TRAILS
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In 2017, BPA trailblazer Tom Bowmaster began creating hiking trails in Jones Woods and the Green Strip in collaboration with Morris Township, the County Park Commission, and the Boy Scouts. In 2019, Rick Bye took over as trailmaster. Together with the Morris Twp Parks and Recreation Department, Rick and a growing team of volunteers of all ages have extended the trails into a 3 mile network that has been marked and mapped, and is maintained on an ongoing basis.
Jones Woods Enter through the gate at the dirt road where Hillcrest Ave meets East Lake Ave. The trail head is a few hundred yards on the right. Four trails - marked in yellow, white, red and blue - interconnect and loop around the pond and stream, down to Mendham Road, up to Picatinny Road and over to the Municipal Water Authority dirt road in back of the houses on Dorothy Drive, and up to Villa Walsh School. Benches installed by the Boy Scouts are situated around the pond and stream. Download the map. Green Strip This trail runs through the wooded green space area between East and West Lake avenues, off of lower East Lake up to the top where East Lake and Hilllcrest avenues meet. This trail needs regular maintenance, best handled through regular use, so spread the word! Why not walk on a trail through the woods rather than on pavement! In June 2020, the BPA began a program of invasive species management and habitat restoration in cooperation with Morris Township, initiated in the Green Strip by removing vines strangling cedar trees and spreading an erosion control mix of native grass and forb seeds on the eroded steep slope and rutted areas caused by tree removal in 2019. Contact us to join the team! |
Hike
Trailmaster Rick Bye led a hike in the fall of 2019 in Jones Woods. He gave a brief history of the area and pointed out landmarks along the way. Others on the hike identified plants and how they got here. It was a glorious day with adults, kids and dogs enjoying the hidden gem locals call our "100 Acre Woods."
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Jones Woods & Green Strip Trails |
A New Bridge
In February 2020, the Morris Township Recreation Department built a bridge over the stream/gully for easier access to the trail in Jones Woods that runs around the rim of the reservoir.
In February 2020, the Morris Township Recreation Department built a bridge over the stream/gully for easier access to the trail in Jones Woods that runs around the rim of the reservoir.
Jones Woods Trails
