3 Pools Trail (Blue)
The 3 Pools Trail is a short trail that connects the white-blazed Main Trail to the red-blazed Riverside Trail in the southern portion of the Park. For those wishing to avoid walking the rocky shore of the Black River, this is the link to the Main Trail.
Length: 0.2 mi.Usage: Hiking, Biking, Equestrian, Strollers
Terrain: Rocky, Stonedust, Hilly, Flat
Park(s): Hacklebarney State Park
Grove Street: Paved Trail
The outer loop is 0.4 miles and there are several internal paved trails to vary the scenery.
Length: 0.4 mi.Usage: Biking, Strollers
Terrain: Paved
Park(s): Grove Street Park
Haki Trail (Gray)
This trail connects the Riverside and Main trails in the center of the trail system and also connects with the Wintershine Trail at the eastern end. It gradually ascends 150 feet on a wide gravel path.
Usage: Hiking, Biking, Equestrian, StrollersTerrain: Stonedust, Hilly
Park(s): Hacklebarney State Park
Kay: Orange Trail
The Orange Trail travels through all the ecosystems – meadow, forest, and river gorge - on easy footing. There is little elevation change around the Center, more elevation changes closer to the Gorge. Starting 600 feet south of the parking area on the Patriots Path, the Orange Trail traverses the meadow, passes a Yellow Trail junction in 800 feet, then enters forest and passes a second junction with the Yellow Trail in 0.35 mile. The trail then descends, passes a junction with the Red Trail on left at 0.55 mile and continues downhill until a junction with the Patriots Path at .85 mile. Here the trail turns left downhill (as the Patriots Path continues straight), crosses the Green Trail in a few yards and reaches the Black River at 1 mile. The trail divides here: turning left, it is co-blazed with the Green Trail and follows the eastern shore of the River on a wide gravel path for 500 feet, then turns sharply left uphill and in a few yards ends at a junction with the Green Trail. A few yards beyond this turn is an excellent view of one of the river cascades. Turning back, the Trail crosses the River on a wide wooden bridge and follows a well-graded woods road to the right and uphill, curving around to meet the River again, ending at the ruins of the stone cottage, dam and swimming hole.
Length: 1.5 mi.Terrain: Hilly, Flat, Gravel Path
Park(s): Kay Environmental Center
Kay: White Trail
The trail starts 0.1 mile north of the parking lot off the Blue Spur, goes through forest to connect twice with Yellow Trail, and affords the opportunity for the shortest loop hike around the Center.
Length: 0.33 mi.Usage: Hiking, Equestrian
Terrain: Flat Grass, Gravel Path
Park(s): Kay Environmental Center
Kay: Yellow Trail
The path travels a loop connecting the Orange Trail and Patriots Path. Starting 800 feet from the Orange Trail origin near the entrance road, the trail traverses a meadow, crosses the White Trail junction in 800 feet, then enters the woods. It briefly intersects the Patriots Path and then loops back south, past old stone ruins and the White Trail junction, ending back at the Orange Trail.
Length: 0.7 mi.Usage: Hiking, Equestrian
Terrain: Gravel Path
Park(s): Kay Environmental Center
Main Trail (White)
This trail is the most accessible trail in the Park, leading gently downhill from the parking lot kiosk; it is paved for the first 0.4 mile, and then an easy gravel-dirt surface. In 150 feet it passes stone stairs to the Riverside Trail, then comes to a junction with the purple-blazed 3 Pools Trail at 0.2 mile, and then to the Rock Grove junction on left at 0.25 mile. It ascends slightly to a picnic area at the junction with the green-blazed Playground Trail at 0.3 mile, and descends past the first junction with the yellow-blazed Windy Ridge Trail on the right at 0.4 mile. The blue blazed Haki Trail junction on the left at 0.4 mile marks the end of the paved section. The trail continues on a dirt/gravel surface, past a junction with the blue-blazed 3 Pools Trail on the left at 0.5 mile, and reaches the end at 0.7 mile at the junction with the Windy Ridge and Riverside Trails.
Length: 0.7 mi.Usage: Hiking, Biking, Equestrian, Strollers
Terrain: Stonedust, Hilly, Flat, Paved
Park(s): Hacklebarney State Park
Playground Trail (Green)
The trail starts 0.1 mile west of the parking area, along the park entrance road and is a woods road with gentle grading. It ascends for a short distance and passes a junction with the Pink Trail In 300 feet, then levels out and passes a second junction with the Pink Trail at 0.1 mile. At 0.3 mile an unmarked trail joins from the right and in a few yards leads to the pink-blazed Upland Trail loop. Now descending, the Trail ends in 0.4 mile at a picnic and playground area at the junction with the Yellow and White trails.
Length: 0.35 mi.Usage: Hiking, Biking, Equestrian, Strollers
Terrain: Stonedust, Hilly, Flat
Park(s): Hacklebarney State Park
Rock Grove Trail (Unblazed)
The trail begins 0.5 miles from parking lot kiosk and is unblazed but signed; in 0.1 mile is a picnic area in a pleasant clearing.
Length: 0.1 mi.Usage: Hiking
Terrain: Flat
Park(s): Hacklebarney State Park
Taylor Walking Path
The Taylor Walking Path is a paved path around the pond at Chubb Park, measuring 0.25 miles around the loop. Many walk here for exercise, and complete 4 laps to complete a mile. The path is flat and fully accessible, as is the access path from the parking area which includes several handicapped parking spots. The Taylor Walking Path is named for Len and Lois Taylor. Len was president and founding member of the Chester Historical Society (CHS) and a Chester Township councilman. He and his wife Lois worked tirelessly to carry out the CHS mission of preservation, information, and education of Chester’s history.
Length: .25 mi.Usage: Strollers
Terrain: Flat, Paved
Park(s):
Waterfall Trail (Purple)
Starting across the bridge from the junction with the red-blazed Riverside Trail 0.4 mile from the parking lot, the trail turns right uphill to connect with the white-blazed Main Trail in 0.1 mile (at the bridge crossing, to the left is a short trail to the top of the waterfall).
Length: 0.1 mi.Usage: Hiking, Biking, Equestrian, Strollers
Terrain: Stonedust, Hilly
Park(s): Hacklebarney State Park
West Morris Greenway
Parking area at trailhead on Pleasant Hill Road in Chester; informational kiosk on site. This trailhead is the start of a straight, flat, 5-mile trail that parallels the Black River and connects Pleasant Hill Road with Randolph’s Horseshoe Lake Recreational Area. Trail is best for mountain bikes rather than road bikes due to many ruts, rocks, and roots along the trail. A scout project involved installation of mileposts every 0.25 miles, though some have fallen. Lots of activity during hunting season; be aware of hunting dates and wear orange for safety.
Length: 5.0 mi.Usage: Hiking, Biking, Equestrian
Terrain: Stonedust, Flat
Park(s): Black River Wildlife Management Area