Could it be that bootleggers really did change this place to make illicit Prohibition products as claimed by Beck? Table Rock is 900 feet above the trailhead and offers fantastic views of Old Speck Mountain, the Eyebrow, and Grafton Notch. All Rights Reserved. Some muddy/rutted trail sections due to use by bikes/horses. It is officially closed to mountain bikes (and horses) which only competition-class bike riders will regret however, there is no signage to this effect, and you will sometimes run into bikers attempting the trail. These versions show fewer trails in Honey Hollow area than older maps (map 3,4) so the description below may be affected. Fiddlers Creek Bridge Roadside Parking:On Fiddlers Creek Road, .5 mile from Church Road, and 1.1 miles from Route 29, it is possible to pull off on the grassy shoulder on the north side of Fiddlers Creek Road, where the Creek Spur trail begins. . The trail begins at the south end of the Pleasant Valley Road parking lot (from which the Ridge Trail heads west). Its mature woodlands, wetlands, and open meadows harbor a rich variety of native trees and shrubs and a diverse bird population. Components of local, national, and natural history are well represented, as well as brilliant prospects for craft seekers, hikers, mountain bikers, horseback riders, and picnickers. Baldpate Mountain and Table Rock Loop - Maine Trail Finder From here, there is access to the Pleasant Valley Trail. This intersection was passed at 3.6]. Really easy hike on the trail with the white blazes to a nice lookout point if you start at 2. Utterly beautiful. Approximately 300' elevation gain form the parking lot to the 1100' summit. Overall an easy walk with the family. [WHITE (Ridge) also goes right]. Walking/Hiking, Horseback riding, Dogs permitted on leash. 11/9/15 Directions revised and route modified slightly; photos added; revised GPX. Stay on marked trails, hike in single file and do not step on the fragile soils, especially at the summit, Event & commercial use by permission only, No motorized vehicles beyond parking areas, our preserves are free and open to the public. Walking the Ridge Trail, however, involves only moderate ups and downs. /// Shorter 3.2 mile option: Head back from here, finding the trail around the side of the pond. The views are especially beautiful during the fall months when the leaves are changing. We will continue to post stories, profiles and scheduled events and hope you'll subscribe (for free!) I laid a bunch of branches across the start of that trail so hopefully no one wastes their time like I did. These collections however, like hundreds of others found throughout the northeastern U.S., were simply intended to be used for future construction of homes and barns; structures that never came to be. for schedules during that period. Also scattered throughout the area are rock caches, some of them large enough and stacked neatly enough to suggest that you are looking at the ruins of a house; or maybe ancient waypoint markers for alien invaders. Note: We love Baldpate Mountain so much, we've written four reviews about different aspects of the park: 1) Overview, 2) Switchback Trail, 3) Eastern Trails, 4)Pine Grove Hike. Tried to give it 4 stars but it wouldnt let me (I deducted 1 star for a couple of factual blips. The entrance to the parking lot is a few hundred feet east of the driveway that leads up to the Baldpate visitor center. ], 4.5 Turn LEFT and now follow ORANGE (Copper Hill). Indian Head Mountain. In spring, the forest floor is brightened by mayflower, columbine, black snakeroot, spring beauties, bunchberry, trout lilies, and numerous other wildflowers. An astronomical observatory is located near the Interpretive Center. For the Pleasant Valley Road entrances, continue a total of 1.5 miles north on Route 579, and turn left on Pleasant Valley Road. Until the mid-20th century, the mountain was known locally as Kuser Mountain, named for the family who owned it for many decades. This can be a quick aerobic session going uphill! it's passable though. A few trails have picturesque steep stone steps that require some degree of caution to negotiate. Overview: BLUE (Summit) WHITE (Ridge) RED (NW Loop) WHITE (Ridge) Kuser (GREEN) Kuser (GREEN) connector trail ORANGE (Copper Hill) WHITE (Ridge) BLUE (Summit). Parts of the trail north of the Kuser Connector may be muddy in wet periods. This wide trail follows an old wood road, which has in most places narrowed to a footpath,and has the gentlest grades of all the trails, with moderate ups and downs. Mowed trails at the end of the Summit Trail and picnic area. Hiking Trails (3) 1. With two cars and one parked at the destination, walkers can enjoy long one-way hikes. Rt. A local musician who lived on the edge of what is now Washington Crossing State Park passed on scraps of legend about the succession of residents in Honey Hollow. 1.0 BLUE (Summit) ends. Pleasant Valley Historic District. All that said, the most popular hiking destination in the park is the Summit Trail. [The path down the hill leads to the Kuser Estate]. In Henry C. Beck's 1939 book Fare Baldpate has become my favorite place to walk. 1.1 More picnic tables and a viewing scope in a mowed grassy area, overlooking the Kuser Mansion and orchard. Somewhere here on the mountain the mine does, or did, exist. On clear days Philadelphia is within sight, as is the Delaware River below. Baldpate Mountain - Ted Stiles Preserve | njHiking.com Most of north half of Baldpate Mt has blowdown everywhere. 6.7 miles. add a Baldpate Mountain photo. Overlook Mountain. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Access to the top by foot will not be limited. To find out more, call (609) 737-2575 or check their website Operated by the Washington Crossing Association of New Jersey from June through August, events take place on an open outdoor stage. Getting overgrown, but good to stretch the legs so close to home. Upon regrouping, they marched nine miles south to Trenton to defeat surprised Hessian troops who lay sleeping off the effects of a late night celebration. In addition, Fiddlers Creek Preserve has been added on the other side of Fiddlers Creek Road. Baldplate Ridge 4.0 At about .5 mile, the trail ascends a stone staircase built by volunteers through a boulder field. Also, near the river, there is a hiking & biking trail along the Delaware & Raritan Canal feeder where anglers will be able to fish for sunfish, bass, and pickerel. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. It is otherwise awesome.) [ORANGE (Copper Hill) also goes right.]. Some of the trails have no bridges so you will have to ford if you want to keep going. What happened to their homes? One of the most widely attended events offered at the park is the annual Christmas Day reenactment of the crossing of the Delaware. Lot of ticks. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. trailreport@drgreenway.org. The AT portion from Grafton Notch to the lean to is relatively easy. All four partners in the acquisition (Mercer County, the State of NJ, Hopewell Twp. The springhouse is obvious as is the large ruined cellar hole beside it, but where was the barn? Paradise Lost, and Found at Blue Mountain Lakes, Reservoir Relaxation: Split Rock,Taylortown and Boonton, Union Forge and the Taylor Steelworkers Greenway in High Bridge. 93.95.59.207 Along the Copper Hill Trail, despite having an uncanny knack of remaining hidden in plain sight a few feet off the trail, hikers and bikers suddenly notice a fireplace and chimney rising in the woods. Swing by Go Ape's treetop adventure course behind the Jefferson Memorial Forest Visitor Center. Baldpate Mountain Summit, Ridge, and Honey Hollow. This story was first published: Autumn, 2008, Bald Pate Mountain, Washington's Crossing, Howell Farm, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Need I say more? Possibly, as time goes by, more answers will surface but for now, as you use the trails of Bald Pate, remember that this wasn't always "just woods.". from mid-December to mid-February. Usually lots of people. Just a few miles south of Lambertville lies an area ripe for weekend adventure and exploration. "Great place to loose yourself for a couple hours." For access to the Honey Hollow area, turn hard left into Brick Road about .75 mile in on Church Road, just opposite the intersection of Church Road with Fiddlers Creek Road. Elevation Info: Elevation range: 480 - 500 ft (20-foot closed contour) NAVD88 Elevation: 479 ft / 146 m (Range 479 - 499 ft) Peak Type: Hill: Latitude/Longitude (WGS84) We may receive a commission for purchases made through these at no cost to you. Trails are marked with square plastic blazes on trees (blue, white, red, orange, yellow, brown, or turquoise). Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Black bears have been sighted on occasion as well. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. (Do not disturb these remains.). It would have made an even nicer snack spot we should have wandered around the area first before breaking out our Clif Bars, but my Blueberry Crunch was calling my name. Park info/map 1Park info/map 2Interactive Map. Click to reveal [Pass ORANGE (Copper Hill) on the right might not even notice it, but there was a large tree on the ground across from the trail]. New photos. However, there is no formally designated parking at this location. Next you will pass the blue blazed side trail to Table Rock on right at 0.9 mile. This peak rises to 1,165 feet (355 m), and is located in Mansfield Township. nice day for a hike it was cold but I worked up a sweat fast, with a decent pace. Dry Run Creek 4.0 within 100 mi. Some old logging roads and some specially built trails lace the southern and northern flanks of the ridge, and a 2-mile trail runs along its spine. 0.4 Climb steeply up a long series of stone steps. Table Rock Spur is one of our favorite day hike (mixed with visits to Screw Auger, Step Falls, Moose Cave, etc). We did white ridge loop. Click to reveal Humongous trees down all over the trail. You'll receive our weekly e-news "This Week in the New Jersey Skylands" which will keep you up to date on special events, new profiles, stories, and things to do. During days when only bow hunting occurs, the park will remain open to the public. During this season, hunting occurs four or five days per week, and on hunting days there is no public access except for hunters registered with Mercer County. For access to the Ridge Trail, continue up Pleasant Valley Road 4.5 miles from Route 29, to the entrance to a large parking lot on the right. The restroom building was locked and no one was around. The biggest problem right now is that parts of the trail are pretty narrow, and 80% of the folks on it dont care to wear masks even while passing others. Our 13 year old daughter completed the AT side with care while crossing brooks, etc. Your IP: Directions Print/PDF map Length 3.5 miElevation gain 580 ftRoute type Out & back Enjoy this 3.5-mile out-and-back trail near Pennington, New Jersey. NOTE: The trail segment along the steep hill above Moores Creek is on a delicate slope, and should be used only by walkers. Deer Management | Mercer County, NJ Horseback riders and cyclists should continue along the powerline further west, to a second right turn that leads down along the Pleasant Valley Riders Trail to Pleasant Valley Road. it was a challenge and worked those Hammys and glutes. Some noise from ( I assume) local businesses, probably not unexpected in New Jersey. Bugs in the Honey Hollow section were beyond annoying its lower and near a stream. Be aware of bees nests. Baldpate Mountain You can make a nice loop by walking on Fiddler's Creek Road. Visitor Center lot. A walk to the grassy summit of Baldpate, the highest point in Mercer County, offers a spectacular view of the Delaware River and the City of Trenton. Straight is a direct route to the ridge trail and farm/pond and is the return route. Some sections of the trail are not well marked, so downloading the map ahead of time is recommended. 7/2020 Re-hiked; adjusted the route to remove the closed trails in Honey Hollow. Baldpate Mountain in August | njHiking.com The Visitor Center Museum contains exhibits of Revolutionary War artifacts and documents with emphasis on the "Ten Crucial Days" which began with Washington's crossing, and include the Battles of Trenton and Princeton. Looking toward the Kuser Estate and orchard. Its not overly steep or difficult if you keep to the flat rocks. Please note: no fires or camping are allowed at Bald Pate Mountain. Perfume Bottles, Santas, Witches Balls, Oil Lamps, Paperweights, Chimes, Art Glass, Wishing Stars. Estes Park, CO 2023: Best Places to Visit - Tripadvisor Slide Mountain. Hhhhot today. Evidence hints that George Washington and his staff used this house to discuss their final plans for the Continental Army's march to Trenton on that fateful Christmas night. Route: Summit Trail (BLUE) to NW Loop (RED) to Ridge Trail (WHITE) to Copper Hill Trail (Orange) to Honey Hollow Trail (RED) to ORANGE (Cedar Grove Trail) to Kuser Trail (BLUE) to Honey Hollow Trail (RED) to Copper Hill (ORANGE) to Ridge Trail (WHITE) to Summit Trail (Blue). Scattered throughout, begging to be discovered, are the remains of more than a dozen structures, mainly ruins of houses, barns, and springhouses and the faint old lanes that once connected them. We ended up never finding the view others mention and turned around because of the ticks. 0.8 Come to a T with a gravel path and jog slightly left to continue on BLUE (Summit). Bald Pate Mountain's peak is Mercer County's highest point, about 470 feet above sea level. The pond and brooks harbor invertebrates, amphibians, and small fish. Check by southjerseytrailsNovember 11, 2014. Choose another experience Prepare For Your Destination Web Map: Official park map Hike Checklist Leave No Trace Trip Reports rate experience No reviews for this park, click above rate experience link to review this park 25 minutes from downtown Princeton, 15 minutes from Trenton. I was the first on the trail at 7:30am on a Saturday when I started, but I did see a few other friendly people on my way back. 2023 Maine Trail Finder. 6.1 At the white farm building from earlier, turn LEFT to now follow BLUE (Summit). The forests abound with American Beech with their steely-gray bark, Tulip Poplars like tall, straight sentinels, oaks, birches, hickory, cherries and many other species. View from the picnic area towards the Delaware River. Large portions of the park are closed to non-hunters (about 2 1/2 miles south of Lambertville) and turn onto it, following it about all three Rating Washington Crossing State Park celebrates events that affected the whole of [RED (NW Loop) ends.]. Oops! 89.44.109.100 This will affect the mileage in the description depending on how much you wander around. 6/2018 Added link to a map on park site that wasnt there before (Map 1) and updated Map 2 link. The trails are . Alternatively, go 1.4 miles further north on Route 29, beyond Fiddlers Creek Road, and turn right on Pleasant Valley Road. The Bad: TheSummit Trail(blue blazes) begins at the parking lot on Fiddlers Creek Road, and climbs steeply to the meadow at the top near the western end of Baldpate. The trail leaves the brook, skirts a hillside, bends left and then right, passing the Kuser Connector which runs over to the Copper Hill Trail. Performance & security by Cloudflare. We took a snack break at the farm buildings on the Ridge Trail, there was a stone ledge to sit on. It leads right back to Fiddlers Creek Road, and a short connecting trail brings you back to the parking lot. These offer roughly the same elevation gains and gorgeous views of Fiddlers Creek. Entrance to the Baldpate trail network can be gained at sixplaces. After turning right on the unmarked trail, I got about .5 mile maybe before became impossible to go any further. The trail leaves the parking area at the tower and follows the power line cut for a bit. Easy to moderate trail surface; minor elevation change. On September 16, after extensive clearing work, much of the trail system reopened. Started on white trail, made our way to the visitors center and continued to the red trail. American history, other nearby sites illuminate vital aspects of local heritage. Balsam Lake Mountain. 247 summits. A good mix of small to medium size hills.Perfect for a quick Hike. This mountain bike primary trail. The trail is mostly hard packed earth, with some rocky areas. 1478 1329. Baldpate Mountain via Appalachian Trail - AllTrails From that point you can turn right and follow Fiddlers Creek Road 1.3 miles to the parking lot entrance on your right. Or string together challenging hikes of 3+ hours. Now featuring Pandora Jewelry. The birdlife of Baldpate attracts amateur birdwatchers and scientists. Check our Trail Blog links at the bottom of the page for photos of the area over the years. Visitors can combine segments of the Ridge Trail with these trails on the north and south sides to create interesting circuit walks. In 2007, the preserves original name of Baldpate Preserve was changed to honor the life of Edmund Ted Stiles, one of New Jerseys most accomplished and tireless activists for protection of natural lands, who passed away that year. Bummer. 203 summits. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these at no cost to you. The Best Mountain Biking Trails in Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain. The Kerrs farmstand on Bear Tavern Road has reopened. Each year, the farmers dumped the rocks along the edges of their fields, defining their properties' boundaries and the lanes that ran from one farm to another. Washington Crossing State Park | njHiking.com The main Kuser Trail continues north to the power line, and turns west to follow the power line to the parking area entered from Pleasant Valley Road. Make a left turn onto Valley Road at about 2.75 miles up Pleasant Valley Road, and then go right (almost straight ahead) on Woodens Lane to the Howell Living History Farm and its parking. The 6.7 mile hiking trail network offers a variety of easy to moderately difficult trails. Lots of uphills and it was rocky and muddy and some over grown bushes but a great workout! The actual entrance has a large sign. As you continue to follow the main trail towards Strawberry Hills summit, you wend your way through a series of short, moderately-steep climbs punctuated by boulders and stone steps. In 0.1 mile continue on the AT passing the orange blazed table rock trail on the right. About Bald Pate Mountain. The trail begins with a gentle rise through oaks, tulip poplars, and hickory for about a quarter mile, then slices up diagonally across a steep rocky slope, with increasingly airy views of the forest floor below. (scroll down a bit for Baldpate). The recently-renovated main house will be a visitors center. Within this District are also at least two other farmsteads, two old public school sites, the Phillips gristmill, a blacksmith shop site & house, the old Phillips Burying Ground and more. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. TheRidge Trail(white blazes) runs from Pleasant Valley Road at the eastern end of Baldpate about two miles to an open meadow near the western end (picnic tables there), and then about .2 mile further, curving down to the driveway below the former Kuser Estate house, now renovated as a visitor center. There will be no hunting on Sunday. 4. Grafton Notch State Park - Old Speck Mountain and Eyebrow Loop. For more information, call (609) 737-1826. as an active member. Leads to a nice area with picnic tables. Baldpate Mountain | Fiddlers Creek Road, Titusville, New Jersey 08560 Follow signs to the visitor center lot (enter and make a left at the main intersection). but we SHOULD have sat behind the small building near the well, on its step which overlooks the pond. At the stop sign on Bear Tavern Road (Route 579), turn right. Trailforks ranks trails with a combination of user ratings and raw trail usage data from rides. Stiles, recently deceased, was a resident of Hopewell Township and a long-time professor of biological sciences at Rutgers University is also credited with the preservation of more than 9,000 acres other natural lands in New Jersey. We went from the white ridge to red NW back to white ridge and around the Copper Hill. This large lot can accommodate cars and horse trailers. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. Trails were dry, and Bug free. Went with kiddies. Pleasant Valley Road Parking Lot:The well-marked entrance driveway is on the south side of Pleasant Valley Road, 1.2 miles west of Bear Tavern Road. Enter your username, and we will send you a new, randomly generated password to your email account. Eventually the lane will be improved, allowing for limited vehicular and handicapped access to the top of the mountain. Signs of past habitation on Baldpate Mountain are obvious, but clear information about who lived there and when is hard to come by. Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space is also helpful. Many miles of great hiking and biking trails Beautiful views of PA from the top of the mountain Why did they leave? Other scheduled events are wagon tours, hayrides, ice cream parties, workhorse rides, and even an old-time baseball game. Just a quick 4 miles to make sure no kidney pain Got stung in one area since I was unknowingly likely too close to a nest. News Flash Hopewell Township, NJ CivicEngage Grafton Notch State Park - Baldpate Mountain and Table Rock Loop Add a Photo The western portion of Grafton Notch State Park offers two rugged trail experiences offering spectacular views of the Mahoosuc Mountain Range and of Old Speck Mountain on the eastern side of Grafton Notch. The eastern portion of the park offers two rugged terrain, back-country hiking experiences. Inside, visitors may view period furnishings plus vintage photos of the neighboring railroad and canal. 3.6 Continue on WHITE (Ridge). Use Maine Trail Finder to identify other nearby trails. Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain | New York-New Jersey Trail or parking areas. Pass an unmarked trail on the left. How many of them were here? As the fields were abandoned and natural progression took over, corn, hay, and wheat were replaced by cedars, and then maples, elms, and other hardwoods that rise above the prickly invasion of the multiflora rose. Trails for hikers, bikers, and cross-country skiers cover 15 miles within the park although the park's website should be checked for any restrictions. Baldpate Mountain Visitor Center Entrance - Trailforks Good to see a nice review of Mercer Countys treasure. I had read that a visitor center with restrooms was being built and hadnt expected them to be open, but the trail map in the lot noted them. Baldface Mountain: 130 Reviews, Map - New York | AllTrails Reviews (243) Good workout following the blue white and red. Required fields are marked *. Also using the path now also marked as Summit direct from the pond. Found our way by back tracking a bit. It descends gently, and then quite steeply, bending west and leveling off briefly. [WHITE (Ridge) also goes right. The plan calls for leaving the preserve mainly in its natural state. Baldpate Mountain is part of the largest continuously forested area in central New Jersey, the Sourlands Region, stretching across Mercer, Somerset, and Hunterdon Counties. 6/12. Continue uphill on ORANGE (Copper Hill). [Kuser (GREEN) also continues ahead. Its bad. Shortly, Pass YELLOW (Switchback) on the left. Be sure not to leave your car past the Farms closing hours, which are posted, since the parking lot gate is then closed. History buffs will enjoy visiting the Nelson House, located at the spot along the Delaware where Washington's troops landed. And here Id gotten my hopes up for a proper restroom after seeing that sign. Arrows on the posts, and sometimes on tree blazes, are used to emphasize direction at sharp turns. TheSwitchback Trail(yellow blazes), connects the westernmost end of the Ridge Trail to Route 29 down by the Delaware River, tracing a very steep route of just .7 mile and sharp switchbacks. The preserve consists of 486 acres of forest, meadows, granite-topped scenic vistas and boasts a pristine ancient pitch pine forest atop its summit. Thank you for joining us!We'll keep you informed with the latest news, events, and progress reports. 40.318174, -74.890237 Overview Description Contacts, Dogs and Fees Home of the "most aerobic hike" in Mercer County. Muddy , views were minimum on the trail I chose. I can hop in my car, choose among 4 distinct hikes with 300-400 foot elevation gain, and be back home within 2 hours. Baldpate Mountain(5.8-7.6 miles round trip, advanced): Located beyond the Table Rock Trail in the Mahoosuc Public Lands, Baldpate Mountain includes two summit hikes with fantastic views. Great hike with the kids and dog. It's one of our favorite mountains to hike! Books: A similar route is now in Best Day Hikes in New Jersey. Horse trailers are not allowed here. 8.6 miles but easier to make short loops. Log in or create an account below to unlock all the great features of Maine trail finder: keep track of trails you want to do, preserve memories of trails youve done, earn badges, and more! The action you just performed triggered the security solution. This trail is great for hiking and running, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. 751 Scenic Walking Areas Estes Park Visitor Center 648 Visitor Centers Mountain Blown Glass 258 Art Galleries 2023 Lake Estes Marina 350 Established in 1912, the 800-acre park commemorates one of our nation's most important early historical events. In the winter, adventurous snowshoers and cross-country skiers enjoy exploring ungroomed trails. Veer RIGHT to follow BLUE (Summit) along a mowed path. Overall: Old newspaper articles and ads give scant hints of their lives, both socially and in business. Note: Baldpate Mountain was ground zero for a tornado on July 29, 2021 that caused substantial damage. The Good: