Hacklebarney State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hacklebarney State Park |
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The Black River, Hacklebarney State Park
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| Type | "State Park" |
| Location | Morris County |
| Area | 1,186 acres (4.80 km2) |
| Operated by | New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry |
| Visitors | 100,000 visitors annually |
Hacklebarney State Park is a beautiful state park in New Jersey. It's located in Morris County, between the towns of Long Valley and Chester. The park is looked after by the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry. It's a great place to explore nature and enjoy the outdoors!
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What You Can Do at the Park
Hacklebarney State Park is a fantastic place for hiking all year round. The park covers about 978 acres (3.96 km2) and has many hiking trails. The Black River flows right through the middle of the park. Two smaller streams, Trout Brook and Rinehart Brook, feed into the Black River.
The river is surrounded by huge rocks. These rocks create many cool waterfalls that you can see from the trails. At the end of some trails, the river flows into a pond where people can swim. The park is famous for its amazing hiking paths and beautiful views. It's especially pretty in the fall when the leaves change colors!
Visiting the Park
The park is open every day from when the sun comes up until it sets. There is no fee to enter the park.
You'll find over 100 picnic tables spread throughout the park. These tables cannot be reserved, so they are available first-come, first-served. There are also charcoal grills near the picnic tables for cooking.
- Bikes are not allowed on the trails; they are only for hiking.
- Pets are welcome, but they must always be on a leash.
- There's a playground near the parking lot and restrooms.
- The park has limited access for wheelchairs, mostly just the bathrooms and parking lot.
- Horseback riding is not allowed.
Right across from the park, you can find the Hacklebarney Farm Cider Mill. This family-run spot serves warm apple cider and homemade apple cider donuts. It's a fun stop after a hike, especially in the fall. They also have a cornfield and pumpkin patch during the autumn season.
Wildlife and Nature
Hacklebarney State Park is home to many different animals and plants. Over 100 kinds of birds live here! You might also spot black bears, foxes, woodchucks, deer, and squirrels.
Fishing is allowed in the park. The New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife regularly adds Brown, Rainbow, and Brook Trout to the Black River. Hunting is also allowed in certain parts of the park that are not used for day visitors.
You can also find some rare plants in the park. These include American ginseng, leatherwood, and Virginia pennywort.
Park History
The land where Hacklebarney State Park is today was first home to many Native Americans tribes. Over thousands of years, these tribes changed from hunters to farmers, like the Lenni Lenape people. You can still see signs of these tribes near the Black River, like old "mushpots."
In the early 1700s, the area became mostly farmland. As more people moved in, iron mines started to open. For over 100 years, these iron mines were very important in the area.
How the Park Started
The land for Hacklebarney State Park was given by a man named Adolphe E. Borie. He was a businessman who worked with zinc and steel. On June 5, 1924, Adolphe and his wife, Sarah Borie, donated 32 acres (0.13 km2) to the people of New Jersey.
They had a few rules for their gift:
- The park should be used for picnics and family trips.
- It should also be a place to learn about forests.
- The Bories could camp at five special spots in the park.
- A memorial had to be built for Adolphe's mother, Susan Borie, and his niece, Susan Patterson. This was done by placing two stone pillars at the park's entrance.
In 1929, Adolphe gave 90 more acres (0.36 km2) to the park. He suggested moving the park entrance further south along the Black River. His idea was accepted, and he donated even more land. The state then decided to spend money to develop the park.
The Golden Age of Parks
The development of Hacklebarney Park was part of a big national effort called "The Golden Age of Parks." During this time, there was a huge focus on protecting nature. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was a special group created to help.
The CCC's goals were:
- To create jobs for young men aged 17-24.
- To build new parks.
- To protect national monuments.
- To save forest land.
Hacklebarney Park was part of this movement from 1933 to 1943. Over 1,000 men worked in the park during this time. They built trails, picnic tables, and many other things the park needed. Even though some of their work is no longer used, the CCC's efforts were the biggest conservation project ever done in the park.
The first superintendent of the park was likely C.E. Pollock. He managed the park during the CCC years and into the 1940s. In 1981, the park was almost closed because of budget cuts. But today, Hacklebarney Park welcomes over 100,000 visitors every year!
How Hacklebarney Got Its Name
No one is completely sure how Hacklebarney got its name, but there are a few ideas:
- Native American Roots: Some people think the name comes from Native American words. Haki means "ground," and barney might be from bohihen (to put wood on fire) or hackiboni (to put wood on fire on the ground, or bonfire).
- Iron Mining Story: Another idea comes from the park's iron mining past. There was a mine foreman named Barney Tracey who often teased the workers. So, people called him "Heckle" Barney.
- Land Owner: The last idea is that the land near the Hacklebarney mine might have been owned by someone named Barney Hackle.
Hacklebarney in Pop Culture
- In an episode of the TV show The Sopranos called "From Where to Eternity", a scene was described as happening in the park. However, the scene was actually filmed in Paramus.
