Patriot's Path: I have extended the descriptions. The blue blazed section is now completed and the the main portion is written all the way through to Speedwell Lake.

Patriot's Path:

The Patriot's Path: A Trail Of Variety and Convenience

 Morris County, situated in the epicenter of northern New Jersey is host to a multitude of stereotypes. Non residents depict Morris County as maze of cul-de-sacs with cookie cutter McMansions, sprawling shopping centers, or massieve wealthy estates. Even Morris County's own residents are often unaware of the natural treasures only minutes from their doorsteps. While other counties may boast of a higher acreage of preserved open space, no other county in NJ has greater connectivity between parks than Morris. The Patriot's Path, the county's main trunk in it's extensive trails system is always in close proximity to almost anywhere south of Route 80.

 From it's western terminus in Stephens State Park, near the corner of Waterloo Valley Road and Willow Grove Street near Hackettstown, the main route (blazed with white paint and occasional Patriot's Path logo markers) stretches circuitiously east with only a few interruptions to terminate at West Essex Park off Eagle Rock Road in Livingston. Though the trail remains unconnected in a few places, road walks between these missing links are usually very short making longer distance hikes possible.

 The Patriot's Path has something to suit almost anyone's interests and abilities. The trail showcases history, nature, accessability, varied terrain, and connectivity of parks. Hikers may visit places rich in history such as the Morristown National Historic Park with it's Revolutionary War encampent sites, or the defunct Hacklebarney Mine in Black River Park.  Great eclaves of natural beauty also await the hiker in the Troy Meadows Natural Area or Schooley's Mountain Park. The character of the trail is also defined by the terrain and treadway which varies from unimproved foot paths to crushed stone or pavement. Accordingly, some sections of the trail are open to bicycle and equestrian use while others are reserved for foot traffic only. Patriot's Path was first proposed in 1966 as a greenway along the Whippany River, and work began in 1973 as a joint venture by Morris County Parks, Morristown Junior League, Morris County Rotary Club, and the New Jersey Conservation Foundation. The trail was named by Helen Fenske of the MC Rotary Club, best known for the major role she played in the preservation of the Great Swamp as well as having a great imagination. Al Kent, a trail planner and builder with the Morris County Parks Department has worked on the Patriot's Path for over twenty five years and is responsible for much of the route's developement. At the time of his hire, the Patriot's Path consisted of only a section of about five miles in Morristown. Since that time, Kent has seen the trail through nearly to completion.

 Mr. Kent began hiking as a hobby about thirty two years ago; "I was no good at tennis, no good at golf...but I sure could walk" said Kent about his adoption of this hobby. He went on to explain how hiking is a hobby for anyone, and that today's youth are very out of shape, but not everyone can be basketball or football stars. In 1975, Kent assembled with a group of hikers to propose a trail of his own. "I like the idea of a long route instead of a circle or going out and back" he said, and so with a Hagstrom street map he planned a route that would become Essex County's Lenape Trail system. Later, Mr. Kent was hired by Morris County Parks to lay out the Patriot's Path, look at easements, and ring door bells in an effort to push the trail to completion. Amazingly, Kent had very few problems to speak of in regards to public opposition of the trail coming through. "There's been wonderful reception across the board" said Kent "People typically recognize the virtues of the park system and trails. (They're) Almost universally supportive" he said. In addition, the maintenance of this trail seems almost Utopian, with county park employees and volunteers, as well as state and national employees working together on their sections of the trail with "no rigid policies" as Kent described it.

 While Al Kent continues to work part-time for Morris County Parks, construction and maintenance of trails in Morris County is now overseen by Trails Foreman Russel Nee. Nee, who shares in Al Kent's passion for trails continues to follow Kent's example, continueously working on trail extensions, improvements, and reroutes. Despite financial problems facing most government entities, trail maintenance has not been abandoned in Morris County. "The Freeholders and municipalities have all been very supportive" said Nee. "While other departments are making cuts, they're just telling me 'Go boy, go!'". For many people, a job and what they consider to be their livelihood are separate things, but for a few like Al Kent and Russ Nee these things coincide, and it is shown in the quality of their work.

 Now, Patriot's Path is nearly a continueous route across Morris County. A few reroutes including a significant one through Chester have yet to be completed, and a connection near Whippany needs to be made, however the bulk of the trail is completed and open to public. From it's western terminus in Stephens State Park, Patriot's Path will cross Schooley's Mountain passing through Schooley's Mountain Park and descend to the Colombia Trail in Long Valley. From here, it follows the Columbia Trail, formerly the High Bridge Branch of the Central Railroad of New Jersey and other foot paths through Palmer Park, Tanners Brook Preserve, and Black River Wildlife Management Area. From Furnace Road in Chester Township, the main route (white blazed) leads on through Ironia, Heisteins Park, Randolph Township Parks, past Clyde Potts Resevoir and through Dismal Harmony Natural Area before descending to the Rockaway Valley Railroad bed (1888-1916) in Mendham area.

 The alternative route (blue blazed) leads south passing the Cooper Mill through Black River Park, Kay Environmental Education Center, Bamboo Brook and Willowood Arboretum. It then makes it's way east parallel to Roxiticus Road, joining the  Next, the Patriot's Path continues on or closely parallel to the rail bed, passing through Lewis Morris Park along the way. Another Patriot's Path spur leads south to Jockey Hollow through Morristown National Historic Park, and further east another set of side trails (blue and red blazed) lead to Fosterfields Living Historical Farm. Beyond the railroad bed, the Patriot's Path passes through historic Speedewell Village, then through a few urban parks and greenways in Morristown before reaching the Frelinguysen Arboretom, the headquarters of Morris County's Park system. Here, another side trail will lead hikers on to Washington's headquarters where nearby Loantaka Brook Reservation continues south toward the Great Swamp.

 The main trail leaves the Arboretum and heads through Morris County Central Park and beyond through Whippany. Next, it passes through swaths of undeveloped land on it's way through Bee Meadow Park. As of this writing, this section is still incomplete to Troy Meadows Natural Area, but plans are underway to make the connection. Next, the trail changes character completely as it crosses the wetlands of the Troy Meadows Natural area. Here, the trail crosses over what I refer to as "The Octopus Tree", which has eight branches snaking out across the moist ground around it. This is one of Al Kent's personal favorite places on the Patriot's Path. Kent, who is usually very humble proudly said "I'll take credit for that one!". Heading eastbound, the trail skirts Smith Ditch, heading through Hanover, then through Lurker Park before crossing the Passaic River into Essex County's West Essex Park where it terminates at the head of the Lenape Trail. To obtain maps of the Patriot's Path and the many parks it passes through, visit www.morrisparks.net or stop by the Frelinghuysen Arboretum on East Hanover Ave in Morristown, or Cooper Mill on Rt 513 in Chester to pick up a copy.

 The trail is well worth visiting, whether park patrons are looking for exercise or history, relaxation or nature's beauty, it can all be found along the great work of passion that has become the Patriot's Path, and all of it close to home.

Blazing: The main route is blazed white, blue, or red, with Patriot's Path symbol tags (round white tag with a tree and path on it)

Map:  http://www.morrisparks.net/maps/HiRes/PatriotsPath-2.jpg

Mileage is not presented in our guide to the Patriot's Path because gathering all of the data is so difficult. We would like to present that in time, however volunteer hours are already thin. In the meantime, we hope this description will help you navigate the trail better.

The Liberty-Water Gap Trail follows the main white branch of the Patriot's Path in it's entirity.

WESTERN TERMINUS

-Patriot's Path begins on the corner of Willow Grove Street and Waterloo Valley Road in Warren County. At this point, the teal diamond blazed Highlands Trail is co-aligned. Highlands Trail continues from this point along Willow Grove Street, which soon changes names to Waterloo Road to the right, then turns to follow the old Morris Canal towpath. The eastbound Patriot's Path follows Waterloo Valley Road across the Musconetcong River on a bridge.

-Turn right into Stephens State Park. This section of the park is actively used as a picnic area. Patriot's Path soon followes closely to the Musconetcong.

-An island to the right is used as a picnic area, accessible via a foot bridge. The Highlands Trail breaks away temporarily to follow the more rugged parallel trail to the left, while Patriots Path follows the wide trail ahead with crushed stone surface.

-Reach the main parking area for Stephens State Park. Restrooms off to the left. Patriots Path continues ahead on paved access road. Yellow blazed trail departs to the left and follows the abandoned former Stephens Park Road.

-Reach the end of the pavement. The trail enters woods near to the Musconetcong River.

-The trail turns away from Musconetcong River, and begins gradual climb up Mount Olive.

-Pass an abandoned light blue car on the right. The trail soon switches back to the left, after following an old woods road for some time.

-After more switchbacks, the trail reaches the berm of what may have once been a mine exploration. It then begins to descend a bit.

-Reach abandoned Mine Road. The Highlands Trail used to cross directly, but the property ahead was closed after 9-11. Patriots Path turns right on the abandoned but paved road and begins to descend. There is a dramatic drop to a gorge below. There are a couple waterfalls in it for those willing to make the climb down.

-THIS SECTION IS NEW, AND ALTHOUGH IT HAS BEEN EXPLORED, CHANGES MAY HAVE BEEN MADE. PLEASE CHECK BACK SOON.

-Reach the three way intersection of Mission Road, Reservoir Road, and Spring Lane. Patriots Path and Highlands Trail together enter the woods parallel with a new development, skirting an old stone row. To the left of the trail is the former route of Mission Road, which was once a through route.

-Pass a long abandoned swimming pool on the left, after a large deck above the trail on the right.

-Reach the end of the development and continue following a pleasant little creek down hill.

-Pass a beautiful old lime kiln on the left.

-Reach a power line. Cross as abandoned Mission Road begins to look like a road. The trail then turns left, up hill, in a series of switchbakcs.

-The trail levels off as it begins to follow an old berm, possibly for a retention pond that has overgrown.

-The trail turns right away from the berm and descends slightly. Continue through woods.

-Emerge at the end of a cul de sac known as Sparrow Lane. Continue along the sidwalk.

-Turn left onto Winay Terrace heading up hill.

-Turn right onto Quail Run.

-Turn left off of Quail Run and onto a power line right of way. A dead end spur of Patriot's Path once followed the power line north to a seasonal overlook of Hackettstown. Following the power line will lead to Cataract Park and the Heath Village trails.

-Cross Hunter Drive after the trail crosses through mowed yards under the power line. Stay on the trail and respect private property.

-After a short distance along the power line, turn right into a swath of woods and meadows. The trail can become quite overgrown in this section. Watch closely for blazes. Adjacent land owners often dump their lawn trimmings and debris on this section of trail. It becomes clearer after passing through a large stone row.

-Reach the northwest corner of the ball fields at Flocktown-Kossman School. Follow the right side of the fields.

-Reach Flocktown Road and cross. The trail follows along the edge of yards and into a narrow swath of woods between Falcon and Partridge Lanes.

-Reach Harrington Fields and turn left. Blazes may be spuratic, but the correct route is keeping to the left along the Harrington Field path, then along the access road.

-Reach Rock Road. Cross and enter woods, the northernmost section of Schooley's Mountain Park and weave back and forth through woods, often times on puncheons.

-Cross an unmarked trail. To the left, the trail goes to the end of Cherry Street, from which another path heads west along the south shore of Kohler Pond, a township park. To the right, the trail crosses a small bridge over Electric Brook and parallels Patriot's Path to the parking lot on Springtown Road.

-Patriot's Path crosses Electric Brook. A proposed spur of Patriot's Path follows a buried sewer line to the left, coming out at the end of Dogwood Drive. The route would then turn left on Spruce Lane, and right on Hemlock Drive out to Naughright Road. Across Naughright, a section of Patriot's Path was blazed in the strip of land between Wellington Drive and Windswept Way, but was never completed as a through route.

-Patriot's Path reaches Springtown Road one mile from the crossing of Rock Road. Cross Springtown Road and turn left, entering mowed fields of Schooleys Mountain Park.

-Follow the tree line, pass by a small pond, and pass through a section of trees before emerging at a parking area. Lake George is below on the right.

-Patriot's Path passes by a Saturn playground on the right, and continues up hill with parking lots and a pavilion on the left. It then enters woods on a quarry stone pathway.

-Patriots Path exits the quarry stone path, becoming a simple foot path high above the Boulder Gorge.

-Falling Waters Trail (blue) exits to the right. Patriots Path continues to a clearing, with a wonderful view over Long Valley below. The rock is a former quarry blast remnant. The trail descends the south side of Schooleys Mountain over rocks.

-Boulder Gorge Trail (green) exits to the right. Patriots Path continues to descend, becoming more gradual.

-Bee Line Trail joins from the left, just before reaching Fairview Avenue. Langdon Palmer Fishing Access area is here, parking available. Cross and continue on mowed path through overgrown field.

-Reach Columbia Trail. Patriot's Path turns left. Highlands Trail leaves Patriot's Path and follows Columbia Trail to the right to Ken Lockwood Gorge. Gillette Trail also turns right, but soon breaks away from Columbia Trail (See Gillette Trail, Morris County)

-Cross Naughright Road on Columbia Trail

-Patriot's Path leaves Columbia Trail and passes through Palmer Park where there are ball fields.

-Enter woods and Tanners Brook Preserve

-Cross utility right of way

-Emerge on dirt Tanners Brook Road and turn right.

-After crossing a road bridge over Tanners Brook, Patriot's Path turns left into the woods. It continues through a plantation of evergreens. It soon emerges from the evergreens and passes through a meadow.

-Patriot's Path reaches the abandoned Chester Branch of the Central Railroad of NJ and turns left. Ahead on the right, a keen eye will spot the former junction with the Hacklebarney Mine Railroad.

-Cross the Black River on an old railroad bridge. To the north, a drained former pond, now expansive wetland is located behind an old dam below the bridge.

-Patriot's Path turns left off of the railroad bed through the site of Chester Furnace. Ahead, pass the former furnace site where visitors have been piling up rocks on the former furnace. The trail also crosses the former Chester Branch of the Lackawanna Railroad. It is quite obscure.

-Reach Furnace Road. Cross. While the main trail crosses directly, it used to turn left down the road. It has been re-routed a couple times. While it is no longer an official trail, the other routes are still quite nice. Follow Furnace Road to the left, and at the end of a wetland, painted out blazes lead over board walks and then to the abandoned right of way of the Lackawanna Chester Branch. The right of way can be followed all the way to Rt 206. The blazes ended there because of the dangers of crossing Rt 206, but much of the right of way is easily walkable beyond. See Black River Wildlife Management Area. Another route once led down from Furnace Road on a foot path, without using the section of puncheon over wetlands.

-Patriot's Path leads into the woods from Furnace Road, crosses a few sections of puncheons and ascends a bit.

-Reach the abandoned right of way of the Central Railroad of NJ's Chester Hill Branch. Beyond Chester Furnace, the name changed to this designation. Turn left. Originally, the Black River Trail section followed this route. Now, the red blazed connector trail turns right on the rail bed, then turns left off of it into the woods to reach the Black River Trail/blue branch of the Patriot's Path. The main white trail continues gradually up hill on the rail bed, across a power line and parallel with Chubb Park.

-Pass old mine holes along the rail bed

-Reach Rt 513 in Chester. Turn left and continue along Rt 513 via the paved walkway into town. The strip mall across the street was once a rail yard.

-Reach Rt 206; in this area the Chester Mine Branch of the Central Railroad of NJ once crossed from the rail yard and continued north of Main Street in Chester to the outside of town where there were more iron mines. Cross the  highway and continue through town.

-THIS SECTION IS NEW AN HAS NOT BEEN EXPLORED BY METROTRAILS

-Patriot's Path reaches the abandoned right of way of the Lackawanna Chester Branch. Turn right. The trail leads with blue blazes to the left out to Plesant Hill Road.

-The trail leaves the rail bed to the right. Ahead, the rail trail continues out toward Ledgewood. It is proposed to be part of a North County Greenway trail. Patriot's Path leads up hill through woods to emerge on the corner of North Road and Hugg Road in Ironia.

-THIS SECTION IS NEW AND HAS NOT YET BEEN EXPLORED BY METROTRAILS

-From South Road, Patriot's Path follows the south side of Heisteins Park

-Pass along the edge of a pond in Heisteins Park. A loop trail goes around it, but Patriot's Path keeps to the right on the paved path.

-Reach Doby Road. Patriots Path follows the paved pathway along the right side of the road.

-Reach Combs Hollow Road with limited parking directly across where Patriots Path enters the woods and heads down hill on the township trail system.

-The trail crosses India Brook on a foot bridge and heads up hill again.

-India Brook Trail ends on the right.

-The trail passes by the end of Dolly Bridge Road on the left. Continue straight.

-Patriots Path leaves the wider trail and continues on a foot path to the left. It switches back and forth across power lines for some time.

-The trail reaches Woodland Road near Clyde Potts Reservoir and turns right along the road heading down hill. It passes by the main dam.

-Pass Cold Hill Road on the right.

-Turn left onto Woodlawn Terrace, a driveway.

-Turn right off of Woodlawn Terrace to enter Dismal Harmony Natural Area. The trail descends slightly through the preserve passing abandoned shelters on the right.

-The trail crosses a brook, and a side trail, unmarked, leaves to the left to make a loop.

-Reach and cross East Main Street

-The trail crosses a creek and joins the blue branch of the Patriot's Path, which broke off in Chester. This branch is much less complete than the white branch. Turn left and begin to follow the abandoned Rockaway Valley Railroad bed.

-The trail turns away from the rail bed again where it enters a swamp area.

-Cross Tingley Road

-Intersect with another trail in Lewis Morris Park. It leads to parking on the right. Patriot's Path turns left and crosses the Whippany River on a foot bridge and turn right. The rail bed becomes unrecognizable. Patriots Path climbs high above the river and parallels it's north side. Side trails lead to the left. Another branch of Patriot's Path, also reportedly reblazed blue recently, leads south from here to Jockey Hollow.

-The trail descends through young forest and comes out to Whitehead Road.

-The trail follows a level track that is not the old rail bed, but soon rejoins it. The site where it rejoins is very obscure.

-Cross Washington Valley Road. A blue blazed side path to the Patriot's Path turns right, and takes a higher route on the opposite side of the Whippany River. It also connects with a spur to Fosterfields Living Historic Farm, red blazed. The blue blazed trail rejoins at Sussex Ave.

-Cross Sussex Ave. A parallel side trail of the Patriot's Path comes in from the other side of the Whippany River.

-The now paved main branch of the Patriots Path crosses Inamere Road.

-The trail reaches Lake Valley Road, formerly the site of Watnong Station and the eastern terminus of the Rockaway Valley Railroad. Plans were made, and construction was even done on the extension of the railroad east of here, but all work ceased and the project was abandoned in 1916. The rail bed goes onto sewage treatment plant property, but the Patriots Path parallels it along Whippany River to the right.

-The trail crosses a berm that was once the fill for the Rockaway Valley Railroad extension. A bridge once crossed the creek to the right.

-The trail turns right parallel with Lake Road.

-The trail crosses Whippany River on the road bridge. To the south, the former site of the Rockaway Valley Railroad bridge is visible. It then entered a cut.

-Patriots Path turns left off of the road and resumes on the unfinished rail bed. A bridge that went beneath Lake Road is still there, but filled in. The top of the arch is visible to the right of the trail. From the road, the deep cut the line used is also visible to the south.

-The trail follows the shore of Speedwell Lake. A path leads left out to a development.

-Reach Speedwell Lake parking lot. If any further grading was done for Rockaway Valley Railroad, it is not apparent beyond here.

Patriot's Path (blue branch, Chester to Mendham area)

Although it is a bit broken up, the main blue blazed branch of the Patriot's Path can be followed back to the main white blazed Patriot's Path in Mendham area.

-The blue blazed Patriot's Path begins at Chubb Park. This section is Black River Trail. It passes along the edge of fields and begins to descend through woods.

-The trail reaches a utility right of way

-The red blazed spur trail breaks off to the right and leads shortly to the Chester Hill Branch of the Central Railroad of NJ. It then turns right and joins the main white branch of the Patriot's Path. The blue blazed trail descends.

-Reach the flood plain of the Black River, with an immense wetland to the right. Soon pass some discarded giant concrete pipes.

-Back along the river, cross the utility right of way.

-The trail makes it's way along the Black River to the slack water pond for the Cooper Mill (not original dam)

-Pedestrian tunnel under Rt 513/24. There is a pretty view of the mill pond and dam to the right. The trail reaches the Cooper Grist Mill on the other side of the pedestrian underpass. Parking available. Turn left in front of the mill, then right down wooden steps. The trail re-enters the woods below the grist mill, near the water wheel. A short side trail makes a tiny loop here.

-Cross over the old mill race with a view back at the Cooper Mill. The old trestle site for the Hacklebarney Mine Railroad is visible. The trail will soon join with the railroad bed, after it comes out of a seasonally wet cut.

-The trail, on the Hacklebarney Mine Railroad bed passes by Kay's Pond. Old mining sites visible to the left up hill.

-Reach the dam of Kay's Pond, then pass around the chain link fences blocking access to the Hacklebarney Mine pit. From here, the trail follows the former narrow gauged rail bed of the Langdon Mine Railroad.

-After making a few turns, the trail turns away from the Langdon Mine Railroad, which continues to a former bridge site over the Black River. It continues across onto private land.

-Cross two small bridges over brooks. After the Chubb Brook bridge, reach a former road bridge site across the black River. The trail then begins to ascend, and Green Trail goes right continuing along the Black River.

-The red blazed Conifer Pass Trail joins from the right, and the two continue together on wide paths to Kay Environmental Education Center. After the building, the trail turns right through a field. It then turns left on old farm paths parallel with the access road to Kay. From Kay south is the Bamboo Brook Trail section.

-The trail reaches and follows the access road the remaining distance out of the Kay Center.

-The trail turns right and follows Pottersville Road briefly, then turns left into woods.

-After a stand of evergreens, the other end of the Conifer Pass Trail terminates on the right. Continue down hill.

-The trail parallels Bamboo Brook for a bit

-The trail crosses Lamerson Road. There is no parking here. Ahead, the trail will skirt fields. Be sure to watch closely for blazes.

-Cross Longview Road. The trail descends a bit through some interesting thick woods with lots of hanging vines as it makes it's way south into Bamboo Brook Outdoor Education Center. Skirt more fields as the trail enters the Bamboo Brook area.

-After skirting more fields, cross Bamboo Brook and continue to a deer extruder fence. Open the fence gate and pass through open fields, closing the gate behind.

-The trail reaches an access road, this is the Willowood Trail section. Continue to a somewhat level grade where the Patriot's Path branch turns to the north. This will be the abandoned former right of way of the Rockaway Valley Railroad. The trail follows it from here to Daly Road. Some of this right of way bears little resemblence to a rail bed compared to other rail trails. Pass seasonal beautiful plants and flowers to the right.

-Reach the other end of the deer extruder fence at Union Grove Road. Open and cross, closing the gate behind. Continue ahead on the rail bed.

-After the trail and rail bed arc to the right, reach Daly Road. Blazes disappear here. To continue, follow Daly Road to Rt 206 and turn left.

-A power line closely follows Rt 206 on the right. After a short distance following this power line, Patriots Path blazes show up. They lead out to cross an access road, then turn right into the woods and disappear. Flagging continues, but the trail gets lost somewhere in there. It is best to follow Rogers Road from Rt 206, or from the access road the trail crossed, to the east.

-Turn right on Old Chester Gladstone Road to the south. Watch traffic.

-Reach St. Bernards Road. Patriots Path is blazed here again, though sometimes not well. There are occasional white blazes that can be found, probably from when this was considered to be the through route. Across from the trail entrance, there was once a "no bicycles" sign on a tree, and a somewhat cleared path, but it has disappeared. Patriot's Path route continues parallel with St Bernards Road behind hedges, with private yards to the left.

-The trail skirts the edge of an old quarry, then turns left heading north. It appears to pick up the old Rockaway Valley Railraod bed briefly, but then turns off to follow Peapack Brook on the left.

-The trail crosses Peapack Brook without a bridge. It passes through woods and then skirts fields.

-Although the map shows the trail paralleling fields out to East Fox Chase Road, it does not continue, and is fenced off. A side trail to the right leads down hill along fields and out to Roxiticus Road. It can be badly overgrown at times.

-Turn left on Roxiticus Road and follow it. The proposed Patriot's Path route goes through Mt Paul Memorial County Park, just up East Fox Chase Road. The park is undeveloped but has informal and unmarked trails. It is easiest to continue on Roxiticus Road for now.

-With Schiff Nature Preserve on the right, follow the connector trail to the left to reach the Patriot's Path route on the old Rockaway Valley Railroad bed. The trail connection requires hopping across the North Branch of the Raritan River on concrete cylinders, not advisable in winter time.

-Reach the rail bed and turn right. To the left, the trail leads to a former trestle site over the Burnett Brook. The blazed trail turns right and follows the brook into Burnett Brook Preserve, and currently ends at Mt Paul Place, a paved driveway.

-The trail skirts a ball field to the left.

-Cross Rt 510 in Ralston and continue on the rail bed.

-Cross Ironia Road

-The trail crosses India Brook on concrete cylinders. India Brook Trail turns left from here and follows a scenic route to connect with the main white blazed branch of the Patriot's Path.

-Cross Mountain Ave in Mendham

-The trail turns right, leaving the old railroad bed because it was developed over.

-A side path leads to Dean Road.

-The trail comes to an open area and skirts a line of trees.

-Having resumed on the rail bed, cross Cold Hill Road

-Pass Brookside Beach Swimming area on the right. Cross the access road.

-Cross Cherry Lane in Brookside.

-The trail rejoins the rail bed after being apart from it for a bit, and then the main branch of the Patriot's Path  joins on the left. Blue blazes end.

Patriots Path (1.45 miles, blue blazed branch, Washington Valley Road to Sussex Ave): This spur of the Patriot's Path travels between the two roads and offers another short loop. It is paved. The red blazed branch of the trail turns off and leads to Fosterfields Living Historic Farm.