Little Fall’s Morris Canal Preserve!
Morris Canal Preserve
Welcome to Little Fall’s Morris Canal Preserve!
Map of Little Fall’s Morris Canal Preserve
Walking on Little Falls Main Street, few people would suspect that a preserved woodland and forested floodplain is located behind the stores.
Passaic River Basalt
The Morris Canal Preserve is located right above the Passaic River. The river rushes by on fractured basalt . The preserve features a gentle paved path which traverses the edge between the developed landscape of Little Falls and the remnant forested floodplain of the Passaic River.
Gazebo Morris Canal Preserve
The paved path leads from a beautiful gazebo and heads in a southwest direction to its terminus near an outflow from the Passaic Valley Water Company.
Outflow
You might be tempted to think that Little Falls was named after these views, but the real falls were eliminated late in the 18th century to relieve upstream flooding of the Passaic River.
The path features checkerboards, basalt rocks of the second Watchung Mountain and beautiful views along the way.
Basalt Rock
Morris Canal
Morris Canal Crossed Here Passaic County
A portion of the 102 mile Morris Canal flowed over the Passaic River via an aquaduct created in 1829 of local Little Falls Brownstone.
Morris Canal Passage Little Falls (Red Line)
The Morris Canal was an artificial waterway which connected the coal fields of Pennsylvania’s LeHigh Valley to Paterson, Newark & New York City. Successful at first, railroads eventually replaced the need for the canal. After falling into disrepair, the Aqueduct was dynamited to the ground in 1925.
Flora
Canada Mayflower
Typical examples of flora found along the Morris Canal Preserve include:
Want to learn more about the high diversity of plant life found in the Garden State? Check out Plant Communities of New Jersey.
NJ’s geology, topography and soil, climate, plant-plant and plant-animal relationships, and the human impact on the environment are all discussed in great detail. Twelve plant habitats are described and the authors were good enough to put in examples of where to visit!
Click here for more information!
Directions: (as taken from the NYNJCT Botany Website)
From Route 80 westbound, get off at the Union Avenue exit and bear left to follow Union Avenue for about one mile into Little Falls. Turn left at the light onto Main Street and then go about five blocks looking for Maple Street and Schumacher Chevrolet on the left. Turn left down Maple and continue as for the bus directions.
Alternative route by car: From Rt. 46 westbound, get off at the Great Notch/Cedar Grove exit. Bear left and follow overpass over Route 46 on to Notch Road. At the end of Notch Road turn right at the light onto Long Hill Road. Proceed on Long Hill Road for about one mile where it becomes Main Street. At Schumacher Chevrolet, turn right onto Maple Street and then follow the directions as for the bus. Look for the brick sign for the preserve on the left.
By public transportation: Take NJ TRANSIT 191/195 bus that leaves the Port Authority Bus Terminal, NY (check schedule prior to the trip) and get off on Main Street in downtown Little Falls at the corner of Maple Street Turn right on Maple and walk one block to entrance to the preserve parking lot on the left.
Morris Canal Preserve Forest
Feel free to e-mail NJUrbanForest at NJUrbanForest@gmail.com with any comments, memories or suggestion! Thank you and have fun exploring!
Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve!
Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve
Welcome to a virtual tour of the Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve!
Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve
The preserve consists of the Haledon Reservoir and its watershed land which was purchased by the Borough of Franklin Lakes in 2006 from the Borough of Haledon for $6.5 million using funding from Green Acres and the Bergen County Open Space Fund. The preserve was open to the public in June of 2011.
Haldeon Reservoir
The 75 acre Haledon Reservoir is the centerpiece of the Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve and is an extremely popular fishing spot. The reservoir, created from the impoundment of the Molly Ann Brook in 1919, provided water to Haledon, North Haledon and Prospect Park. The Molly Ann Brook is the last tributary of the Passaic River before the Great Falls in Paterson.
Trails
Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve Trail Map
The Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve features 2 hiking trails. Access is available from Ewing Avenue, a small parking lot off of High Mountain Road and from nearby High Mountain Park Preserve’s Red Trail via Reservoir Drive and crossing High Mountain Road.
Shoreline Loop Trail
The main trail is the 1.5 mile white blazed Shoreline Loop Trail which encircles the entire Haledon Reservoir.
Shoreline Loop Trailhead on Haledon Reservoir Dam
Starting from the parking area, the trail heads over the dam separating the Haledon Reservoir from the small pond to the south. The trail follows alongside the reservoir and near High Mountain Road and Ewing Avenue.
Island Bridges Trail
The western portion of the Island Bridges trail is accessible near where the Shoreline Loop Trail passes by Waterview Drive.
High Mountain as seen from the Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve
Beautiful views of the Haledon Reservoir with High Mountain visible can be seen from this area. After exploring the western section of the Island Bridges Trail (as of October 2012 the Island Bridge Trail is incomplete. Bridges are scheduled to be installed sometime in early 2013 which will connect the eastern and western sections of this trail for a total of about a half a mile in length) head back to the Shoreline Loop trail which will briefly exit the Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve near an outflow from a neighboring swamp.
Preserve Shoreline Trail Molly Ann Brook Crossing
Once the Shoreline Loop Trail enters back into the preserve, the trail crosses the Molly Ann Brook over a wooden bridge. Frogs can be heard (and sometimes seen) splashing into the water here during the warmer months.
From here, the Shoreline Loop Trail heads east near a church and near the High Mountain Golf Club which is visible through the trees.
High Mountain Golf Course
Along the way, the trail comes across a basalt beach.
Basalt Beach
Basalt was formed when molten lava extruded out of the earth’s surface and cooled rapidly. Basalt is found in nearby High Mountain Park Preserve which is situated on the 2nd Watchung Mountain Range. Once pass the basalt beach, the trail turns south. The eastern section of the island bridges trail is accessible from this point.
Island Bridges Trail
Island Bridges Trail (East)
After exploring the eastern section of the island bridges trail, head back to the Shoreline Loop trail and continue south until the trail terminates near a picnic area in a pine grove near where the trail began.
Preserve Shoreline Loop Trailend
NYNJ Trail Conference has blazed and will maintain these trails. A trail map of the Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve is available on the NYNJ Trail Conference website here.
Flora
Flora found at the Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve includes the below among others:
American Beech
Gray Birch
Paper Birch
Skunk Cabbage
Trout Lily
Fauna
Fauna that I’ve spotted at the Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve includes:
Palm Warbler
Canada Goose
Canada Goose Eggs
American Robin
Tufted Titmouse
Cedar Waxwing
- Eastern Chipmunk
Directions
This preserve is a great place to explore and just relax. Directions are listed below (as taken from the NYNJ Trail Conference Website)
Take N.J. Route 208 to the Ewing Avenue exit in Franklin Lakes. Turn left at the end of the ramp (if coming from the west, turn right) and continue for about two miles until Ewing Avenue ends at High Mountain Road. Turn left onto High Mountain Road and continue past a lake and a smaller pond on the left. In 0.5 mile, at the end of the smaller pond, you will see a small brown sign for the Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve on the left. Turn left into a driveway, passing old reservoir buildings on the right, then turn left again at a sign for parking and continue to a parking area just below the dam.
Note: Part of the preserve, including the entrance and parking, is in North Haledon (Passaic County). The address for the preserve is 1196 High Mountain Road, North Haledon, N.J. 07508
Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve
Feel free to e-mail NJUrbanForest at NJUrbanForest@gmail.com with any comments, memories or suggestion! Thank you and have fun exploring!
Welcome to Essex County Mills Reservation!
Welcome to the Mills Reservation
Welcome to Essex County’s Mills Reservation County Park! Mills reservation, located primarily in Cedar Grove, NJ became a part of the Essex County Park system in 1954 due to a donation from the Davella Mills foundation which had previously owned the land.
Mills Reservation County Park
The reservation consists of deciduous woodland and wetlands with the only development consisting of a small parking lot located off of Normal Avenue and the development of an excellent trail system. Parking is also available on Old Quarry Road near the southern entrance to the reserve. Mills Reservation has Normal Avenue to the north, Montclair’s Mountain Side Park to the east, Reservoir Drive & the Cedar Grove Reservoir to the west and Old Quarry Road to the south.
Originally an estimated 119 acres, Mills Reservation’s total acreage was brought to 157 acres through a land swap in Newark between the years 1962 and 1967.
Geology
Volcanic Basalt
Mills Reservation is located on the 1st Watchung Mountain. The word “Watchung” is of Native American origin and means “high hill”. The rock which forms the Watchungs is known as basalt which formed when molten lava extruded out of the earth’s surface and cooled rapidly.
Mysterious Normal Avenue Purple Box Information
Emerald Ash Borer Detector
Visitors who park in the Normal Avenue parking lot may notice a strange purple box hanging from a White Ash Tree. This purple box has been placed to detect the presence of the Emerald Ash Borer, a non-native destructive pest from Asia which threatens all ash trees. The mature emerald ash borer does not pose a threat. It is the larva of these borers which eat away at the heartwood of ash trees. The color purple attracts the emerald ash borer. Once the insect lands on the box they become trapped on the sticky surface.
Trails
Mills Reservation Trail Map
Mills Reservation features 7 trails totaling 6.1 miles (with several trails overlapping in sections). The main trail is known as the 1.5 mile Mills Loop Trail which consists of a large gravel road.
Mills Reservation Loop
This is the most popular trail in Mills Reservation and you are almost guaranteed to come across people walking their dogs no matter what the weather.
Dog near Mills Reservation Loop
The other six trails (including a portion of the estimated 34 mile Essex County Lenape Trail) found throughout Mills Reservation also offer the chance to explore deep into this wooded forest island.
Reservoir Trail Blaze
- Reservoir Trail (Red Blazes, 1 Mile) heads west from the Normal Avenue Parking Lot and follows the western border of Mills Reservation near Reservoir Drive. Seasonal peaks of the City of Newark owned Cedar Grove Reservoir may be seen to the west of the trail. The Reservoir trail ends where the southern section of the Eastview Trail begins.
Eastview Trail
- Eastview Trail (Blue Blazes, 1.1 Miles) Southern portion of this trail begins near the Old Quarry Road entrance to Mills Reservation and, as the name implies, heads east to Quarry Point before turning north on the eastern portion of the reserve. Quarry Points contains volcanic basalt outcrops in addition to a very old cement platform where anti-aircraft guns were installed during World War II.
Quarry Point Ruins
Quarry Points offers great views of NYC and is considered one of the highlights of Mills Reservation. NJ Audubon Society hosts their Spring Hawk count at Quarry Point due to the great views.
Manhattan View from Quarry Point
The Eastview Trail’s northern terminus is the Normal Avenue parking lot.
Woodland Trail Trailhead
- Woodland Trail (Purple Blaze .8 of a mile) The northern portion of this trail is accessible off of the red blazed Reservoir trail near the Normal Avenue parking lot. This trail traverses down the heart of Mills Reservation heading in a mostly southwest direction before turning southeast to end near Quarry Point near the Eastview and Lenape Trail.
Welcome to the Lenape Trail
- Lenape Trail- is accessible from the Normal Avenue parking lot via the .1 of a mile Lenape Link Trail (Yellow on White Blazes) which heads west from the Normal Avenue parking lot to connect with the Lenape Trail which enters Mills Reservation from the northwest.
Lenape Trail Connector to Lenape Trail
The Lenape Trail then heads southwest crossing through the Reservoir Trail, Mills Loop Trail and the Woodland Trail before turning south to cross the Woodland Trail and Mills Loop Trail again. Once the Lenape Trail crosses the Woodland and Mills Loop Trail, it heads east to briefly meet with the Eastview Trail where it then turns east to Quarry Point. From Quarry Point the Lenape Trail heads north paralleling the Eastview Trail before turning east into Montclair’s Mountainside Park on its way to Newark.
- Mills Gate Trail (Orange Blaze .1 of a mile) is a side loop of the Mills Reservation Loop and can be accessed from the eastern border of Mills Reservation. The trail goes through the original and once primary entrance of Mills Reservation.
Original Entry into Mills Reservation
Flora
Mills Reservation contains an interesting array of native flora including:
Gray Birch
American Beech
Chestnut Oak
Check out Plant Communities of New Jersey.
NJ’s geology, topography and soil, climate, plant-plant and plant-animal relationships, and the human impact on the environment are all discussed in great detail. Twelve plant habitats are described and the authors were good enough to put in examples of where to visit!
Click here for more information!
- Directions: (As taken from NYNJCT Botany)
Take the Garden State Parkway south to exit 151 (Watchung Avenue in Montclair). Turn west from the exit ramp onto Watchung Avenue. Drive about two miles until the road ends at Upper Mountain Avenue. Turn north and go 1.7 miles to the traffic light at Normal Avenue. Turn west and drive 0.3 miles to the entrance on the left.
Feel free to e-mail NJUrbanForest at NJUrbanForest@gmail.com with any comments, memories or suggestion! Thank you and have fun exploring!
- Resources
1. 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: New York City: Including northern New Jersey, southwestern Connecticut, and western Long Island – Packed with valuable tips and humorous observations, the guide prepares both novices and veterans for the outdoors. From secluded woods and sun-struck seashores, to lowland swamps and rock-strewn mountain tops, this practical guidebook contains all the information needed to have many great hikes in and around New York City.
Click here for more information!
2. Take a Hike New York City: 80 Hikes within Two Hours of Manhattan – In Moon Take a Hike New York City, award-winning writer Skip Card shows you the best hikes in and around The Big Apple—all within two hours of the city.
Click here for more information!
3. Eastern Deciduous Forest, Second Edition: Ecology and Wildlife Conservation – This book is a useful tool for anyone who wants to know or hopes to help one of North America’s great natural resources.
Click here for more information!
4. Protecting New Jersey’s Environment: From Cancer Alley to the New Garden State – With people as its focus, Protecting New Jersey’s Environment explores the science underpinning environmental issues and the public policy infighting that goes undocumented behind the scenes and beneath the controversies.
Click here for more information!
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