Trail Conditions Forum

Mud? Ice? High water at stream crossings?

This is the place to let the trail community know what you encountered, where and when (be as precise as possible). Suggestion: Make the trail or park name your subject.

To report serious trail problems that need Trail Conference attention, including illegal trail use issues, visit our Contact Us page. Problems reported through our Contact Us page get to the maintainers fast and reliably. Problems reported on the forum below may help fellow trail users avoid problem areas until they get fixed, but not all maintainers read this regularly.

 

banjolady's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 07/06/2016 - 8:26pm
make sure you tell bus driver you want to get off at river road --you will see sign for turning point church. north of anchor monument. big parking lot on left--2 parking lots--use these coords in google maps and you will see exactly where it is...  you can also show driver your harriman map and show where trail head is--parking lot is just a bit north of trailhead 41.281116, -73.962951   https://sites.google.com/site/newyorkareahikemeetingplaces/   this is also useful  
joerichkus's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 07/06/2016 - 8:36pm
Thanks again.  This helps me to rest easy.  I've been a bit worried about having to start from Bear Mountain, if the driver doesn't stop,  which will add several hours to the whole hike and I want to be able to catch the 4:09pm train back to Hoboken from Tuxedo, the following day rather than wait for the next one which is around 10:45 at night.  Judging from my timing and pace on the SBM traverse I did a couple of years ago, which is about the same total distance, I believe I can do that, as long as I can start it at Jones Point. 
Michael K7's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 07/06/2016 - 7:39pm
I've used the bus twice to get to the Jones Point area, and the first time, the driver had no idea where i wanted to get off, and ended up letting me off at the parking area by the Cornell Mine Trail. The second time, i wanted to get off at the trailhead for the 1777 Trail, and the driver ended up letting me off by the Anchor Monument, which is closer to the R-D. In other words, you can't count on the driver to know where to let you off, although maybe you'll get lucky, and have a driver who is familiar with the area. I would ask to be let off at the Anchor Monument, since that is a visible landmark, and a short distance from the R-D. I can't answer your second question about water, but if it were me, i'd rather carry extra water and deal with the weight, than to find myself dehydrated with no refill spots for miles. 
joerichkus's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 07/06/2016 - 8:16pm
THanks Michael.  I'll show the bus driver on my Harriman map where I want to get off if he or she doesn't already know.  THanks for pointing this out.  I know the bus stops in Suffern for a bit and I can show them there.  I took this bus when I did the SBM traverse a couple of years ago.  THanks also for the water tip.  I'll start off carrying 4 liters.  I'm doing this hike for the enjoyment of it but also trying out a new backpack before doing a backpack hike up in the western ADK High Peaks at the end of this month, and weighing it down more will be part of the test.  
banjolady's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 06/21/2016 - 10:39pm
today we noticed some smoke from a fire near island pond south end. i called the rangers to report. hard to tell if it was a brush fire or campfire. didnt see any flames but definitely smelled smoke.  i am sure i am preaching to the choir here but the woods are very dry now and any kind of fire could be dangerous and butn up a lot of the parkland. the green is beaitiful, lets not have blackened and burned vegetation to look at....
jbeard's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 06/09/2016 - 9:31pm
I walked today along the paved road into a camp at the north end of Breakneck Pond (maybe Camp Lanowa) in order to find the unblazed trail that climbs up to the Breakneck Mountain Trail. The camp was full of workers, including an AMC trail maintenance crew, and it looks as if all the sad old cabins have been demolished and replaced by brand new structures. Someone has invested a lot of money here. All the work--including new roads within the camp, and clearings around the cabins--made it difficult to find the beginning of the trail, which starts next to Cabin 218.
hiker4414's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 06/10/2016 - 10:57am
is putting $1,000,000 plus into renovations. You will likely find the camp and the entire lake and the trails posted with "private area" signs soon. Bring a high limit credit card along if you want to visit. You'll have to register in advance I'm sure. Sad situation.
banjolady's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 06/16/2016 - 3:48am
yes i think you may be right about that. some amc members are trying to find out exactly what will be the policies around this camp and whether our happy days of enjoying the area are now over.  what we have heard so far is that AMC leaders leading day hikes for dues paying AMC members are not allowed to swim at the camp or even stop for lunch without a reservation with the boston AMC HQ. not only that but members are being asked to contribute volunteer labor to the camp at work parties.... members have yet to get a definitive written statement from the NY chapter leaders regarding these policies. there was a tour of the camp for AMC leaders a week or so ago and one of the attendees reported that the AMC has leased the entire lakeshore and will build a trail all around the lake with "backcountry" campsites. right now they are doing all they can to get the camp ready for opening day july 1. hopefully we will still have access to other areas of the lake not in the actual camp until they get this trail done which may take a while. so even if you bring your high limit credit card it may not work if you have not made an advance reservation with AMC Boston corporate HQ!!!  not sure what any of us can do about this until we get clear statements of facts regarding the policies...
PVPatrick's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 07/11/2016 - 10:29am
40 year lease. AMC pays $10k per year. Tax payers footed the bill($500,000) for a new water system.  Rentals run from $18 to $400 per night. AMC paid $1.5 million to ugrade buildings and grounds. Over 40 years even the cost of the water upgrades won't be covered by the annual fee to the park. I wonder if there was competitive bidding on this,or just a gift to the AMC?
matthewcat's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 06/05/2016 - 8:50am
Is there a way to report trails that are not shown on current maps to be shown on the next updated map set?   Across the street from the Echo Lake Office is a woods road which is not shown on the North Jersey Map set.   Also, in Back Beach Park (Wanaque), there is a maze of trails, maybe a map insert could be included in the next version since there are trails running within 50 feet of each other.
Jeremy Apgar's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 06/07/2016 - 12:00pm

Posting here is one way to report map items like this, or on the other applicable pages on our site (for instance, the North Jersey map set product page or Pequannock Watershed park page).

In general, our maps attempt to show all routes on the ground, including unmaintained woods roads and trail.  As Estelle alludes to below, we do work closely with park managers and others to review whether any routes should not be shown.  So I have made note of this for us to consider with the next map update.

For Back Beach Park, which only includes one officially marked trail that connects to Ramapo Mountain State Forest, there isn't quite enough justification to produce a special inset map for the maze of unmarked trails and social paths.

Thank you for the suggestions, and certainly feel free to provide input about the maps in the future!

~Jeremy
TC Cartographer

Estelle's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 06/05/2016 - 10:37am
The unmarked trail is not a maintained trail nor is a Trail Conference Trail.   Our maps do show dotted lines for unmarked trails or woods roads that are near our marked trails.  This trail should not be shown as it does not connect to any of our trails and in some places abuts private property.  Also, a City of Newark permit would be required to access that property.  There are miles of marked trails available for the public to hike.    I can't answer about Back Beach, but again, posting many dotted lines would serve to only confuse a hiker who will then call for help to find their way back.  We generally show marked and maintained trails.  It's important that hikers be kept on marked trails.  If you like exploring these, suggest you carry a compass and a flash light and have an appropriate permit if on Newark property. Estelle Anderson  co-chair Central North Jersey Trails 
Michael K7's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 05/26/2016 - 9:33pm
Hiked the Long Path from Mt Ivy to Dunning Trail/Bald Rocks yesterday, and over all the trail is in great shape. However there is MAJOR construction going on at the point where the LP crosses a gas pipeline in Cheesecote Mt Town Park. I was barely able to cross the construction zone, and if they add the next section of pipe (a large green pipe or tube), passing at that point will not be feasble. I don't how much time passes before they bury the pipe sections after they are added, but while the pipe is above ground, a detour will be necessary. Perhaps the TC can find out how long this construction is expected to last, how long it wil affect this crossing, and put up a warning on the trail alerts page. I would hate to see someone's hike get ruined because they were unaware of this construction and any necessary detours.
jakobfranke's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 05/27/2016 - 10:00am
  Thanks for the heads up. Notes have been posted in Trail Alerts and in Section 5 of the online Long Path Guide. Jakob
Michael K7's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 05/27/2016 - 3:02pm
Thanks for the quick updates. Hopefully it won't be too long before they get this section of pipe connected and buried, so normal crossing can resume.
ianhoch's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 05/17/2016 - 10:50am
I submitted a trail problem report #11355 on 4/25/2016 but I am unaware of its status. In any case, on 4/24/2016 I observed that bridge / dam over Third River (in Clarks Pond Park) is closed, rupturing the Lenape Trail. (Clark's Pond Park is located in Bloomfield, after turning off of Clair Street, the trail is routed through Clarks Pond Park, over Third River to Bessida Street.) Status and/or recommended alternatives would both be appreciated.
slabelson's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 04/27/2016 - 7:14pm
Does anyone know how bad the Hornbecks Creek Trail is between the Upper and Lower Indian Ladder Falls? The trail is just north of the Pocono Environmental Education Center, and the Natl. Park Service says that the section between the falls is washed out, etc. Is it impassable? Thanks.
Jeremy Apgar's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 04/28/2016 - 10:32am

We are currently working on an update to our Kittatinny Trails map set, which covers this area, and we are working with National Park Service staff to resolve various items with the map update.  The condition of the Hornbecks Creek Trail is one of those items, but we do not yet have an answer.  This middle section of the trail is still officially closed by the park, so it should be avoided until it has been reopened.

~Jeremy
TC Cartographer

jbeard's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 04/25/2016 - 4:55pm
We wanted to take the Sterling ridge trail from Long Pond Ironworks up to the Lake-to-Lake trail, but the stream just north of the ironworks was too fast-flowing to cross safely. Will the bridge that was once there ever be replaced?  This site has had no update since January 2015.  Thwarted, we drove up Sloatsburg road and parked in Ringwood Manor. We wanted to take a white trail--I think it is the Crossover--to reach the Cooper Union trail on the other side of the road. the footbridge over the brook just before the road was blocked with 2X4s nailed to the bridge and 2 traffic cones. We climbed over the barrier and the bridge seemed fine. It held up on the way back, too. I could not see why it was closed.
Jeremy Apgar's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 04/25/2016 - 7:30pm

1. The Sterling Ridge Trail/Highlands Trail bridge across the Wanaque River has been out since 2011, when Hurricane Irene swept through the area.  The Trail Conference has been working closely with NJ State Parks to replace this bridge, and due to several factors including the length of the bridge, it has been a significant undertaking.  Progress is being made, so we hope in the near future to be able to provide a better timeframe of when this bridge may be completed.

2.  The Crossover Trail bridge was closed around 2014 due to being in poor condition, and the park closed that section of trail between Sloatsburg Road and Ringwood Manor.  The park's hope was to reopen that short section once the bridge had been rebuilt, but this has not yet occurred.  Alternative ways to reach the Cooper Union Trail include the Shepherd Lake or Skylands Manor parking lots, or roadside parking along Morris Avenue at the bridge where the Crossover Trail crosses.

~Jeremy
TC Cartographer