NOTE: The above (HTNJ4 Rt 46 to Rt 513 Califon Map) map shows the future route of the HT between Stephens State Park and Reservoir Road on the Patriots’ Path. The planned route was, and to some degree still is, in flux when the maps were made, and we had to decide on what route we would most likely use. The current blazed trail is still blazed as described below. 

Turn left uphill on Mine Hill Road (the Patriots’ Path Blazes turn right), pass a gate at 0.2 miles, and come to Stephens Park Road at .9 miles. Turn right on Stephens Park Road and go .6 mile to a right turn onto Sand Shore Road at 1.5 miles. Cross Route 46 at the light in 1/2 mile (2 miles from Stephens), and continue straight ahead, now on Naughright Road. Follow Naughright Road .8 miles to a right turn on Mission Road. Follow Mission Road for 1.4 miles to a stop sign at the corner of Mission, Reservoir, and Spring Roads, 4.2 miles from Stephens State Park. Across Reservoir Road, you will see a Patriots’ Path (PP) post near where the trail resumes.

Follow the co-aligned Patriots’ Path (white) and Highlands Trail into the woods. Cross under power lines and continue uphill over wide switchbacks through woods and along what may be an old dam.   At 1.2 miles from Reservoir Road and 5.4 miles from Stephens, you will come out in a neighborhood at the end of Sparrow Lane, where you will see a PP post with directions for a short road walk.  

Follow Sparrow Lane .1 mile to the end and turn left uphill on Winay Terrace. Follow Winay Terrace .1 mile to the first right on Quail Run. Go about 100 feet on Quail Run to a left turn back onto the trail, which follows the power lines. Still, under the power lines, cross straight over Hunter Road and shortly turn right off the power line corridor. Pass through some brambly woods, come out to the edge of a school field, and follow the edge of the field out to Flocktown Road.

You are now 2.2 miles from Reservoir Road and 6.4 miles from Stephens State Park. Here, the Patriots’ Path route continues straight across a yard and through a narrow strip of woods between houses, but currently, the HT follows a short, .5-mile road walk.

Turn left onto Flocktown Road, then turn at the first right about 100 feet onto Partridge Lane. Follow this down to the end of the road and cross over a low hill that has been planted with Blue Spruce trees into Harrington Park – a large park with sports fields. Turn left and follow the park entrance road out to Rock Road. Across Rock Road, you will see a PP post, and the white blazes resume.

Follow the trail .7 miles through level woods, mostly following pretty flowing streams.  The trail crosses wet areas on planks and crosses the streams several times, sometimes on bridges and sometimes without bridges. You will come out to a small parking area on East Springtown Road, 3.5 miles from Reservoir Road and 7.7 miles from Stephens State Park.

Turn left across a small bridge on E Springtown Road, and then quickly turn right. The trail into Schooley’s Mountain Park begins on the right side of the road behind a small pump house. Follow the trail through fields, past the lower and upper parking lots, and the bathrooms, re-entering the woods 8.1 miles from Stephens State Park.