Since I had to go to Jersey for gas I suggested the Morris Canal Trail. I saw a story about a trailhead outside of Phillipsburg. I also remembered seeing something about it when we did the Warren County hike on the Highlands Trail. Remember, it's the summer of new trails.
According to Wikipedia, The Morris Canal (1829–1924) was a 107-mile (172-km) common carrier coal canal across northern New Jersey in the United States that connected the two industrial canals at Easton, Pennsylvania, across the Delaware River from its western terminus at Phillipsburg, New Jersey, to New York Harbor and the New York City markets via its eastern terminals in Newark and on the Hudson River Jersey City, New Jersey.
After a few false starts, we found it. It's next door to Norton's Cork and Bottle, in front of the Sewer Treatment Plant. Bet it smells great on a hot, sunny day. The trailhead is large enough for about 25 cars. There's a bunch of informative signs, and maps. There are a few cut outs that the teen enjoyed playing with. Then we hit the trail. This section is maybe a generous half mile and runs along the Lopatcong Creek right into an industrial neighborhood. We saw a cool bridge, but it was locked. Bet it went to the sewer plant. I'm sure if we go back in five or ten years this will be a booming trail, like the D&L. Not yet. Rome wasn't built in a day.
The sign above said that the trail continued west (right). But we were walking in an alley that would take us back to south Main Street. There was a paved path that went behind a school. Maybe that was it. It was all very confusing. So instead we went to Steve's Cafe.
Steve's Cafe is a neighborhood bar (I'm almost certain there is no longer a cafe) with a lot of character that Angel wrote stories about when she worked for the Free Press and the Chronicles. (The lamps were vintage Schlitz Beer, as was the banner over the bar.) The walls were vintage faux paneling, and every inch of wall space was covered with framed articles, tributes, posters and bar-style signs. The former sitting area was piled with boxes. There was no place to sit but the bar. Maryanne, the owner, was ill so couldn't stay and chat.
Then it was back out to the sidewalk and we headed back to the trail head. There was no trail going the other direction, and we think that we might have had to go up the hill to continue but we weren't sure. The map provided is small and it really needs details of each trail head if they want people to walk it. But without a good map, we weren't going.
We drove down Main Street, to the train station. We thought we could find the trail again. Not really. But we did find the Morris Memorial Arch. Sort of.
We were walking on the tracks (no trains today) and there was a path into the woods. The teen took it. We followed. We were now facing a bunch of large stones. We climbed up them. We had found the arch. It was UNDER us. We were standing on top.
There were two stone walls and a separation in the middle. If you weren't careful you could fall in. Well maybe not me, but certainly Angel. She's so skinny.
After confirming that there were no trains today, the teen used the railroad tracks as a balance beam.
We explored some more and then headed back to the car and home.
Miles/Steps: Maybe 1.5. No more than 2
Weather: low 80s, medium humidity, overcast and drizzle
Bathrooms: I-4.5 for cleanliness at the train station. I used the men's room. Really, there was nobody else there; let's not stand on formality. But it did stink. I think that has to do with the heat.
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