!