Loantaka Brook Reservation facts for kids
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Loantaka Brook Reservation
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| Location | Morris County, New Jersey |
| Length | 5.1 miles |
| Trailheads | |
| Use | Walking, biking, horseback riding, cross country skiing, recreation, rollerblading |
| Difficulty | Easy walking trails, medium horseback, ADA accessible |
| Surface | Asphalt and crushed limestone |
| Hours | Year-around, dawn to sunset |
| Amenities | Benches, playground, athletic fields, mounting blocks, restrooms, benches, picnic facilities at trailheads |
| Bathrooms | Three restrooms located throughout the trail |
The Loantaka Brook Reservation is a cool nature reserve and public park located in Morris County, New Jersey, in the United States. It has about five miles of trails perfect for jogging, hiking, and biking. Right next to it, you'll find the Seaton Hackney Stables, which are run by the Morris County Park Commissions. Here, you can go horseback riding on trails that follow the Loantaka Brook. The park has four main parts: the South Street recreation area, the Seaton Hackney Stables, the Loantaka Brook area near Kitchell Road, and the Loantaka Way Trail.
Contents
Discovering Loantaka Brook Reservation
A Look Back: How the Park Started
The land that makes up Loantaka Brook Reservation used to be private property. Over time, many people in the community generously donated large pieces of land. This helped create the park we know today. The park officially opened in 1957, after the Seaton Hackney Stables were added through a gift from Mr. and Mrs. Paul Moore in the 1900s.
Later, more land was added by Helen Hartley Jenkins Wood, and also by Marcellus Hartley Dodge Sr. and Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge. The Dodge family's gift was really important because it connected the two biggest parts of the reservation. Today, the park's trails cover 570 acres in one of New Jersey's busiest counties. In the past, the trails were mostly used by hikers and horseback riders. But now, with different types of trails, like wide paved paths and dirt trails, the park is great for cyclists, rollerbladers, and anyone who loves being outdoors.
There are even talks about making the trail system bigger in the future. They might connect the Loantaka trails to the ones in the nearby Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. In 2009, Helen Mead Platt also donated more land to the park system.
Trail Design and What to Expect
The trails at Loantaka Brook Reservation are split into three main sections, each with its own color code.
Yellow Blaze Trail
The first part is called the Yellow Blaze Trail. It starts near the horse stables at the South Street entrance and goes south towards Kitchell Road. This section is special because it has two separate trails running side-by-side. One is a crushed limestone trail for horses, and the other is a paved path (called macadam) that was redone in 2012.
Blue Blaze and Red Blaze Trails
This pattern of side-by-side trails continues through the middle section, known as the Blue Blaze Trails. The last part, the Red Blaze, is less developed and only has paved surfaces. The park is generally flat with no big hills, which makes it perfect for young kids learning to ride bikes.
How the Park is Managed
The park is carefully managed to keep it healthy for everyone. For example, sometimes park staff work to manage the deer population to make sure there are enough resources for all animals and plants. You might see signs about this. In winter, parts of the trails can get icy, so be careful! Also, the pond near Kitchell Road sometimes has a lot of Canada geese. The park tries different ways to encourage them to move on.
Park Features and Fun Things to Do
The trails offer two main types of surfaces. There's a wide paved path, great for bicyclists and rollerbladers. There are also packed gravel and limestone trails, which are perfect for horses and joggers. You'll find parking lots at three different entrances. The restrooms along the Loantaka Way Trails are cleaned every day during the summer, and there are working water fountains, except in winter. Plus, you can have picnics and use grills near the South Street and Kitchell Road entrances. There's even a playground for kids near the South Street entrance!
Community Support and Events
The Morris County Parks Commission takes care of Loantaka Brook Reservation. They are always looking for ways to make it better, like adding new paved trails and picnic areas. The park often hosts cool events like bicycle races, music shows, and fundraisers. Every spring, volunteers gather for cleanup events. They help remove plants that don't belong and plant native ones. It's a great way to help the park! In 2010, New York Jets football player Jim Leonhard even joined an event at the reservation to help raise money to fight childhood obesity.
Gallery
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Sunlight peeking through the trees.
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The entrance to the Blue Blaze Trail.
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The Loantaka Way entrance sign.
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People jogging on the paved bike path.
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A peaceful pathway winding through the woods.
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A bridge crossing a small creek.
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The horse path next to a stream with reflections.
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A stream flowing through the woods with lots of green plants.
Images for kids
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Kitchell Pond at sunset.
