Nature Walks in New Jersey: Amc Guide To The Best Trails From The Highlands To Cape May

by Glenn Scherer

Overview

Completely revised and updated—and now in a more convenient, compact size—Nature Walks in New Jersey explores more than 45 of the state's most beautiful natural areas. Ideal for families and nature lovers of all ages and abilities, this completely updated second edition leads walkers and hikers from the beaches of Cape May, Sandy Hook, and Holgate to the lush countryside of the Highlands. It even tackles the challenging mountainous terrain of the Appalachian Trail and Palisades. Special features include:

o More than 45 scenic walks for all abilities o New compact size that fits easily into a backpack or waist pack o Locator map and trip highlights chart o Hiking and trail safety tips o Detailed maps showing parking areas, trails, and natural highlights o Difficulty level for each walk o Photographs of plant life and places of interest

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781929173402
Publisher:	Appalachian Mountain Club Books MA
Publication date:	09/01/2003
Series:	AMC Nature Walks Series
Edition description:	Second Edition
Pages:	352
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 7.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Glenn Scherer is an environmental writer, naturalist and author who was born in New Jersey and has spent much of his life there. He has written for many hiking magazines, including Backpacker, Outside, and American Hiker, and writes a monthly column in AMC Outdoors. He now lives in EcoVillage at Ithaca in New York.

Table of Contents

	Acknowledgments	xii
	Introduction	xiii
	Highlights Chart	xxii
	Locator Map	xxviii
	Ridge and Valley Province
Trip 1	Mount Tammany: Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area	1
Trip 2	Raccoon Ridge and Appalachian Trail: AMC Mohican Outdoor Center	9
Trip 3	Millbrook Village and Van Campens Glen: Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area	17
Trip 4	Merrill Creek Reservoir: Merrill Creek Environmental Preserve	24
Trip 5	Paulinskill Valley Trail: Blairstown to Marksboro	32
Trip 6	Sussex Branch Trail: Kittatinny Valley State Park	40
Trip 7	White Cedar Swamp Trail: Dryden Kuser Natural Area, High Point State Park	48
Trip 8	Monument Trail: High Point State Park	56
Trip 9	Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge and Pochuck Swamp	64
	Highlands Province
Trip 10	Pinwheel's Vista and Pochuck Quagmire: Wawayanda State Park	72
Trip 11	Terrace Pond: Wawayanda State Park	79
Trip 12	Bearfort Ridge Fire Tower: Newark Watershed	86
Trip 13	Long Pond Ironworks State Park	94
Trip 14	New Jersey State Botanical Gardens at Skylands	102
Trip 15	Wyanokie High Point: Norvin Green State Forest	109
Trip 16	Four Birds Trail: Splitrock Reservoir and Farny State Park	116
Trip 17	Beaver Brook Trail: Farny Highlands	124
Trip 18	Tripod Rock and Bear Rock: Pyramid Mountain, Morris County Park	132
Trip 19	Black River and Kay Environmental Center: Morris County Park	140
Trip 20	Schooley's Mountain: Morris County Park	148
	Piedmont Province
Trip 21	Great Falls of the Passaic River: Paterson	155
Trip 22	The Palisades, Bombay Hook: Palisades Interstate Park	163
Trip 23	Hackensack Meadowlands: DeKorte State Park	172
Trip 24	Cherry Blossom Time: Branch Brook Park, Newark	180
Trip 25	Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center: Morris County Park	188
Trip 26	Leonard J. Buck Garden: Somerset County Park	195
Trip 27	Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park: Kingston to Rocky Hill	202
	Inner and Outer Coastal Plain Provinces
Trip 28	Holmdel Park and Longstreet Farm: Monmouth County Park	210
Trip 29	Wells Mills: Ocean County Park	218
Trip 30	Pakim Pond: Brendan Byrne State Forest	226
Trip 31	Whitesbog: Brendan Byrne State Forest	234
Trip 32	Dot and Brooks Evert Memorial Nature Trail: New Jersey Conservation Foundation	241
Trip 33	Rancocas Nature Center of the New Jersey Audubon Society: Rancocas State Park	250
Trip 34	Apple Pie Hill Fire Tower: Wharton State Forest	257
Trip 35	Parvin State Park	265
	Atlantic Shore Region
Trip 36	Sandy Hook, Old Dune Trail: Gateway National Recreation Area	272
Trip 37	Cattus Island: Ocean County Park	280
Trip 38	Island Beach State Park	287
Trip 39	Holgate: Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge	294
Trip 40	Cape May Point State Park	301
Appendix A	Useful Names and Addresses	309
Appendix B	Recommended Reading	312
	Alphabetical Listing of Walks	315
	About the Author	317
	About the AMC	319
	Leave No Trace	321
	List of Nature Essays
	Water Gap Geology	8
	Rapture Over Raptors	16
	Fabulous Ferns	39
	Flights of Wonder	47
	Secrets of Sphagnum Moss	55
	The Ridgetop Greengrocer	63
	The Secret Lives of Muskrats	71
	The Buzz on Bees	108
	The 1,500-Mile Miracle	115
	The Return of the Black Bear	123
	Beaver: Born to Build	131
	Late Bloomers: A Riot of Fall Wildflowers	139
	The Amazing Mrs. Kay	147
	Ode to the Great Forest	154
	A Side Trip to the Paterson Museum	162
	Global Disaster or Global Economy: The Threat of Exotic Species	170
	Among the Great Egrets	179
	A National Passion for Flowers	186
	Turtle Talk	194
	Poison Ivy: Our Bane and Nature's Boon	209
	Life Down on the Farm	217
	Fire in the Pines	225
	Pitcher Plants	233
	All About Berries	240
	Pine Barrens Preservation	248
	See Some Seashells	278
	A Look at Black Skimmers	300
	Mysterious Migrations	308

Editorial Reviews

"[Nature Walks in New Jersey] is filled with informative insights into nature that will enhance your experience in New Jersey's outdoors. It is a must-have book to keep in your glove box either for that impromptu walk or a long musing hike."
—The Sunday Star-Ledger

"Appalachian Mountain Club Nature Walks Guides direct readers to myriad natural wonders-wildflower meadows, waterfalls, salt marshes, gardens-for urbanites yearning for adventure in the outdoors."
—Country Living magazine

From the Publisher