Group Hikes and Nature Walks

Dec 14 (Sat): Celebration of the Holidays at Whitesbog Village (Rain Date Dec. 15) (Burlington Co.) 10 a.m., 3-4 miles, easy pace on sandy trails. Last year we saw a flock of tundra (whistling) swans from the Arctic Circle that winter in the Pinelands. Join us for the Whitesbog celebration of the holidays. Handmade Arts &Crafts exhibitors will be spread throughout the village, kid crafts in the art gallery, live music, food trucks and even more! Bring water, snacks, and lunch. Leashed dogs are welcome. Leaders: George & Leona F., pineypaddlers@gmail.com  Preregistration is required: www.sierraclub.org/new-jersey/west-jersey  (W)

Dec 14 (Sat): Tourne Park Hike, Boonton (Morris Co.) 10 a.m. Description: 6 miles in moderately hilly terrain. Features: mountain top view of Manhattan, 9/11 Memorial, Birchwood Lake. Facilities: portable toilet in the parking lot. Requirements: hiking boots, non-cotton hiking socks, and a backpack with water and lunch. Directions will be sent via email to those who register. RSVP at www.sierraclub.org/new-jersey/calendar  Leaders: Jimi Oleksiak, the_hikist@mac.com, and Jerry Ruocco (SS)

Dec 19 (Thurs): Hike at Smith’s Woods and Holiday Tour of Smithville Mansion (Burlington Co.) 10 a.m., 3 miles, easy pace. After the hike we’ll tour the Mansion decorated for a Victorian Holiday (small fee) by local garden clubs. Meeting at Smith's Woods parking lot, 39 East Railroad Ave., Easthampton. There are facilities. Hiking boots are recommended. Leashed dogs are welcome. Inclement weather cancels. Bring water and snacks. Option for late lunch at Vincentown Diner. Leaders: George & Leona F., pineypaddlers@gmail.com,  Preregistration is required: www.sierraclub.org/new-jersey/west-jersey  (W)

Dec 21 (Sat): First Day of Winter Hike on the D&R Canal (Mercer Co.)  10 a.m., 3-4 miles, easy pace. We’ll hike over the Lock 1 “swinging bridge” as we walk along the towpath; perhaps see the resident bald eagles. Meeting at the River Line parking lot in Bordentown City. Bring water and snacks. Leashed dogs are welcome. Option: late lunch at HOB Tavern. Inclement weather cancels. Leaders: Leona and George F., pineypaddlers@mail.com, and Joanne P., jpatmeadowbrook@gmail.com  Preregistration is required:  www.sierraclub.org/new-jersey/central-jersey  (C)

Dec 26 – Dec 31: Patriots Week in Trenton–History of the American Revolution in NJ (Mercer Co.) Learn about the American Revolution during Patriots Week. Every day of the week offers fun and history for the entire family. See the First and Second Battles of Trenton reenactments and participate in walking tours of the Trenton battlefields. Check website for events www.patriotsweek.com  Contact us to meet for various events. Leona and George F., pineypaddlers@gmail.com, and Joanne P.,  jpatmeadowbrook@gmail.com  (C)

Jan 1 (Wed): Monmouth Battlefield State Park Guided Walking Tour of Perrine Hill (Monmouth Co.) 11 a.m. The Friends of Monmouth Battlefield will participate in America’s state parks First Day Hikes programs sponsored in New Jersey by the Division of Parks and Forestry. Meet at the visitors center. There are facilities. The group will drive in convoy to Perrine Hill on Rt. 522. At Perrine Hill we'll view the main Colonial position and walk to sites associated with Molly Pitcher. Bring water and snacks. Good footwear and hiking poles (if you use them) are recommended. Co-leaders: John Miraglia,  johnworks3@aol.com and Leona F, pineypaddlers@gmail.com Please register to receive further information if cancelled or rescheduled due to inclement weather: www.sierraclub.org/new-jersey/raritan-valley  (RV)

Jan 4 (Sat): Eagle Rock Reservation Hike (Essex Co.)  9 a.m., moderate pace. We will hike 4 to 5 miles with beautiful views of Manhattan. Wear hiking boots, traction devices, and poles, if snow or ice. No dogs, please. Bring water and snacks. Check the website for the meeting location. Register with leader Ron Pate, Ronpate31@verizon.net or 973-965-7578. Preregister at www.sierraclub.org/new-jersey/gateway  (G)

Jan 5 (Sun): National Bird Day Hike at Veterans Park (Mercer Co.) 10 a.m., 3 miles, easy pace. The magnificent 330-acre park was built in honor of Hamilton veterans in 1977. Ribbons of walking paths are sprinkled through wooded areas with picnic grounds and rest stops. Meet at the tennis court parking lot, 2264 Kuser Rd., Hamilton Township. Bring water and snacks. Leashed dogs are welcome. Inclement weather cancels the hike. Leaders: Leona and George F, pineypaddlers@gmail.com Register at www.sierraclub.org/new-jersey/calendar (C)

Jan 11 (Sat): Sterling Forest Hike, Tuxedo Park, NY (Orange Co.) 10 a.m., 7 miles, moderately hilly terrain. Hike along a mountain ridge to the remote end of Sterling Lake. Features: visitor center with a scale model of the park, Sterling Lake, Sterling fire tower. Restrooms and sinks with running water. Bring hiking boots, non-cotton hiking socks, and a backpack with water and lunch. RSVP at www.sierraclub.org/new-jersey/calendar  Directions will be sent via email to those who RSVP. Leaders: Jimi Oleksiak the_hikist@mac.com and Jerry Ruocco (SS)

Jan 12 (Sun): Lake Lenape Park West–Winter Birding Walk (Atlantic Co.) 10 a.m., 3 miles, easy pace along the lake shore to the blue trail that overlooks the lake. The trails are wide, hard-packed, and well blazed. Lake Lenape Park is a great destination for beginner and advanced naturalists alike. In the winter, raptors, mammals, and waterfowl are conspicuous. During the winter, between Christmas and late January, Lake Lenape hosts a population of roosting bald eagles. Meet at Lake Lenape Boathouse, Old Harding Highway, Mays Landing. There are heated facilities. Bring binoculars, water, and snacks. Please, no pets on this birding walk. Dress warmly; it can be windy along the lake shore. Inclement weather/icy conditions cancel. Co-leaders: Tom Boghosian, tfboghosian44@gmail.com and Leona F, pineypaddlers@gmail.com Registration is required. www.sierraclub.org/new-jersey/south-jersey  (SJ)

Jan 19 (Sun): NJ State Museum (Mercer Co.) 10 a.m. Let’s enjoy an “indoor outing” to the NJ State Museum. The current Robert Duran (1938–2005) exhibition seeks to reintroduce this artist to the public primarily through the most significant record of his life available to us: his paintings and works on paper. Also, a current exhibit is “Bark! Indigenous Cultural Expression,” which highlights objects from the museum’s ethnographic collection. Explore items from the Pacific Northwest, South America, Pacific Islands, and our local Eastern Woodlands area. On long-term view and great for families is “Written in the Rocks: Fossil Tales of New Jersey.” Parking is free in front of the museum, 205 W. State St., Trenton. Leona and George F, pineypaddlers@gmail.com  Please register to confirm participation www.sierraclub.org/new-jersey/calendar (C)

Jan 29 (Wed): Chinese New Year (Lunar New Year) Hike at the Plainsboro Preserve (Middlesex Co.) 10 a.m., 3 miles, easy pace. The Plainsboro Preserve includes over 1,000 acres of evolving ecosystems, nature trails, a dense beech forest, and the 50-acre McCormack Lake. Bring water and snacks. Dogs are not permitted. Meet at the nature center, 80 Scotts Corner Rd., Cranbury. There are facilities. Option: late lunch at a local restaurant (Romeo’s Pizza or Lotus Garden). Inclement weather/icy conditions cancel. Co-leaders: SP,  spjersey@gmail.com and Leona F, pineypaddlers@gmail.com Registration is required. www.sierraclub.org/new-jersey/raritan-valley  (RV)

Feb 1 (Sat): South Mountain Reservation Hike (Essex Co.) 10 a.m., moderate pace. We will hike 6-7 miles over moderate difficult, hilly trails. Wear hiking boots, bring water and lunch. Rain cancels. No dogs, please. Check the website for the meeting location. Register with leader Ron Pate,  Ronpate31@verizon.net  or 973-965-7578. Preregister at www.sierraclub.org/new-jersey/gateway  (G)

Feb 2 (Sun): Groundhog Day Hike at Jakes Branch County Park (Ocean Co.) 10 a.m., 3-4 miles, easy pace. Jakes Branch has a nature center with an observation deck that offers a 360° view of the Pinelands. Meet at Jakes Branch Park, 1100 Double Trouble Rd., Beechwood. There are heated facilities. Leashed dogs are welcome. Woods trails with elevations and some sandy sections. Hiking boots and hiking poles (if you use them) are recommended. Bring water and snacks. Option for late lunch at Shady Rest Restaurant. Inclement weather/icy conditions cancel. Co-leaders: George & Leona F, pineypaddlers@gmail.com Margaret Mary Piccolo, gogreenp1@yahoo.com  Registration is required  https://www.sierraclub.org/new-jersey/ocean-county  (O)

Feb 8 (Sat): High Point State Park Nordic Ski, Montague, NJ (Sussex Co.) 10 a.m. If there is enough snow, we will ski for 3-4 hours. If there is no snow, we will hike 6 miles. Outstanding views in all directions. There is a cross-country ski center with ski rentals and hot soup. The all-day trail pass fee is $25. Facilities: heated restrooms with flush toilets and sinks with running water. Bring skis and boots, non-cotton hiking socks, and a backpack with water and lunch. RSVP at www.sierraclub.org/new-jersey/calendar  Directions will be sent via email to those who RSVP. Leaders: Jimi Oleksiak, the_hikist@mac.com and Jerry Ruocco (SS)

Feb 9 (Sun): “Photo Safari” and Walk at Sandy Hook (Monmouth Co.) 10:30 a.m. Situated in Sandy Hook Bay, the tip of Skeleton Hill Island has the unique advantage of being the winter host of many restful harbor seals. There is no guarantee that we will see the seals, but they usually arrive sometime in December from their breeding grounds up in Northern New England and Southern Canada. They forage at night and during the day mostly sleep and take it easy. Bring binoculars, dress warmly in layers, and bring a hot beverage and snacks. Plan for 2 hours outdoors to observe seals at low tide and waterfowl that overwinter in New Jersey. Meet at Gateway National Recreation Area, 128 South Hartshorne Dr., Highlands. Facilities are available. Inclement weather/icy conditions cancel. Co-leaders: John Miraglia,  johnworks3@aol.com and Leona F, pineypaddlers@gmail.com Preregistration is required. www.sierraclub.org/new-jersey/raritan-valley  (RV) 

Feb 14 (Fri): Valentine’s Day Hike at Smithville Park (Burlington Co.) 10 a.m., 3 miles, easy pace at Historic Smithville Park in Vincentown, NJ. The park features a diverse collection of habitats and terrain and offers Rancocas Creek vistas. There are woods trails and elevations. Hiking boots and poles are recommended. Meet at the Smith’s Woods access parking lot, East Railroad Ave. Facilities available. Leashed dogs are welcome. Option for late lunch at Vincentown Diner. Inclement weather/icy conditions cancel. Leaders: George & Leona F,  pineypaddlers@gmail.com Registration is required: www.sierraclub.org/new-jersey/west-jersey  (W)

Feb 16 (Sun): Hike the Franklin Parker Preserve (Burlington Co.) 10 a.m., 3 miles, easy pace on the White Trail. In the winter raptors are active in fields and over lakes and bogs. Tundra swans and Canada geese are abundant in old bogs, as well as snow geese and a variety of ducks. Meet at Speedwell entrance off Rt. 563, Woodland Township. Portable toilet at parking lot. Leashed dogs are welcome. Bring water and snacks. Inclement weather/icy conditions cancel. Co-leaders: Tom Boghosian, tfboghosian44@gmail.com and Leona F, pineypaddlers@gmail.com Registration is required. www.sierraclub.org/new-jersey/south-jersey  (SJ)

Feb 22 (Sat): Cedar Bridge Historic Tavern - Jaunt to Reevestown Cemetery (Ocean Co). Join the Cedar Bridge Tavern staff on a two-mile nature walk through the forest and woods roads to explore the nearby historic Reevestown Cemetery. The terrain will be uneven and may be wet in some sections. Participants should wear hiking shoes, (bring hiking poles if you use them). $8.00 per adult/ $6.00 per child (ages 9-16). Bring water and snacks. Meet at the Cedar Bridge Tavern Historic Site, 200 Old Half-Way Road, Barnegat. There are facilities. Leona and George F., pineypaddlers@gmail.com. Please register at the link to be informed if the walk is cancelled. https://www.sierraclub.org/new-jersey/ocean-county  (O)

Mar 1 (Sat): Richard W. DeKorte Park (Bergen Co.) 10 a.m., 2-3 miles, easy pace. This is a beautiful estuary park with miles of walking paths and an environmental center. Great for folks who are interested in bird watching. Meet at the parking lot at 1 DeKorte Park, Lyndhurst. There are facilities (portable toilet). Bring water and snacks. Hiking boots are recommended. Rain cancels. Co-leaders: Rebecca Wilkin, rebeccalwilkin@gmail.com, and Robert Gill, rcgill@gmail.com. Registration required:  https://www.sierraclub.org/new-jersey/north-jersey (N)

Mar 1 (Sat): Eagle Rock Reservation Hike (Essex Co.)  10 a.m., moderate pace. We will hike 4-5 miles with beautiful views of Manhattan. Wear hiking boots and traction devices, and bring poles if snow or ice. No dogs, please. Bring water and snacks. Check the website for the meeting location. Register with leader Ron Pate,  Ronpate31@verizon.net  or 973-965-7578. Preregister at www.sierraclub.org/new-jersey/gateway  (G)

Mar 4 (Tues): Mardis Gras Hike at Davidson’s Mill Pond Park (Middlesex Co.) 10 a.m., 3 miles, easy pace. We begin our hike on the Yellow Trail, a grassy/rocky section through the woods that includes narrow boardwalks over swampy areas. The forested Blue Trail has elevations, exposed roots to step over and large stones for steps in some sections. Hiking poles and good footwear are recommended. Bring water, snacks, and lunch. Leashed dogs are welcome. Portable toilet at parking lot. Rain cancels. Co-leaders: SP,  spjersey@gmail.com and Leona F, pineypaddlers@gmail.com Registration is required. www.sierraclub.org/new-jersey/raritan-valley  (RV)

Mar 8 (Sat) Mahlon Dickerson County Park Hike, Jefferson Township (Morris Co.) 10 a.m., 6 miles in moderately hilly terrain. Views from Headley Overlook, Cascades, Saffin Pond area, picnic shelter. Portable toilet in the parking lot. Wear hiking boots and non-cotton hiking socks, and bring a backpack with water and lunch. RSVP at www.sierraclub.org/new-jersey/calendar  Directions will be sent via email to those who RSVP. Leaders: Jimi Oleksiak the_hikist@mac.com and Jerry Ruocco (SS)

Mar 9 (Sun): “Photo Safari” and Walk at Sandy Hook (Monmouth Co.) 10:30 a.m. Situated in Sandy Hook Bay, the tip of Skeleton Hill Island has the unique advantage of being the winter host of many restful harbor seals. There is no guarantee that we will see the seals, but they usually arrive sometime in December from their breeding grounds up in Northern New England and Southern Canada. They forage at night and during the day mostly sleep and take it easy. Bring binoculars, dress warmly in layers and bring a hot beverage and snacks; plan for 2 hours outdoors to observe seals at low tide and waterfowl that overwinter in New Jersey. Meet at Gateway National Recreation Area, 128 South Hartshorne Dr., Highlands. Facilities are available. Inclement weather/icy conditions cancel. Co-leaders: John Miraglia,  johnworks3@aol.com and Leona F, pineypaddlers@gmail.con Preregistration is required. www.sierraclub.org/new-jersey/raritan-valley  (RV) 

Mar 16 (Sun): “Early Wear Green” Hike at Estell Manor (Atlantic Co.) 10 a.m., about 2 miles, with an option for an additional 3-plus miles. We'll follow the Purple Heart Trail south to the Glassworks and the scenic overlook on Stephens Creek for a break. Meet at the Warren E. Fox Nature Center on 109 Boulevard Rt. 50, Mays Landing, and see the displays before we hike. Facilities are available. Bring water, snacks, and lunch. Leashed dogs are welcome! Heavy rain cancels. Co-leaders: Tom Boghosian, tfboghosian44@gmail.com and Leona F, pineypaddlers@gmail.com Registration is required. www.sierraclub.org/new-jersey/south-jersey  (SJ)

Mar 22 (Sat): Return to Amico Island Park for a Spring Birding Walk (Burlington Co.) 9 a.m., 2-3 miles, easy pace. Susan Matson is an avid and experienced birder and will again be our guide on this 3rd Sierra Club NJ Chapter Amico walk! The great blue heron rookery becomes active with spring courtship. Look for migrant neotropical birds such as palm, blackpoll, black-throated blue, black-throated green, and magnolia warblers. Resident species, such as yellowthroat and red-winged blackbirds begin territorial singing. Most trails are wide and level, traversing meadows, forest, pond, and wetland habitat. Various points in the park offer very nice views of the Delaware River and the flats at the mouth of Rancocas Creek. Meet us at 81 Norman Ave., Riverside. Please, no dogs on this walk. Bring water, snacks, and binoculars. There is a portable toilet at the parking lot. Some trails can be muddy, appropriate footwear is recommended. Leaders: George and Leona F. pineypaddlers@gmail.com  Registration is required. www.sierraclub.org/new-jersey/west-jersey  (W)