Hike Reviews
May 09, 2017
Hiked Spring 2017
Good Hike and very neat description provided. However few changes at the last portion of the hike due to changed trail marking.
Let me try to compile this - where the trail description says "The trail continues high above the river, with views of the river below through the trees. In another 0.4 mile, you’ll reach a T-intersection with a wide dirt road.". Just after the last turn in around 100 feet you will see one green marking going downhill and red blazes going uphill on right. I will name this as point "X". This one got me confused as I have not covered 0.4 miles and realized the problem much later. You should continue on the red blazes going uphill and at the next T-intersection you should turn left and follow Light Orange Blaze until the next intersection where you should continue the light orange and blue blaze. Then you can follow the remaining trail description.
Alternatively from the Point X (mentioned above) you can follow the green blazes going downhill. This green trail will level with the river and again climb back to give a view of the river from top. In around 0.5 mile it will reach a wide path intersection with yellow blazes. you should continue straight on the Green trail and in around 600 ft you will reach intersection with blue trail. Turn left and follow the blue trail to return to the parking.
The GPS co-ordinate will take you half mile from the actual parking. The old closed bridge is there, you can park start your hike here by entering the closed bridge over black river, and you will cut short the trail by 2 miles round trip. This one make you start at end of Kay Pond. Rather follow the trail head description. From the GPS location continue straight until you reach route 5. turn right on route 5 and you can see the old mill on your right.
September 25, 2016
Hiked this today
<p>Printed out the directions and parked next to the Grist Mill (very cool by the way). Start off was easy but I felt the trail marking could have been better/more frequent. Directions were spot on but I admit I got a bit lost at this part "</p>
<p><span style="color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.16px; background-color: #edefd9;">Pass just to the left of the Environmental Center (note a Patriots' Path blaze on a tree to the left of a fence) and continue on the blue-blazed Bamboo Brook Trail. The trail follows a wide grassy path between fields and continues on a grassy woods road. It turns left at a T-intersection, then bears right to join the paved entrance road. It continues along the road for a quarter mile, then turns right onto Pottersville Road. "</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.16px; background-color: #ffffff;">Eventually I was spit out on someones farm on Pottersvill road and decided to walk down a bit to see if I could pick up the trail. Was able to find it and was fine. I will say that part of the trail, as well as the first 3rd or so of the red trail were poorly maintained and very narrow (and few markers). I can see in the fall losing the trail will be quite easy especially with the switchbacks. It's about 12 - 18 inches wide at points. Covered with leaves you won't see it. Anyway, great trail overall, nice and easy. Did it in about 2 hours (the 6.4 mile one). Only negative besides some of the trail conditions and markings is that the first part (1.3 miles or so) you hear a lot of road traffic so the purist in me wasn't crazy about it. Beautiful overall tho. I would hike this again. </span></p>
September 07, 2013
Update - September 2013
<p>Hiked this trail today - all trees are cleared except for one very small spot. This is a wonderful hike!</p>
June 16, 2013
Black River/Bamboo Brook Loop update
<p>Hiked a 3.7mi loop from Kay Center 6.16.13. Started out from Kay on the blue-blazed Bamboo Brook Trail to its intersection with red-blazed Conifer Pass Trail. There were a couple of instances of trees across the trail, easily navigable but for the most part the trail is now usable without having to detour. Good hike.</p>
March 04, 2013
Black River/Bamboo Brook Loop: Caution
<p>Hiked this trail March3, 2013 The Blue Blazed Black River Trail is still blocked by large trees, but with some effort these can be climbed over. The hike route is then fine all the way past the Kay Center and onto Pottersville Rd. After turning left off of Pottersville Rd and entering the woods you will encounter annoying blow-downs, but these still can be circumvented. However, after crossing back over Pottersville Rd and following the Conifer Pass Trail past Cedar Brook, your troubles begin. The once beautiful grove of trees is now a tangle of blow-downs which cover the trail. This part of the trail may have to be re-routed, as the trees are huge and lying everywhere. We lost the trail and only found it again after much bush-wacking. After that the trail leads to the river. If you get this far, you are rewarded with a beautiful hike the rest of the way along the river.</p>
November 15, 2012
Many huge trees block this trail after Hurricane Sandy
<p>I hiked this trail on Nov. 12, 2012. The blue-blaxed trail had several large trees blocking it not far after the pond and dam. Ditto with the red-blazed Conifer Pass trail. Many pine trees were covering the trail.</p>
November 11, 2011
Hike description has been corrected
<P>I have rehiked the trails and edited the description. The confusion that Kitcat282 encountered was due to a misleading comment in the description, which has been corrected. The revised directions should lead you back to the start without making the detour to the bridge.</P>
March 19, 2011
Great Hike
<p>Wonderful hike, but the last turn was a bit confusing and we ended up making the mistake of going down the hill to the bridge. When you see the green trail veer left after 75 feet (see above) you want to take the trail to the right, immediately opposite of the green trail. Enjoy!!</p>
November 08, 2010
Fantastic hike along the Black River...not too many ascents
We took two rambunctious kids (ages 6 & 7) on this hike on November 7, 2010. It was a very pleasant walk along the Black River, which has its share of dams, stone ruins, railroadiana and natural roaring rapids. There were also a few unmarked trails that followed the Black River and we climbed over several fallen trees with ease.
There was only one steep and rocky section of this hike along the red-blazed Conifer Pass Trail, but we were rewarded with a peaceful stroll through a sizeable pine tree forest on our descent.
Please note that permits are no longer required from Morris County to hike these trails.
It was a wonderful day out in an area surrounded by so much suburban development just past the park!