Trans-New Jersey Trail

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Steve

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@MAX-Leon Thanks for the details so far, Leon.

Even though this isn't a trip through majestic mountains, deserts, or valleys, I'm eager to watch it unfold. I think my enthusiasm comes from traveling a little of what I think will be the first portion last July (HPSP --> River Road --> Old Mine Road --> Worthington State Park) and will better picture your adventures than I could a trip thought Moab, which I've never seen.
 

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@MAX-Leon Thanks for the details so far, Leon.

Even though this isn't a trip through majestic mountains, deserts, or valleys, I'm eager to watch it unfold. I think my enthusiasm comes from traveling a little of what I think will be the first portion last July (HPSP --> River Road --> Old Mine Road --> Worthington State Park) and will better picture your adventures than I could a trip thought Moab, which I've never seen.
No problem @Steve!

You are right about the route you took being part of the TNJT. Below is a screen shot of the section from Dingman's Ferry Bridge to Flatbrookville area. Some of Old Mine Rd is part of the trail.


IMG_0264.PNG
 
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Glenn

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2 nights in each camp would be ideor our trip it's impossible due to time restraints.

As for the food and fuel, there are some fuel spots along the way and yes where there is food there usually is fuel. When I say that a lot of this trail is strictly backroads, it really is and you will have to venture off of the trail to find food or fuel. Even though NJ is as populated as it is, there are still a lot of country side and wilderness left in NJ.

On one of the prerun trips of the northern section, one of the guys that was with us needed fuel and we ended up having to get off the trail and drive about 5-10 miles to the closest gas station. Before I make the route available, I'll be sure to go through it and try to add some more POIs for gas stations that are right along the route.

I do have 2 very important fuel stops listed already. One of those stops is about a 1/4 of the way into the central section. This fuel location is highly recommended since you will spend a few hours, 2-3hrs in wooded wilderness. Once you pop out on Route 70, you will have a chance to stop one last time for fuel before continuing all the way to Batsto via 90% dirt roads in the wooded wilderness that makes up multiple state parks. I'll post a screen shot of what I'm talking about soon.

These are the parks that I recommend camping in:

High Point State Park

Spruce Run State Park

Brendan T Byrne State Forest

Wharton State Forest (not necessary if you camp in Brendan T Byrne, but it would be a good spot if you skip Brendan T Byrne)

Belleplain State Forest (Park) (this stop is not necessary if you stayed at one of the many sites in Wharton State Forest. It all depends on where you decide to stop and call it a day at.)


When Phil and I do our trip, we have it planned to drive up to High Point after work and camp there on Thursday the 13th, wake up early on Friday the 14th and drive south to Spruce Run (about 100-140 miles south of the starting point. Stopping here depends on if Phil has a 3 day weekend or a 4 day weekend). If we skip Spruce Run, we will only have 2 other choices..1 stay in a friends front yard..2 drive 10+ hours, 245+ miles, in one day and make it to Brendan T. Byrne for camping that Friday night. Wake up kinda early in the day Saturday the 15th and drive until we reach Belleplain State Forest. Camp there and then Sunday we would drive the remaining 30-50 miles to the finish. This way our Sunday can be spent relaxing, celebrating our journey, and giving us enough time to make it back home at a decent time.

If Phil is able to get the 4 day weekend, our trip will go like this:

High Point on 13th

Spruce Run on 14th

Brendan T Byrne on 15th

Belleplain on 16th

Cape May (finish) on the 17th.
Awesome! And what month are you guys doing this? I have not looked them up yet but im thinking these parks/camps are seasonal?
 

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Here's the screen shots I was talking about earlier.

The GREEN dots are the 2 fuel locations I had mentioned. These locations are near fast food locations and also these gas stations also serve food 24/7 and fuel 24/7.

The YELLOW lines are the sections of trail that is in woods/wilderness. While these sections do not look that long, believe me, they are. About 100+ miles of solid dirt after leaving the second green dot (only green dot on second image)



 
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Xplorr313

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Awesome! And what month are you guys doing this? I have not looked them up yet but im thinking these parks/camps are seasonal?
Most of the parks are seasonal but still allow you to camp there. It depends on the rules and regulations for each individual park. I will gather that info a bit later.

We are doing the trail on Easter weekend. April 13th-16th (maybe the 17th)
 

Steve

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You are right about the route you took being part of the TNJT. Below is a screen shot of the section from Dingman's Ferry Bridge to Flatbrookville area. Some of Old Mine Rd is part of the trail.
Thanks! I had forgotten that I previously posted a map of where we traveled back on post #2 of this thread. I sure forget a lot of stuff anymore... Definitely some of the same route, and it was a fun day's adventure. That's where the photo on our Facebook page came from (linked in sig)
 
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I gathered the camping information for y'all. Here's the list of the parks and their dates the campsites/shelters/cabins are open. If I only list campsites, that means they do not have shelters or cabins for rent.

High Point State Park: Campsites: April 1st - October 31st. Shelters/cabins: May 15th - October 15th

Spruce Run State Park: Campsites: April 1st - October 31st

Brendan T. Byrne State Forest: Campsites: Yearround. Shelters/cabins: March 30th - October 31st

Wharton State Forest: Campsites: April 1st - December 15th. Shelters/cabins: April 1st - October 31st

Belleplain State Forest: Campsites: Yearround
 
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Glenn

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I gathered the camping information for y'all. Here's the list of the parks and their dates the campsites/shelters/cabins are open. If I only list campsites, that means they do not have shelters or cabins for rent.

High Point State Park: Campsites: April 1st - October 31st. Shelters/cabins: May 15th - October 15th

Spruce Run State Park: Campsites: April 1st - October 31st

Brendan T. Byrne State Forest: Campsites: Yearround. Shelters/cabins: March 30th - October 31st

Wharton State Forest: Campsites: April 1st - December 15th. Shelters/cabins: April 1st - October 31st

Belleplain State Forest: Campsites: Yearround
Thanks for the info. Im googling those places and gonna check them out. It drives me OUT of my mind here in CT that all state parks/campgrounds close for the winter. If you are running self contained and need no facilities/water/power then you should be able to winter camp I feel. They close and lock the gates. I love this state, I hate this state government...lol
So kool man Im gonna look into these camp spots. Hey maybe someday we could hook up and do a weekend thing and maybe get a few people together :yum:
 

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Thanks for the info. Im googling those places and gonna check them out. It drives me OUT of my mind here in CT that all state parks/campgrounds close for the winter. If you are running self contained and need no facilities/water/power then you should be able to winter camp I feel. They close and lock the gates. I love this state, I hate this state government...lol
So kool man Im gonna look into these camp spots. Hey maybe someday we could hook up and do a weekend thing and maybe get a few people together :yum:
No problem! Brendan T. Byrne is a great place to camp. I love it there. Spot 20, 21, 22, and 23 are the best. Spot 21 and 22 are really close to one another, good for 2 parties trying to group camp. The sites are limited to 2 cars and 6 people. With 21 and 22 so close, you can squeeze 4 cars and 12 people in there but there isn't a whole lot of room after that lol. 23 is tucked away pretty well off the loop. 20 is my go to site. Can fit 3-4 cars there no problem and fit at least 2-3 tents there easily.

I'm always game for a camping weekend! What part of CT are you in? I'll be up there this Friday. Coming in from Bear Mountain area and headed to south of Danbury for food and then heading to Stamford to meet up with a buddy of mine.


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Glenn

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No problem! Brendan T. Byrne is a great place to camp. I love it there. Spot 20, 21, 22, and 23 are the best. Spot 21 and 22 are really close to one another, good for 2 parties trying to group camp. The sites are limited to 2 cars and 6 people. With 21 and 22 so close, you can squeeze 4 cars and 12 people in there but there isn't a whole lot of room after that lol. 23 is tucked away pretty well off the loop. 20 is my go to site. Can fit 3-4 cars there no problem and fit at least 2-3 tents there easily.

I'm always game for a camping weekend! What part of CT are you in? I'll be up there this Friday. Coming in from Bear Mountain area and headed to south of Danbury for food and then heading to Stamford to meet up with a buddy of mine.
We are up in the Norwich area, Mohegan Sun Casino is only a 15 minute ride.
 
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Steve

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Leon,

Any problem with this setup for the trail as long as I avoided wet weather? The portion we were on in the north could be travelled by a Civic. This isn't an off-road version like First State's, just the basic 200# axle and leaf springs.

Thanks!

21740279_1120813378048566_453595599438496895_n.jpg
 

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I watched your TNJT videos & follow you on the Instaz. Super cool content! Any plans to run this, or sections of it, this fall? Or again in 2018? I saw you guys are camping this weekend & I wanted to shoot up (from DC) but work/life has me tied up.
Thanks for watching my videos and following me on IG! I still have 2 more videos to produce and the trail episodes will be done lol. I'm not sure about running the whole thing again. There's plans of something for 2018 involving the TNJT but that announcement will come at a little bit of a later date. Hopefully before Novemeber or December.

It's a bummer that you can't come up and join me and a few friends for camping.
 
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Thanks for watching my videos and following me on IG! I still have 2 more videos to produce and the trail episodes will be done lol. I'm not sure about running the whole thing again. There's plans of something for 2018 involving the TNJT but that announcement will come at a little bit of a later date. Hopefully before Novemeber or December.

It's a bummer that you can't come up and join me and a few friends for camping.
Awesome! Excited for more episodes. I'll keep my eyes peeled for the 2018 announcement. Have a blast this weekend!
 
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Leon,

Any problem with this setup for the trail as long as I avoided wet weather? The portion we were on in the north could be travelled by a Civic. This isn't an off-road version like First State's, just the basic 200# axle and leaf springs.

Thanks!

View attachment 35032
I'm almost 100% sure you can do the whole trail with the trailer...except one or two sections. I plan to go in and edit these sections and mark them as "if you're pulling a trailer, avoid this section" and "if you're above x.x feet tall, avoid this section". I will also make rerouted for those people.

I've come to realize that there is one thing that LeadNav doesn't have that I wish it did have; a notes section lol. I plan on making up a word document, with notes about the trail, to include in the .zip file I have available on Etsy.
 

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Awesome! Excited for more episodes. I'll keep my eyes peeled for the 2018 announcement. Have a blast this weekend!
Thanks! I still need to get some footage from SK Venture to add in with my Episode 3. I may try to meet up with him sometime next week to get it.
 
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