Description

From the northwest corner of the parking area, proceed south to the stone Cooper Mill. The mill, open on weekends, is worth a visit. Descend the stairs alongside the mill and continue south on the blue-blazed Black River Trail, part of the Patriots' Path system (also blazed with the path-and-tree logo). The trail briefly parallels the river, then turns left and crosses several tributary streams on wooden bridges. It soon begins to parallel an abandoned railroad grade to the right and, 0.3 mile from the start, turns left onto the grade. This is the former route of the Hacklebarney Branch of the Central Railroad of New Jersey, built in 1873 to carry iron ore from mines along the river and abandoned in 1900. The trail follows this railroad grade for the next mile.

Half a mile from the start, you'll pass Kay Pond (formerly known as Hacklebarney Pond) to the right. Here, the railroad had to be blasted through a rock cut, and the drill marks from the blasting may still be seen in the rock. The small building at the south end of Kay Pond was once used to store ice cut from the pond in the winter.

Soon after passing the stone dam at the end of the pond, the trail goes by a fenced-in area to the left. This is the site of the former Hacklebarney Mine, where a considerable amount of iron ore was mined in the last quarter of the nineteenth century. Just beyond, the trail reaches a bridge over the river and turns left, continuing to follow along the river. Soon, the railroad grade ends and the trail continues on a slightly rougher footpath parallel to the river.

About 1.2 miles from the start, the trail reaches abandoned concrete abutments in the river - the remnants of a former bridge. Here, the trail bears left and begins to head uphill. It bears left at the next fork and soon begins to parallel a tributary stream. The trail now curves right and continues to climb, passing a stone wall to the right and continuing through former fields, now overgrown with dense vegetation.

Soon, the trail reaches a junction in a clearing, marked by a signpost. Turn left, now following both blue and red blazes, then turn left again at the next intersection. Just ahead, you'll come to a parking area, with the Kay Environmental Center to the right. Stop at the environmental center (if open) to obtain a free permit to enter the Natural Area that you will be traversing during the continuation of the hike.

After you've obtained your permit, continue on the blue-blazed Bamboo Brook Trail , which starts just east of the environmental center. The trail follows a wide path through overgrown fields, turns left onto a dirt road, then joins the paved entrance road. It follows the paved road for a quarter of a mile to Pottersville Road , turns right, and follows Pottersville Road for 750 feet. Opposite a sign for "Devereux Deerhaven," the trail turns left and reenters the woods.

In another quarter of a mile, the trail bears right at a fork and begins to climb the rocky hillside, first rather steeply, then more gradually. After reaching the top of the hill, the trail descends to reach a junction with the red-blazed Conifer Pass Trail (marked by a signpost). Turn sharply right and follow the red-blazed trail as it descends to recross Pottersville Road .

On the other side of the road, the trail enters a beautiful pine forest and descends past some old stone walls to cross Cedar Brook in an open area. It ascends on switchbacks through a grove of fir trees, continues through a deciduous forest to the crest of a rise, and descends once again to the Black River, passing two mine pits to the right along the way.

The red-blazed trail now heads north through the rocky gorge of the Black River, running directly along the river for part of the way. This wild and spectacular section of the river is an interesting contrast to the relatively placid section that you followed at the start of the hike. After about a quarter of a mile, the trail begins to climb out of the gorge. At the top of the climb, it turns right at a T-intersection, bears sharply left in 100 feet, then bears left again at a Y-intersection.

The trail continues high above the river, with some views of the river below through the trees. In another 0.4 mile, you'll reach a T-intersection with a wide dirt road. Here, the red blazes turn right, but you should turn left and follow a green-blazed trail that begins here. In another 750 feet, turn left at the next junction, continuing to follow the green blazes. Then, in 75 feet, the green blazes turn left again. Leave the green trail here and turn right onto an unmarked woods road which heads north. Follow this road for about 600 feet to its end at the blue-blazed Black River Trail. Turn left and follow the Black River Trail north along the Black River, now retracing your steps. Continue for 1.2 miles until you return to the Cooper Mill parking area where you began the hike.