Morris County High Point

The 3,200-acre Mahlon Dickerson Reservation is the largest park in the Morris County park system. It has a number of developed recreational facilities, but also many remote sections. This hike begins by following the popular Pine Swamp Loop, continues along unmarked and less-used footpaths and woods roads, then rejoins the Pine Swamp Loop as it passes the fascinating Pine Swamp and climbs to the highest point in Morris County. Although they can easily be followed, some of the trails and woods roads on this hike are unmarked, so those who are not confident of their route-finding ability might wish to choose another hike.

From the end of the parking area, follow a service road marked with the teal blazes of the Highlands Trail. You will pass a fitness center, and in about 500 feet, the pavement ends. Soon, you will reach a junction with the white-blazed Pine Swamp Trail. Turn right, now following both white and teal blazes, and head downhill. After crossing a brook, turn left and climb gradually on a gravel road, continuing to follow the white and teal blazes.

At the top of the climb, you'll reach a Y-intersection. Take the right fork, then immediately turn right again, leaving the gravel road, and continue on an unmarked footpath which heads into the woods. Although this trail is not blazed, it is well defined and easy to follow. After crossing a level area, the trail bears right and descends on a winding footpath until it ends at a T-intersection with a narrow woods road (also unmarked).

Turn left and follow this road, which soon narrows to a footpath. In a short distance, you'll reach an open area to the right of the trail which provides a view of the Jefferson High School and Middle School below, and the hills beyond. Unfortunately, this attractive spot has been marred by graffiti painted on rocks and trees.

The trail now bears left and begins to descend. At the base of the descent, it reaches a cascading brook and turns left to parallel it. As you head upstream along the brook, a sign on a tree identifies the route you are following as the Cascade Trail. The trail bears left, away from the brook, descends to the brook in an area where the brook widens into several branches, then again climbs away from the brook.

The unmarked trail ends at a wide woods road - the route of the white-blazed Pine Swamp Trail. Cross the road diagonally to the right, and you will notice three black diamonds on a tree. They mark the start of a trail that is blazed with black diamonds. Follow this trail, which briefly parallels the brook, then continues through mountain laurel. After crossing a boulder field, the trail climbs a slope and comes out amid hemlocks.

A short distance beyond, three black diamonds signify the end of this trail. You're now at the edge of the fascinating Pine Swamp (note the rhododendron bushes, characteristic of the swamp). Here you should turn right onto a rough woods road, marked occasionally with faded blue blazes, which proceeds through more mountain laurel thickets. You'll note an orange-blazed trail which begins to the left, but you should continue ahead on the woods road.

After crossing a stream on rocks (the crossing can be a little tricky after heavy rains), you'll reach a T-intersection with another woods road. Turn left and head uphill, now following a road marked with faded yellow blazes.

Soon, you'll reach a T-intersection with a wide woods road - the route of the white-blazed Pine Swamp Trail. Turn left onto the Pine Swamp Trail, which you'll be following for the remainder of the hike. After descending on the road for about 200 feet, you'll notice an open area to the left. A rock ledge at the end of this open area offers a view of the Pine Swamp below. Characterized by spruce, hemlock, rhododendron and mountain laurel, this swamp is remote and gives a feeling of deep wilderness. You'll want to take a break here and take some time to appreciate this unusual feature.

Continue ahead on the white-blazed trail, which goes around the swamp. More rhododendron may be seen ahead to the right, along the trail. After crossing a small brook, the trail climbs slightly to reach another junction, where you should bear left to continue on the white-blazed trail. You'll notice some plastic yellow and blue markers on the trees, which indicate that this portion of the trail is open to horses and bicycles (none were evident on a recent visit to the park).
Still on a wide woods road, the trail now climbs gradually to the highest point in Morris County (1,395 feet), marked by a sign placed by the Morris County Park Commission. The actual high point is a short distance to the right of the trail.

The trail now begins a steady but gentle descent, soon reaching a fork, where you should bear left. In another half mile, after a slight climb, you'll reach another junction. Turn left here, then left again in another 75 feet. The second turn once marked the beginning of the green-blazed Boulder Trail, named for the interesting large boulders which can be seen on both sides of the trail. The green blazes have been obliterated (you should continue to follow the white blazes), but the boulders remain.

In another half mile, follow the white blazes as they turn right onto a footpath. When the footpath ends, the trail turns right onto a woods road, then left onto another road (follow the sign to the picnic area). At the next T-intersection, you turn left again and soon reach a sign which marks the end of the Pine Swamp Trail. Turn right onto the road which leads back to the picnic area and the parking area where the hike began.