A rant about inconsiderate and irresponsible pet care on the trail.
Some parks are kind enough to give you bags to use.
Let me say this first, I love dogs. I am going to smile at your dog before I even look at you. I like dog owners too; rather, I like the ones that are responsible and respectful owners. I am focusing on dogs because those are the only pets I see on the trail but if you leash up your llama and take him walking then you are included. What I do not like at all and find completely unacceptable, are people that do not take proper responsibility for what their dog leaves behind on the trail. Most parks here in New Jersey have posted signs asking that you clean up after your pet and are kind enough to supply you with resources to do it. There are 3 different offenses that I have noticed that are unnecessary and need to be talked about: people that use the bags and then throw them in the trail toilets, people that just leave piles of crap right on the trail, and the worst of them all, people that bag their dog’s crap and then throw the non-biodegradable plastic bag into the woods to preserve the turd for all eternity.
The people that throw their dogs crap in the toilet.
The restrooms found at trail-heads are there for the convenience of the trail users and I understand that. However a large majority are either composting toilets or porta-johns and your plastic bag of crap interrupts the proper functioning and cleaning of these. Thank you for picking up your dog’s waste and following the law but commit to it fully and take it with you. Some parks even have trash bins just for the curbed waste and simply need to be used.
Some parks provide trash cans so you don’t have to take it with you.
The people that leave crap right in the middle of the trail.
It’s gross and I would have made it smaller but I’m making a point. This is also mild compared to what I have encountered.
You are just plain inconsiderate. It is a health issue and a cleanliness issue, so clean up your pet’s waste. Leaving a steaming pile of crap for some poor soul to step in and track who-knows-where is disrespectful and illegal. What you are doing is unacceptable and your behavior needs correction. I encourage any hiker, biker, cross-country skier, snow-shoer, or other trail user to directly address anyone you see engaging in this practice.
The worst! People that pick up their dog crap with a plastic bag, tie it shut, and then toss it out into the woods along the trail.
You are a special kind of disrespectful. You are not only being irresponsible with your pet waste but also littering at the same time. What makes anyone think it is ok to go around creating these time capsules of crap that will live on long after they are gone? You took the time to pick it up now muster up the energy to carry it out.
A petrified turd time capsule, my all time biggest pet peeve. Pun intended.
Everyone should be thoughtful and respectful when using the public lands, sidewalks, parks, and trails that belong to us all. This includes pet owners. When they say take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footprints, it applies to your crap too because I sure don’t want any of it!
Every hiker has one trail that is their go-to, their dependable spot, the one they are loyal to, their tried-and-true trail that is always there for them to turn to. Even people that just occasionally hike have the place they are most comfortable with. In my case it is a lovely little rail trail nestled in a small state park in Sussex County NJ. This 2 mile section of the Sussex Branch Trail stretching between Waterloo Road in Byram Township, NJ to Cranberry Lake, Byram Township, NJ is my first true love trail. The Sussex Branch Trail is converted from the Sussex Branch Railroad that originally ran through the area, serving the mining industry. The trail runs 18 miles through Sussex County, New Jersey. I have hiked most sections of it, but this section, in Allamuchy Mountain State Park, is the closest to my heart. This section’s main trail is a 4 mile hike out and back. It is 2 miles each direction with clear distance markers.
Trail is clearly marked on Waterloo Road
I began using this trail with my father at about 7 years old. We would walk or ride our bikes to the Cranberry Deli, get a drink and a treat, possibly swim in the lake, and then ride back. That was long before the park system made it the trail it is today. Back then it was overgrown, with only enough width for one bike behind the other – no wider than the mule towpaths of the Morris Canal found nearby. Nowadays you will find a broad path that is clear and easily walked by whole groups together. The trail is now maintained at the width of the rail bed. It is a very easy trail that is great for anyone. When my boys were babies I would even take my expedition stroller out on the trail.
Do not fret my more serious hikers. There is something for all on this trail. I would be bored to tears after years of just the main rail trail if that was all there was to offer, but there is more. The main trail has additional blazed and unblazed trails branching off of it all over. I believe that if you looked down on the main trail from above it you would see something like an gnarly old pine tree with all the side trails jutting out like crooked branches. You could spend days in this area taking different trails and turns. The trails wandering off of the main trail reach out and connect to other trails that can bring you to waterfalls, lookouts, boulders left by the glaciers, remnants of abandoned mines, and beautiful forest. They also connect over to other sections of Allamuchy Mountain State Park, Waterloo Village, the Morris Canal, and over to Deer Park in Hackettstown. An excellent map of all the trails in the area can be found under Allamuchy State Park on the Jersey Off Road Biking Association (JORBA) page at http://www.jorba.org. They have some of the best maps available and they are free PDFs.
What to Expect
Well the parking area is flat, large, and semi-paved. It is easy to find and easy to park. A warning though: in the summer months you can find it totally full at times with cars spilling out onto the sides of the road for parking. In the winter the parking area is often plowed after snow, making for good access to snowshoeing and cross country skiing. The first thing you will encounter is a bathroom. There was a very nice composting restroom that suffered some damage in a flood a few years ago and is now locked. Just past is a port-o-john that has replaced the damaged facilities. This is one negative about this stop. The port-o-john is poorly maintained and very poorly treated by visitors so it is almost always in a condition that I would rather not use. I really go out of my way to avoid using it but it is there for the brave or the urgent. As you begin your walk you will start to encounter side trails right away. There are too many to cover them all in this article, but I will most likely give each one its own deserved article over time.
You will spot a stream to your left and some swampy areas on both sides. The first major feature you will come upon is Jefferson Lake. The trail hugs very close to the shore of the lake and offers peaceful views. In the summer you can see water snakes basking in the sun, turtles on the logs and rocks, waterfowl enjoying their day, beaver dams, and other critters that relish the waters. In the winter you can walk out on the ice when it is safe allowing some interesting views looking back at the trail and allowing for some additional inspection of the shoreline. You will also see people ice fishing on the cold clear days out near the small island in the lake. The sun shines bright on the trail here and gives a moment to really bask in some rays during all seasons.
Jefferson Lake in the WinterBeaver Lodge
From the lake up to the next major feature of this trail you will find water on both sides of you. It is worth it to slow down and take a good look for birds and other water-loving animals. What you will arrive at next is a waterfall that attracts many visitors. It is small but very nice. You can get right up to it and even rock hop on the river just above it when the water level allows. That is my son’s favorite activity. Many visitors to this trail make this waterfall their main destination. It is less than a mile from the parking lot and makes a great little walk with a nice reward for anyone that just wants a stroll. The waterfall is delightful during all the seasons. I am pretty sure at this point I have photographed it during all seasons and all water levels.
Enjoying the Waterfall in winter
There is a good number of people that do not continue on after the waterfall but there are more things to see and I certainly recommend continuing on. Beyond that spot you will pass a marsh on the right with excellent opportunities to view birds in the tall grasses. There are steep slopes covered in boulders to the right that have additional small waterfalls after it rains or when the snow melt. You may meet some deer, groundhogs, and bears along the way. (Yes there are bears. I encounter them often. There is bear information at the trail parking area and from the rangers. Take it, read it, know it, and respect that you should follow the suggestions.) Eventually you will make it to the second large concrete bridge that carries the trail over another area of the river. On the right the beavers have managed to almost fully block the water’s flow and have created a second lake-like area. This has flooded over old trails that you now need to go a different way to get to. On the left it runs out in a small river. Snakes frequently will sun on the concrete base here so keep an eye out.
The “cut” is the next landmark on the trail. A railroad cut is an area where the earth has been blasted away to allow for the tracks to continue straight. If you look closely at the rocks on either side you can find some of the holes that were drilled in the stones to allow for dynamite to be dropped in and blast away the earth.
After the cut, it is only a short distance until you reach the end of this section of trail and the parking area on the Cranberry Lake side. You will find the 2.0 mile marker on the right letting you know you have made it.
Anyone interested can continue on just a tad bit farther and walk up to Cranberry Lake. In the summer I will often go and cool off in the lake before heading back. On your way back make sure you take time to inspect the sights you may have missed on your way. Also, although it is barely noticeable on your way back you will be going ever so slightly downhill making the return trip a little easier. So go get out there and enjoy it. If this isn’t the trail for you then go find your tried-and-true and treasure it!
