This trail goes through the Black River Wildlife Management area along streambeds and forest. Equestrians must have a NJ Wildlife Permit, which is available from NJ DEP for a fee.
The trail follows the right-of-way of the former Chester Branch of the Delaware, Lackawanna, and Western Railroad, from Chester Station to Ironia. The main spine of the
Patriot's Path (white blazes), as well as the Liberty-Water Gap Trail, also follows much of this route.
The trail leads from west to east through Black River WMA on the south side of an extensive wetland sorrounding the Black River. The white blazes of the Patriot's Path depart to the right and ascend to the community of Ironia. Patriot's Path continues east to terminate in West Essex Park in Livingston, and east to Stephens State Park in Hackettstown area. Plans are under way to open the rail bed to Horseshoe Lake Park in Succasunna across water authority property.
Take route 206 to County Road 513 to Main Street. Go west on Oakdale Road. Then right on Pleasant Hill Road. The trailhead is on the left after the driveway of the Hermits of Behlehem.
This seems like an older trail. I covered this on an early Spring day, so no bugs to worry about. It's a quick uninterrupted 4 miles from Pleasant Hill Road to Ironia. It does go through a swampy, wet area and I could imagine it is not so pleasant in ...
The trail, which I accessed from the Chester end, runs by a river there, and has a fine green canopy. However, since my approach was on foot, I was a bit deterred by mud and deep rutting of the trail surface by bicycles, apparently lots of them. The trail ...
Parked at Hillside in Chester, rode the trail to the end (suburbia) and back. I would rate maintenance as "very good" a few fallen trees but the cinder was in good shape. Nice traditional rail-trail scenery. Was glad to have doused myself with bug repellent ...