Merrill Creek Reservoir

I didn't think I would ever post about Merrill Creek, but then I remembered that not everyone who reads this blog is from Warren County, New Jersey, so I'm not exactly like the old lady blogging about her review of Olive Garden...right?

It's not a bad stop by an amateur hiker's standards.  The man-made reservoir is 650 acres, and you could get more than an 8 mile hike out of the day if you really wanted to.

Check out the trail map here.

My dad and I took family for a quick 1.5 mile hike when they came to visit from Pennsylvania (note to ADD self- I want to hike Hawk Mountain in Kempton, PA.  Right after my dad told me about this spot, I saw a PA license plate in RI that said HawkMtn- weird coincidence).

What we brought:
-walking sticks, which I PROMISE to take a picture of next time
-sneakers (not to be confused with my cat named Sneakers, pictured below)

Awwww.... see, his white paws look like sneakers! Aren't we a creative family...

What we wish we brought:
- Bug spray (Bugs didn't really bother us, but West Nile has really kicked it up a notch. It might be a good idea to spray yourself before heading out).
- Sneakers (the cat).

My cousin used the runkeeper app to keep track of our distance.  Apparently, it can track your exact route using the gps on your phone (you can't fake it, folks).  I think I'll try it the next time I head out, especially since it's free!

If you go to Merrill Creek, you might see some black bear (we have before), but you will most likely see approximately 1,081 deer. I refuse to post a picture.

However, this is a pretty shot.

I could write more about the trails themselves, so comment if you'd prefer less narrative and more of a guide.

Also, let me know if you go!