hacklebarney state park

I've been hiking in this park for many years. It is one of the great hidden gems on NJ. Great for kids, great for dogs. Love it.

This is a relatively undiscovered gem of a state park. A bit off the beaten path, it is wild, rustic, a bit challenging but fun for anyone who is moderately fit and athletic. It has miles of paths: some well marked, others made by foot, aamd some over rocks large and small. There are a lot orf picnic sites, some clustered and visible, and others single and remote. There is a large stream thar runs down the middle of the park, which empties out into the Black River at the bottom of the hill. A small playground, ranger house, rest room site and marked trails provide just enough infrastructure to make the visit pleasant for all. Go, explore and have fun !

We went on Sat. Oct. 18th. The fall foliage was at its peak. Very lovely. Even the roads that lead up to the park are so nice....trees dripping with rich colors! The waterfalls are deep down the marked trail....sometimes the trail is marked with signs in the ground....sometines the trees are marked with a thick stripe of paint. At an important fork approx. 25 minutes down the main trail there is no indication, no signage or markings to help the hiker know which way to go to access the mini waterfalls. If you hit a point like that on your walk....and you remember my words....TURN LEFT. Follow that....and if it is going down....continually going down...you hit the right trail. It's not like Bushkill Falls....there is no boardwalk ramp. You have to walk between trees....down the terrain...between large rocks...it's not for everyone. Feel free to message me with any questions.

This park has many trails to explore, from a short stroll to a hike. It also has some really beautiful picnic/BBQ areas, if you're looking for something like that. There are plenty of beautiful views and areas to explore. The rocky trail by the river is my favorite and super beautiful, though it can be challenging (especially when the water is high).This park does get pretty crowded when the weather is nice. Also, there's been more and more dogs off leash, which I usually am okay with, but it is illegal and not all owners can control the dogs they have lose. Though that seems to be a problem in most parks lately. So, I prefer this park on the "off days" when there are fewer people and nature is more undisturbed. All in all, I would recommend you visit at least couple of times if you're looking for a nice easy hike in the area.

This is our first time in the park but it will not be our last. My husband and I love the trail and river and rocks and just about everything we found along the way...even the passersby were so nice and happy. We truly enjoy the time we spend walking the trail (about two ours) and the pictures were awesome too.

This park is just a wonderful place to go to and a nice nature hike. While your here you should try the cider mill

This is a beautiful, woodsy park, and a river runs through it. It is a step descent down to the river and picnic tables. I remember the long hauls from when I was a kid and we'd lug chairs and all the picnic equipment down the long flight of steps to have our outings. Not so easy for my grandfather! There are still some picnic tables that are usable and the bathrooms work, but the handrails down the steep flight of steps only exist part of the way, and some of the picnic tables are either completely moss covered or are missing benches. There are many beautiful rocks to sit on, and the waterfalls are musical. I rated this park as "very good" because of its natural beauty, but it needs restoration.

Hacklebarney State Park, which consists of 465 acres of beautiful woodlands and forests, offers hikers scenic trails with views of deep rocky ravines and waterfalls along Trout Brook which flows down to the Black River. We found the stone steps leading down the ravines to the brook are rather steep; good for exercise. Along the brook and trails are tables and bbq areas for picnics, no wood fires are allowed. This is a hiking and walking park only, so no bikes or horses are allowed on the trails. Dogs are allowed on leash. There are real restrooms at the beginning of the trail instead of port-a-johns. Sure, this park and many other parks are showing their age, and often suffer from storm damage, but we really enjoyed seeing the beauty nature has to offer in this park.

I always seem to visit Hacklebarney State Park when it's raining. There are probably reasons for this, but I can now say for certain that it's as nice in wet weather as well as in sunny weather. The trails are generally in good condition, although my favorite trails (down by the Black River) are pretty washed out (but still passable with a little scrambling over rocks). Walking along the Black River is nice, and there is one waterfall on that river and another on a stream that flows into the Black River.There are picnic tables and remains of picnic tables everywhere, so if you're looking for a place to sit or a place to have a picnic / spend a day, this works great. There are also restrooms near the parking area (which is very large) and some primitive restrooms near the Black River. There used to be water in several places, but now I think the only working water fountain is near the parking area. A small playground is also available near the not-so-primitive restrooms. Many of the paths are paved, but I don't think they're not intended for wheelchairs.My only regret is that it is a bit run down. The bridges and trails are kept in nice shape, and the blazes are kept sharp, but it seems that half the picnic tables are in pieces or are disintegrating. The restrooms are fine but not as clean or bright as I'd like. It never really bothers me, since I'm there to hike anyway, but since the person I hike with remembers when the park was kept up (and totally overrun on an average summer weekend) it is a little shabby-looking.The Bottom Line: It's a nice place if you're in the area and need a little walk (especially since admission is free). Otherwise, it's just not worth going out of your way for.

I had beautiful weather during my visit to the park. I captured all sorts of fantastic pictures. I love the variety of activities here. The trails are for a wide variety of hikers.

Visited Hacklebarney State Park in the fall and the views were awesome. Lots of opportunities for gorgeous nature photos.

Hacklebarney is a pretty place, but some of the trails are tricky if not treacherous. Once you get done rambling there's nothing else to do. We don't really find it the most comfortable of the local parks but worth a visit if you are a dedicated hiker.

We decided to take the most challenging path and it did get a little hairy! It was worth it. I loved the picnic tables everywhere!

Hacklebarney is the only place I will walk when the temperature is unbearable here in New Jersey. It is bordering a river so it always stays cool. The trails go down to the river and then up. You can continue up and down for over an hour of walking. Our dog loves it too. She can always get a drink. It is a very laid back park; rangers aren't walking around to see if your dog is off leash. We have never picnicked in Hacklebarney but there are lots of tables and grills. I think you could take a dip, too, if you wanted to.

Nice trails. Local park to where I live. Husband enjoyed going there to take pictures of the stream and small water falls - very peaceful. Picnic area available and paved parking lot.