Take Route 206 to Chester then take Route 513 west for two miles until you reach Morris County Park Commission's Cooper Mill on the left. Park in the lot adjacent to the mill complex.
"Since bicycles are prohibited from all sections of the Black River County Park trail system, I decided to experience this trail by walking the one-mile trail segment from historic Cooper Mill to Chubb Park (both located on Route 513 in Chester).
Cooper Mill’s Visitors Center is equipped with excellent public parking, restroom facilities, and many historical interpretation markers. The trail to Chubb Park begins here at a tunnel that safely carries pedestrians under busy Route 513, and heads northeast towards US Route 206.
Trail surface conditions were very rocky and uneven in some spots, but in others quite typical of what you’d expect to find on a rail trail (flat and obstacle-free). The scenery along this short stretch was very pleasing; views of the Black River, some heavily wooded areas, the backs of expensive homes, and a well maintained recreational field complex.
The majority of Black River County Park lies south of Route 513. The former railroad right-of-way incorporated into the trail system here is located adjacent to Cooper Mill and heads south for about one mile. I walked for a few hundred feet on this stretch and noted that the surface was flat and dry, but unfortunately lined with many tree roots and rocks.
I would highly recommend this trail to sure-footed hikers/walkers seeking a location that offers a history lesson as well as a nice place to get some exercise."
" This trail is part of the Morris County Patriots' Path System. It runs near the Black River from the Cooper Mill on Rte 24 and after a mile rurns left, uphill to the Kay Environmental Center. The trail is short, but pleasant. The added incentives to visit this trail are the Cooper Mill and Fay Environmental Center.
The Cooper Mill, an operating gristmill, is open to the public. Visitors may observe stone grinding of whole wheat flour and corn meal.
The Kay Environmental Center is open 7 days a week in the summer (July and August) and weekdays the rest of the year. In the summer staff naturalists offer tours, and other programs. Self-guided walking tours are always available.
The trails that lead south of the turn up to the Kay Center are only open by permit from the Morris County Park Police. This is a wildlife management area. The section between the wildlife management area and Hacklebarney (a norrow stretch) is private property.
Plan a trip to visit both the Mill and the Kay and enjoy, the walk/ride between them!
(Note: The Patriots' Path now continues north of Cooper Mill along the river to Rte 206, with a branch up to Chubb Park).
Rates a 7 out of 10!
Fred"
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