Strader Pond Preserve, Sussex County NJ
Nice place for a nature walk or to go birding.
Learn more about Strader Pond Preserve https://www.nj.gov/dep/njnlt/straderspond.htm
Category Archives: NJ Hiking
Common Nighthawk in New Jersey Pinelands
Common Nighthawk
Brendan T Byrne State Forest, New Jersey
This bird moved from the forest floor to a tree while I was photographing butterflies elsewise I would never have noticed it!
Visit Brendan T Byrne State Forest – https://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/byrne.html
More info on the Common Nighthawk – https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Nighthawk/overview
Solomon’s Seal at Buckhorn Creek WMA NJ
Solomon’s Seal and Skunk Cabbage
Buckhorn Creek Wildlife Management Area, Warren County NJ
More info on Solomon’s Seal – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polygonatum
More info on Buckhorn Creek WMA – https://www.tpl.org/media-room/new-wildlife-management-area-nj-highlands
Where In NJ Can I Hike During Coronavirus Pandemic?
Morning Walk at Sparta Mountain Wildlife Management Area
NJ WMAs remain open during the #coronavirus #pandemic
Google “NJ WMAs” to find your nearest open space.
Get out and relax your kind and stretch your legs. Please don’t congregate or litter.
spartanj #njstateparks #njdep #njhiking #sussexcountynj @newjerseystateparks
Pine Trees and Parking Area at Jonathan’s Woods
Morris County New Jersey
Old Beach Glen Road in the foreground, Beaver Brook snaking through the midground, Christ Church on Green Pond Road beyond. This is our primary parking area for Jonathan’s Woods.
Learn more about Jonathan’s Woods – http://powww.org
Phantom 3 Professional Drone
FAA Part 107 Exempt Certified Unmanned Aircraft Pilot
Tripod Rock
Tripod Rock
Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area, Morris County, New Jersey
Tripod Rock is the most often photographed feature of this park and a formation which I rarely photograph. It is my opinion that creating dynamic nature images of rock formations is quite challenging.
Learn more about Tripod Rock – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tripod_Rock
Highlands Trail Overlook
Allamuchy Mountain State Park, New Jersey
I loved the elevated view of the Musconetcong River from this recent hike. It made my trek through the woods very much worth it. By standing behind the 2 foreground trees and utilizing a wideangle lens I was able to simulate a “frame within a frame” technique for the shot.
This was an approximate 3.5 mile round trip hike for me. I parked at the Sussex Branch Trailhead on Waterloo Road, then began ascending the White Trail which seemed to turn to a White/Orange blazed Trail before I made a left-hand turn onto the Teal blaze (Highlands Trail) to this overlook. I didn’t plan on it but wound up hiking the Red Trail back down to the Sussex Trail on my way back to the car.
It is always good to have a freshly charged cell phone with good service as well as a battery back-up charger for tackling a solo hike. I did re-charge my phone mid-hike and utilized the NJ state park map pdf to navigate my return.
Park at the Sussex Branch Trail – https://goo.gl/maps/LE5HkUJjbzNDuPbJ8
Allamuchy Mountain State Park – Photographing a Vista from Highlands Trail
Allamuchy Mountain State Park – Photographing a Vista from Highlands Trail
My route:
Waterloo Rd (park at Sussex Branch lot)
White Trail to White/Orange Trail to Teal (Highlands) Trail
Park here – https://goo.gl/maps/JiJhUxMU2fKLZXTQ7
Really nice view of the Musconetcong River. Landscape photos to follow.
I doubled back after reaching the vista. This hike is not a beginners hike, wear sturdy footwear, bring lots of water and a snack. Have a fully charged phone w/ internet acess for maps, ideally bring a battery backup for your phone (I did).
Allamuchy Trail Map – https://www.njparksandforests.org/parks/maps/Allamuchy%20Mt%20map%20III-10-08-10.pdf
Clearing Clouds over Taylortown Reservoir
Clearing Clouds over Taylortown Reservoir
Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area, Morris County NJ
My goal for this image was include the context of the foreground pine needles, the midground of the water, and background detail including both the treeline as well as the sky. That is a lot of elements to aline for one shot!
Learn more about hiking Taylor Town Reservoir – https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/new-jersey/taylortown-reservoir-trail
Canon EOS M50 + EFM 11-22mm lens
Hiking the Den Brook Trail in Denville
Exploring the Den Brook Trail located off of Openaki / Casterline Road in Denville. I believe the walking trail is only in the early phases of blazing (as of February 2020) however I enjoyed a walk along the scenic brook on a mild sunny winter’s afternoon.
Read more about the upcoming trail here – http://www.denvillenj.org/news_detail_T34_R113.php
Thanks to the Denville municipal trail pixies whom make the trail blazing happen. We know who you are! 🧚
Dave Blinder Nature Photography 