Cushetunk Trail – Round Valley Recreation Area – Lebanon, Hunterdon County, NJ Distance –  8.4 miles total one way (16.8 if you do the whole trail out and back) Type – Out-and-back Difficulty: 6 of 10

Website – https://www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/parks/roundvalleyrecreationarea.html Open – Sunrise to Sunset.

Terrain – Hilly Surface – Dirt, gravel, grass – depending on section

Trailheads – N 40° 37.153 W 074° 50.980

Directions – 1220 Stanton Lebanon Rd, Lebanon, NJ 08833

Parking – Lots at trailhead.  Make sure to check in at the park office first and get your permit.

Dog [...]

Round Valley Reservoir Campground Round Valley Recreation Area Lebanon, Hunterdon County, NJ

Address: 1220 Stanton Lebanon Rd, Lebanon, NJ 08833

Coordinates: N 40° 36.307 W 074° 49.944 (where the trail enters the camping area)

Directions: Drive to the park offices to register, then it’s a paddle or a hike to get to the campground.

Access: NO CAR ACCESS, paddle or hike only.

Website for official info: https://www.njparksandforests.org/parks/roundvalleyrecreationarea.html

Website for campsite booking and pricing: www.camping.nj.gov

Campground Map: Click here for full sized map 

Pet friendly?: From website (as of [...]

So I am asked on a surprisingly regular basis what I bring on a backpacking trip.  Up to this point, I’ve really resisted making a post on this, because there are a lot smarter people out there than me about this (like seriously, try Backpacker Magazine, or getting a book from the library, or finding an old Boy Scout Backpacking Merit Badge book, or take a class at REI, or just go talk to the AT Thru Hikers and Section Hikers at REI).

But, since folks keep asking (and you are for some reason still reading this and not any of the resources above), I figure better to just post what I take backpacking so that people can argue about what a dolt I am in the comments [...]

Batona Trail Batsto to Ongs Hat 3 days – 34 miles

Back in November, Skunk, Danny, Pat, and I went for a little three day, 34 mile stroll on the Batona Trail.

(Note: This is more adventure log and not so much trail info.  For trail info, go to https://southjerseytrails.org/batonatrail/)

Three of us managed to get off on Friday (sorry Danny), so we met at Batsto and, after getting our permits, headed off down the Batona.  The first few miles flew and we walked through the areas that burned in the forest fire a few summers back.

The first bit of really [...]