Hacklebarney Loop Trail

On the weekend after Thanksgiving, I went for a hike through Hacklebarney State Park + Schooleys Mountain Road with one of my former grad school friends! (I’ll get to the latter in another post.)

Tis the same friend I met up with when I was partially homeless during my last year of med school. He was staying at an Airbnb whilst on a rotation in a coroner’s office cutting up brains in Columbus (he’s a pathology resident now, just in case you’re wondering).

Hacklebarney Loop Trail

hacklebarney loop trail

Hacklebarney State Park is a super pretty park located in northern New Jersey. Not really for the seasoned hiker looking for an especially challenging trail, but if you feel like you’ve been living in a concrete jungle and just need to get out and enjoy nature, it’s definitely a great option!

hacklebarney loop trail

Distance: 2.6 miles
Elevation: 441 feet (~37 flights of stairs)
Trailhead Address: 119 Hacklebarney Rd, Long Valley, NJ 07853
Difficulty: Easy (some parts get a bit slippery from all the rain in the fall)
Parking: Small (free!) lot available at the edge of the start of all the trails

hacklebarney loop trail

There are restrooms and “comfort stations” (simpler restrooms) available around the park in case nature calls at any point in time.

This would be a great place for a picnic too, but perhaps in the spring or summer, when it’s not quite so cold.

hacklebarney loop trail

It’s apparently also a popular place for fishing! (The Black River Gorge is stocked with trout.)

There are some super old water fountains that were built back in the days of the depression that no longer work, so please bring your own hydration (+ pack in and pack out–please don’t litter)!

hacklebarney loop trail

The Hacklebarney Loop Trail is also pretty kid + dog-friendly, and if you’re at all a fan of hiking alongside rivers, this would be an awesome option! :]

hacklebarney loop trail

We found a little farm nearby afterward that my friend said was always closed when he was around, so we made a stop for some hot apple cider + cider donuts fresh outta the oven before we started off to our next hiking destination! (To be continued in 2 weeks!)

hacklebarney loop trail


  • Do you have a favorite state park?
  • Are there any state parks near where you live?

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14 comments

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  1. These pix are beautiful. I live near Valley Forge National Historical park near Phila. It is very nice also with streams, a white covered bridge, trails, woods, a beautiful church, cannons, wood cabins, monuments, and open fields.
    Joanne | No Plate Like Home recently posted…R.I.P. Mom, You Werenā€™t ThereMy Profile

    1. Thanks! I love exploring all the different parks! :D I haven’t been to Valley Forge yet but it sounds so pretty!

  2. Iā€™ve never heard of Hacklebarney State Park, but I plan on visiting New Jersey sometime this summer and will make sure to put it on my list of places to visit. Your pictures are exquisite
    Mary recently posted…Challenge MondayMy Profile

    1. Yay, that’s awesome! I hope you have a lot of fun! I’m hoping to do more NJ explorations soon as well, so if I find anything else, I’ll be sure to pass along recommendations if you’re interested! :]
      Farrah recently posted…Hacklebarney Loop TrailMy Profile

  3. I’m trying to think of the last legitimate state park that I went to. Probably one in Hawaii, so I am going to with that being my favorite!
    Susie @ Suzlyfe recently posted…Surviving Infertility: Trust, Self Advocacy, BreathMy Profile

    1. Hawai’i is so beautiful all around–it’s hard to go wrong there! <3!
      Farrah recently posted…Hacklebarney Loop TrailMy Profile

  4. I love that there are places to use the restroom. That would be my issue I’m sure if I was out hiking. It looks beautiful! Thanks for sharing.
    ShootingStarsMag recently posted…Currently: What We’re Reading + Add It To My ListMy Profile

    1. haha, agreed! Having restrooms is a definite plus unless the objective is to go off the grid! :P!
      Farrah recently posted…Hacklebarney Loop TrailMy Profile

  5. I am lucky that I have many state parks minutes from my house. Sadly I don’t have the opportunity to check them out properly. But once the weather is warmer I plan on heading out there!

    1. That’s awesome that you have a lot of state parks nearby! I’m still in the middle of discovering (or trying to), hehe. I can’t wait til the weather warms up again! <3!
      Farrah recently posted…Hacklebarney Loop TrailMy Profile

  6. We actually live right by a national park and I walk through there every morning! I love nothing more than spending time immersed in nature!
    Kristy from Southern In Law recently posted…Recent Things: Why I Can’t Be a Monkey + Recent FavesMy Profile

    1. That’s so cool that you live right by one! I’m definitely in agreement there–I love being outdoors! <3

  7. Pretty little stream there! Nothing wrong with easy hikes–actually I like the easy kind a lot! Since we live on a mountainous island…there are not really any easy hikes here. Just medium and strenuous.
    Rachel Guerrero recently posted…Moving Forward from MiscarriageMy Profile

    1. Agreed! It’s nice to have a more laidback place to just enjoy nature every now and then!

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