Patriots' Path
{{Short description|Trail system in Morris County, New Jersey}}
{{more citations needed|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox hiking trail
| name = Patriots' Path
| designation = National Recreation Trail
| photo = Patriots' Path, New Jersey Brigade Area, Bernardsville, NJ.jpg
| caption = Patriots's Path in the New Jersey Brigade Encampment Site
| location = Morris County, New Jersey
| length_mi=90
| trailheads = E. Hanover Township
Washington Township
| use = Hiking, Mountain cycling
| surface= Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Gravel, Ballast, Grass, Dirt
| season = Year round
| ROW=
| difficulty = Easy
| sights =
| website =
}}
The Patriots' Path is a multi-use trail system in Morris County, New Jersey, open to cyclists, hikers, and horseback riders, consisting of a {{convert|55|mi|adj=on}} main trail and {{convert|35|mi}} of spur trails. {{cite news |date=May 17, 2005 |title=Biking in New Jersey County Facilities |publisher=NJDOT |url=http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/commuter/bike/morris.shtm |accessdate=10 January 2016}}[http://www.nynjtc.org/park/patriots-path “Patriots’ Path”], NYNJTC.org. Retrieved on July 5, 2014.{{Cite web |title=Patriots' Path {{!}} Morris County Parks |url=https://www.morrisparks.net/index.php/parks/patriots-path |access-date=2022-03-22 |website=www.morrisparks.net}}{{Cite web |title=Patriots' Path ⋆ Morris Tourism |url=https://www.morristourism.org/directory/patriots-path/ |access-date=2022-03-22 |website=Morris Tourism |language=en-US}} The main trail is marked with white blazes or a white circular blaze with a brown tree. The spur trails are marked with blue blazes or a white circle with a blue tree, while the side spur trails are marked with a red blaze or a white circle with a red tree.Mashas, D. (2014). Patriots’ Path East Section Map. map. Retrieved February 23, 2022, from https://www.hanovertownship.com/DocumentCenter/View/554/Patriots-Path-Trail-Map-PDF . {{Cite web |title=Trail Descriptions |url=http://patriotspathtrailmaps.weebly.com/trail-descriptions.html |access-date=2022-03-22 |website=The Unofficial Site of Morris County's Patriots' Path}}
Description
Patriots' Path stretches from East Hanover, where it connects with the Lenape Trail in Essex County, to Allamuchy Mountain State Park in Sussex County, and the Village of High Bridge in Hunterdon County.[http://www.morrisparks.net/aspparks/patpathmain.asp “Patriots’ Path”] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130901085932/http://www.morrisparks.net/aspparks/patpathmain.asp |date=2013-09-01 }}, Morris County, NJ Parks Commission. Retrieved on July 5, 2014. In southern Morris County, the path travels mostly along the corridors of the Whippany River, Black River, and Raritan River.[http://www.nynjtc.org/park/patriots-path “Patriots’ Path”], NYNJTC.org. Retrieved on July 5, 2014. Different portions of Patriots' Path include bike trails (paved), cross-country skiing, equestrian trails, and hiking trails (handicap accessible).[http://www.morrisparks.net/aspparks/patpathmain.asp “Patriots’ Path”] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130901085932/http://www.morrisparks.net/aspparks/patpathmain.asp |date=2013-09-01 }}, Morris County, NJ Parks Commission. Retrieved on July 5, 2014. Parts of the trail are along the right-of-way of the former Rockaway Valley Railroad.{{cite web |title=Patriots' Path Mendham Borough |url=http://www.hikemendham.org/media/PatriotsPathMendhamBorough.pdf}}
The Patriots’ Path is a part of two other larger trail systems. It is included in the Liberty–Water Gap Trail and the September 11th National Memorial Trail. The Liberty–Water Gap Trail is approximately {{convert|150|mi}} and the September 11th National Memorial Trail is {{convert|1300|mi}} in length.{{Cite web |title=History of the 9/11 National Memorial Trail |url=https://www.911trail.org/our-history.html |access-date=2022-03-22 |website=9/11 TRAIL |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=July 17, 2017 |title=Sept. 11th national memorial trail makes its mark in Morris County |url=https://www.morriscountynj.gov/Morris-County-News/Sept.-11th-National-Memorial-Trail-Makes-its-Mark-in-Morris-County |access-date=February 24, 2022 |website=Morris County, NJ}}{{Cite web |title=September 11 National Memorial Trail |url=https://www.911trail.org/ |access-date=2022-03-22 |website=9/11 TRAIL |language=en}}
The Patriots’ Path is a popular location for scouts to complete their Eagle Project. Some of the Eagle Projects that scouts have completed on the Patriots’ Path include installing benches, extending the trail and installing proper signage, and trail renovation and beautification. A particularly popular project to complete is installing a footbridge on the trail.{{Cite web |last=Lent |first=James |date=June 18, 2018 |title=Talent runs in the Herbert family with two Eagle Scouts, one of which is also a West Point graduate |url=https://www.newjerseyhills.com/talent-runs-in-the-herbert-family-with-two-eagle-scouts-one-of-which-is-also/article_a3a4a333-a5c4-5b9c-b6b6-8d03f00ed005.html |access-date=February 24, 2022 |website=New Jersey Hills}}{{Cite web |title=Morris County Freeholders Honor Outstanding Jefferson and Rockaway Scouts |url=https://www.morriscountynj.gov/Morris-County-News/Morris-County-Freeholders-Honor-Outstanding-Jefferson-and-Rockaway-Scouts |access-date=2022-03-22 |website=www.morriscountynj.gov |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Scouts Projects |url=https://www.wtmorris.org/index.php/community/scouts/scouts-projects.html |access-date=2022-03-22 |website=WTMorris |language=en-gb}}{{Cite web |title=Freeholders Honor Outstanding Eagle Scouts |url=https://www.morriscountynj.gov/Morris-County-News/Freeholders-Honor-Outstanding-Eagle-Scouts |access-date=2022-03-22 |website=www.morriscountynj.gov |language=en-US}}
Points of interest
- Bamboo Brook Outdoor Education Center
- Frelinghuysen Arboretum
- Acorn Hall
- Ford Mansion
- Pocahontas Lake
- Speedwell Ironworks
- Lewis Morris County Park
- Jockey Hollow
- Black River Wildlife Management Area
- Nathan Cooper Gristmill
- Chubb Park
- Ken Lockwood Gorge WMA
- Schooley's Mountain County Park
- Elizabeth D. Kay Environmental Center
- Willowwood Arboretum[http://www.morrisparks.net/aspparks/patpathmain.asp “Patriots’ Path”] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130901085932/http://www.morrisparks.net/aspparks/patpathmain.asp |date=2013-09-01 }}, Morris County, NJ Parks Commission. Retrieved on July 5, 2014.
- New Jersey Brigade Encampment Site{{cite web|title=Jockey Hollow / New Jersey Brigade Area Trails Map|url=https://www.nps.gov/morr/upload/Jockey-Hollow-Trail-Map-Oct-2014-website.pdf|publisher=National Park Service}} – Morristown National Historical Park
- Washington Valley Historic District
Gallery
File:Washington Valley Road, Washington Valley, NJ - Rockaway Valley Railroad station site.jpg|The trail passing the site of the Washington Valley Station of the Rockaway Valley Railroad.
File:Patriots' Path by the Black River, NJ.jpg|The trail by the Black River, near the Elizabeth D. Kay Environmental Center
File:Black River, Morris County, NJ - April 2019.jpg|The Black River in the Black River County Park, with the trail on the left
File:Black River WMA, Chester Township, NJ - Patriots' Path.jpg|Black River Wildlife Management Area trail, aligned with the West Morris Greenway, Liberty–Water Gap and September 11th National Memorial Trails
See also
{{Portal|Environment|Ecology}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Commons category-inline}}
{{Passaic River}}
{{New Jersey hiking trails}}
{{Rail trails in New Jersey}}
{{coord|41.039|-74.321|type:landmark_globe:earth_region:US-NJ|display=title}}
Category:Rail trails in New Jersey