Hiking Trail near the Pasadena Terra Cotta Factory??

[Tricia6690]

Hi All

I'm fairly new to the area and to your Web site. I have been reading postings for a couple of weeks but have only replied to one posting. However, I do really appreciate your directions section -- as it has helped me find a few spots that I had been trying to locate on my own without much success.

The reason I am posting this is that I am wondering if there is a 3-4 mile hike anywhere near what is called the Pasadena Terra Cotta Factory. I have a small hiking group ( we are all senior citizens -- aka "active adults" ) -- so I promise we won't harm any ruins or in any way be destructive. I would like to take these folks to the ruins so they can see them. But I want to make it a hiking outing -- not just a drive by. Could anyone suggest a hiking trail near there?

Thanks so much for whatever help anyone can give.
Tricia

 

[Teegate]

Tricia,

I don't know of any designated trails in that area, but I can tell you a few points of interest that you could all go to. Here is where and what they are, and you can decide if you want to go to them. All of them are in the area of Brooksbrae (Pasadena).

If you are heading to Brooksbrae from 72, just before you get to the intersection where you must cross the tracks, look for a dirt road on the right. This little road goes right to the track, and there is a "switch" that actually works there.

http://www.njpinebarrens.com/~teegate/switch.jpg


Here is where it is located.

http://topozone.com/map.asp?z=18&am...69&size=s&datum=nad83&layer=DRG25



The next thing of interest is right at the intersection where the road crosses the tracks. There is a cement marker separating Burlington and Ocean county there, with an "O" on one side and a "B" on the other. If you are standing on the tracks looking at the dirt road ahead of you start walking toward the road that goes off at a 45° angle to the right and you will walk right by it.

http://www.njpinebarrens.com/~teegate/ob.jpg



Across the road from Brooksbrae there is a dirt road that goes into the woods, and if you walk down there you will see quite a few cellar holes of unknown origin.

http://topozone.com/map.asp?z=18&am...03&size=s&datum=nad83&layer=DRG25



If you go behind Brooksbrae there is a small field that seems to have some interesting flowers at different times of the year.




But if you really want to walk you could take them to Old Half Way. Read Beck's books to find out about it. The two lakes on either side of the red target symbol at the below link is where it is located. You would walk in from Bullock where the road crosses the tracks to get there and back. It is a very nice walk. If you decide to do this write me and I can give you exact directions.

http://topozone.com/map.asp?z=18&am...50&size=l&datum=nad83&layer=DRG25

Guy

 

[Tricia6690]

Hi Guy

Thanks for all the information about areas near Pasadena. I will check them all out and then see if I can incorporate them into an outing.

I am also very interested in doing the walk to Old Half Way. I do have Beck's book on the Forgotten Towns of Southern NJ and I have also read about Old Half Way on your Web site and it does sound like an interesting place to go.

If you could give me directions for that walk I would really appreciate it. I do have a GPS if that makes it any easier to give directions.

I'm not too great at understanding the topo maps that you sent but I do have an New Jersey Atlas that has GPS grids on it and that's how I've been finding my way around the pine barrens so far.

I got it for geocaching -- as I spend a fair amount of time wandering the dirt roads looking for "treasures".

Thanks again for all your help.

Tricia

 

[Teegate]

Tricia,

Here is a map showing you directions. I know you may not like maps, but this is an aerial map and is the best way I can show you how to get there.

http://www.njpinebarrens.com/~teegate/ohw.jpg


Ok here we go. I am going to start from 72 at the RR bridge so you can get your bearings. If you are coming from the bridge at 72 toward Brooksbrae you will be coming up the road on the left of my map with the yellow arrows. You continue up to the purple/pink arrow where the paved road crosses the tracks. Go straight across the tracks onto the main dirt road on the other side. You can take the dirt road to the right but for this time take the main dirt road that heads slightly to the left. At this point you can park your cars here, or keep driving. Continue to the first intersection "Y" and go right. You are now at the first yellow arrow to the right of the purple/pink arrow. Take that road crossing thru a few intersections, and you will go around the curve that is just above the arrow that is near Lake1.

Just after that curve you will come to a "Y" intersection and you go right. That takes you directly to the first lake. There will be signs saying no motor vehicles so if you drive you don't want to go past them. I usually do and park right at the lake. They just don't want people driving down into the lake and making things worse there than it already is. But to be safe park and walk.

If you spend time there walk all the way around that lake and you will see cars in it in the deeper end.

The second lake is nicer looking and looks more like a lake. It is very confusing to get there so make sure you have a GPS. There are puddles and you have to walk around them. The path leading to it is the path that Beck mentions was the bumpy rail line from Woodmansie.

The GPS coordinates for Lake 1 are:

39° 51.695
74° 26.443

Lake 2 is:

39° 51.695
74° 26.443

Photo Lake1:

http://www.njpinebarrens.com/~teegate/lake1.jpg

Photo Lake2

http://www.njpinebarrens.com/~teegate/lake2.jpg

Guy

 

[Tricia6690]

Guy

Thank you so much! Your directions, photos, AND map are all great. I really appreciate your help.

Now I even understand the earlier topo maps you sent. I just needed to change the format of the coordinates and then they made sense. Sorry -- I'm just a little new at this....

Thanks again for all your help.

Tricia

 

[Tricia6690]

Guy

I just wanted to let you know that I spent a day last week checking out the Hidden Lakes area and then this last Tuesday I took the group out on the hike down the road you suggested.

Everyone had a great time and really enjoyed the hike. We made it to both of the lakes -- although getting back from the second one was a bit challenging. We took a wrong turn at one point but we eventually made it back to the first lake in spite of that misstep....

After the hike -- we did a brief stop at the Brooksbrae Brick Factory. So all in all it was a great outing. Thanks for your help -- I couldn't have done it without you.

Tricia

 

[Teegate]

Guy

I just wanted to let you know that I spent a day last week checking out the Hidden Lakes area and then this last Tuesday I took the group out on the hike down the road you suggested.

Everyone had a great time and really enjoyed the hike. We made it to both of the lakes -- although getting back from the second one was a bit challenging. We took a wrong turn at one point but we eventually made it back to the first lake in spite of that misstep....

After the hike -- we did a brief stop at the Brooksbrae Brick Factory. So all in all it was a great outing. Thanks for your help -- I couldn't have done it without you.

Tricia

I am glad you and your group had a good time, and I was happy to help you out. Thanks for posting back and reporting on your trip.

Guy