Schooleys Mountain Park Trail

Welcome to another Travel Tuesday!  Ready for another New Jersey hike!?

Well, even if you’re not, you’re getting one anyway. :O

We didn’t feel completely satisfied after our short hike in Hacklebarney State Park (pretty as it was), so we decided to find another nearby place to explore! My friend grew up in this area, so he suggested the Schooleys Mountain Park Trail!

Schooleys Mountain Park Trail

Distance: 3.3 miles (loop)
Elevation: 420 feet (~35 flights of stairs)
Trailhead Location: Rte 24 near Washington Valley Road on Fairview Avenue
Difficulty: Mild to moderate with some definite climbing involved
Parking: There’s a free lot across the street at the Langdon Palmer Fishing Access Area on Fairview Ave!

We did a blend of the different trails so that we could see the overlook and go back down a different way from which we came. :O

The trails are very well marked, so hopefully you won’t get lost! :P I’d recommend bringing water and snacks, as it’s nice to have something to refuel with when you get to the top.

P.S. We actually did this hike back in late November, but since spring didn’t really feel like arriving and I had to walk through a snowstorm to get to the hospital fairly recently (ah, the joys of being considered “essential personnel”), I feel okay about posting this almost half a year later. :O

There are some parts that involve some mild rock climbing, but on the whole, it’s very manageable and the rock climbing part is only part of one of the trails, so you don’t have to take that one if you don’t want to. :P

…But if you do, there’s an awesome hill to go sledding on if you feel so inclined! (If only we’d had sleds with us…*-* )

It can be a bit slippery if it’s rained recently, and if you go towards the end of November, I’d absolutely advise dressing in lots of warm layers so you don’t feel like a half-frozen popsicle. :]

This was actually my very first time ever hiking in the snow! I’m rather happy to report back that my hiking boots (LINK!) did super well and kept my feet toasty warm (whew). I got them before I went on my epic solo trip to Hawai’i and they’ve been holding up really well! :]

• Have you ever been hiking in the snow?
• Are you a fan of cold weather or warm weather?