White Clay Creek State Park: Bryan's Field Trail (Blog Hike #1078)

Trail: Bryan's Field Trail
Hike Location: White Clay Creek State Park
Geographic Location: north of Newark, DE (39.72763, -75.72936)
Length: 2.4 miles
Difficulty: 4/10 (Moderate)
Date Hiked: September 2025
Overview: A loop hike through old farm fields and past the Mason-Dixon Monument.
Park Information: https://www.destateparks.com/park/white-clay-creek/
Hike Route Map: 

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming July 31, 2026)

Directions to the trailhead: From Newark, take SR 72 north 5 miles to this park's signed Possum Hill Parking Area on the left.  Pay the park entrance fee, and park in the blacktop lot.

The hike: Located in extreme northwest Delaware flush against the Pennsylvania State Line, White Clay Creek State Park protects 3559 acres of reverting farm fields.  The park was established in 1968 when overdevelopment in northern Delaware encouraged state leaders to buy small pieces of land for recreation.  In 1975, these land plots were consolidated and named Walter S. Carpenter State Park to honor the former President and Chairman of the DuPont Corporation.  Additional purchases and donations enlarged the park to the size we see today.  The park's name changed in 1995, and the current name refers to the kaolin, or white clay, that was once mined in this area.

            Recreation remains the park's main focus today, and the park offers several picnic areas, a disc golf course, and a playground but no developed campground.  For hikers, the park offers 33 different trails totaling over 41 miles.  This hike features the Bryan's Field Trail, which explores several of the many old farm fields in this park.  Even better, the Bryan's Field Trail passes the Mason-Dixon Monument, a key point in the survey of the famous Mason-Dixon line.  Thus, this hike offers some national history in addition to the local farming history.

Trailhead at Possum Hill Parking Area

            From the restroom building and information kiosk at the Possum Hill Parking Area, head downhill on the asphalt entrance trail, then turn left to begin heading clockwise around the Bryan's Field Trail.  Marked with blue trail markers, the Bryan's Field Trail curves right as it heads gradually downhill through an old field that is now a warm sunny prairie.  The asphalt quickly runs out, and the trail surface becomes dirt, which it will remain for the rest of this hike.

Pond with algae

            At 0.2 miles, you reach a floating dock on a small pond that has a thick covering of algae.  I hoped to see some wildlife around this pond, but all was still and quiet when I came here.  Past the pond, the trail continues gradually downhill, and soon it exits the prairie and enters the woods.  Vehicle noise from busy SR 72 through the woods to the left is your near constant companion, but otherwise the hiking is pleasant.

Hiking through the prairie

            At 0.5 miles, you reach a trail intersection where the Bryan's Field Trail Shortcut exits right.  We will continue straight to hike the full Bryan's Field Trail eventually, but first turn right to reach a point of interest 500 feet down the shortcut trail.  Pass a couple of numbered spur trails that access primitive hunting stands to reach the Mason-Dixon Monument.

Mason-Dixon Monument

            In 1763, Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon were hired to mark "an east-west line 15 miles south of the southern-most part of Philadelphia" that would be the boundary between the Provinces of Maryland and Pennsylvania.  The point you are standing at is the point they found to be 15 miles south of the southern-most part of Philadelphia, and they started marking their Mason-Dixon line westward from here.  The original oak post they placed at this point has been lost, and the stone monument you see today was placed here in 1953 by Halleck DuPont.  A bench invites you to sit and ponder all of the history this site has seen.

Footbridge over main stream

            Backtrack to the outer loop of the Bryan's Field Trail and turn right to continue the loop.  0.8 miles into the hike, a connector trail exits left to cross SR 72; it leads to the Lenape Trail and the Middle Run Valley Natural Area.  Angle right to cross an unnamed stream on a wooden footbridge; this stream's ravine contains the entire hike.  After a brief streamside area with lots of black walnut trees, the trail embarks on a gradual climb up the south side of the ravine.  This climb gains about 140 feet of elevation in just over 0.4 miles, and all of the grades on this trail are fairly gradual.

South end of loop

            Just past 1.3 miles, a connector trail that leads south to another trailhead exits left.  Our trail curves sharply right to gain the crest of the ridge.  An open field soon appears to the left, and a white water tower can be seen beyond the field.  Your sojourn on the south rim of the ravine is brief, and soon you begin the gradual descent back into the ravine.

Hiking through the woods

            Ignore 2 trails that exit left; follow the blue trail markers at each of these intersections.  At 1.7 miles you cross another footbridge back to the north side of the main stream.  Some of the largest trees in this forest grow in this area, and I was very impressed by the beech, maple, and tulip trees I passed here.  Gradual climbing brings you beside a privately-owned parcel of land at 1.9 miles; a wooden barn with stone foundation stands here.  I mentioned the piecemeal history of this park in the introduction, and several privately-owned land plots remain within the park's boundaries today.

Old stone barn foundation

            2.1 miles into the hike, you reach the top of the hill and a trail intersection.  The trail going left leads to the Tri-Valley Trail and the Whitely Farm Loop.  As directed by the blue trail markers, our hike turns right to begin the final segment of the Bryan's Field Trail.  This segment of trail is fairly flat, and it passes first a park maintenance area and then an old stone barn foundation on the left as you hike east through sunny prairie.  Just shy of 2.4 miles, you return to the trailhead to complete the hike.

Princeton Battlefield State Park and Institute Woods (Blog Hike #1077)

Trails: Trolley Track, Founders' Walk, River's Edge, and Far Trails
Hike Location: Princeton Battlefield State Park and Institute Woods
Geographic Location: Princeton, NJ (40.32944, -74.67631)
Length: 2.5 miles
Difficulty: 2/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: September 2025
Overview: A flat lollipop loop starting at a Revolutionary War battlefield.
Park Information: https://www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/parks/princetonbattlefieldstatepark.html
Hike Route Map: 

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming April 2027)

Directions to the trailhead: Northeast of Trenton, take I-295 to US 1 (exit 67B).  Exit and go north on US 1.  Drive US 1 north 1 mile to Quakerbridge Road.  Exit and go north on Quakerbridge Rd.  Drive Quakerbridge Rd. 2.8 miles to Mercer Road and take a soft right on Mercer Rd.  The signed park entrance is 0.2 miles ahead on the right.  Turn right to enter the park, and park in the only blacktop lot.

The hike: The first few months after the Americans declared independence from Great Britain on July 4, 1776 did not go well for the American Patriots.  Patriot victories were almost nonexistent, and American General George Washington was forced to conduct a fighting retreat from east to west across New Jersey.  Washington only managed to save Pennsylvania and the American capital at Philadelphia by a brilliant stroke of strategy: after crossing the Delaware River with his army, he ordered all boats moved to the west side of the river.  Thus, the British were unable to get their army across the river until later in the winter when it would freeze solid enough for safe ice crossing.

            Knowing that the British were temporarily stymied and that many of his soldiers' enlistments were about to expire, in late December Washington embarked on a bold and risky counterattack that historians would come to label the Ten Crucial Days.  The first day was the night of December 25, 1776 when Washington and his men famously crossed the icy Delaware River during a winter storm.  That crossing led to a surprise Patriot attack and victory at Trenton the next day.

            The subsequent maneuvers and skirmishes came to a head on January 2, 1777 with the Second Battle of Trenton, another Patriot victory.  The Patriots withdrew to Princeton, where they faced a combination of British and Hessian forces the next day in a snow-covered field.  Against long odds the Patriots were victorious for a third time, and that battle at the conclusion of the Ten Crucial Days came to be known as the Battle of Princeton.  Although these victories would be short-lived, they kept the revolution going when it was on the brink of falling apart.

            The field in which the third battle occurred is today preserved as Princeton Battlefield State Park.  The park was established in 1946, and at only 40 acres it protects the battlefield but not much else.  Fortunately, the Institute of Advanced Studies, an academic research institution loosely affiliated with Princeton University, owns and maintains an adjacent 588-acre tract of woods known as the Institute Woods.  While visitors are not allowed at the Institute, they are allowed to hike the trails in the Institute Woods.  This hike starts at the battlefield and forms a lollipop loop through the Institute Woods, thus getting the most hiking possible out of this historic park.

Mercer Oak at Princeton Battlefield

            Before hitting the trail, walk over to the northeast side of the parking lot to view the battlefield.  Interpretive signs point out the famous Clarke House and the famous Mercer Oak.  The Clarke House dates to 1772 and was owned by Quaker farmer Thomas Clarke.  The Mercer Oak marks where Patriot Brigadier General Hugh Mercer watched his men fight the battle; Mercer refused to leave his men even after he was severely wounded by a British bayonet.  Mercer was transported to the Clarke House after the battle, where he died 9 days later.

Trail entering the Institute Woods

            When you are ready to begin the hike, head to the southwest corner of the parking lot and pick up the gravel trail that heads across the mowed-grass field and into the woods.  Trails in the Institute Woods are mostly laid out in a row and column configuration.  The trails are wide and easy to follow, but not all of them are well-marked.  Thus, the picture I took of the trail map at the information board came in handy several times during my hike.

Princeton Friends Meeting House

            At 0.2 miles, you pass the rear of the Princeton Friends Meeting House, an historic Quaker building.  The Quaker religion requires a vow of pacifism, and during the Revolutionary War both the British and the Americans became disgusted with the Quakers because they refused to fight for their side.  As the war drug on, many Quakers decided that the revolution's righteous cause was more important than their vow of pacifism, and many Quakers joined the Patriots.

Hiking the entrance trail, Institute Woods

            0.3 miles into the hike, you reach a major trail intersection that forms the loop portion of this hike.  Many trail intersections in the Institute Woods are signed, but the signs are small and therefore hard to find and read.  I turned left to head northeast on the Trolley Track Trail, thus hiking the loop clockwise.

Hiking the Trolley Track Trail

            The wide, nearly straight, and nearly flat Trolley Track Trail heads through beautiful forest that features some large maple and tulip trees.  I saw quite a few birds here including a grey catbird, and the hiking is very pleasant.  Ignore trails that exit right or left until you intersect the Founders' Walk at 0.8 miles.  Turn right to begin the Founders' Walk.

Yellow F marking the Founders' Walk

            The Founders' Walk is the only blazed trail in the Institute Woods: yellow F's painted on trees mark the way.  The trail descends gradually, but the Institute Woods occupies very flat land: the difference between maximum and minimum elevation on this hike is less than 60 feet.  Overall, the going remains easy, and the hiking remains pleasant.

Swinging bridge over Stony Brook

            At 1.3 miles, you reach the most popular destination in the Institute Woods: the swinging bridge over Stony Brook.  The thin metal cables and thin wood deck make the bridge look intimidating, but the concrete abutments provide some assurance.  This bridge leads to the old Delaware and Raritan Canal Towpath, so many people enter the Institute Woods via this bridge.  Because this hike started at Princeton Battlefield, the bridge represents the furthest point on our loop.

Stony Brook

            To begin your return route, turn right and begin hiking the River's Edge Trail with Stony Brook through the trees on your left.  The dark waters of Stony Brook come into view several times, and the stream seems poorly named: the watercourse is more muddy and grassy than stony at this point.  Ignore the Middle Trail as it exits right, but when you get to the southwest corner of the Institute Woods turn right to begin the Far Trail; the River's Edge Trail dead-ends in just a few feet.

Hiking the Far Trail

            The Far Trail heads northwest through more of the same beautiful forest you hiked through earlier.  Just past 1.9 miles, you reach an intersection with the Pipeline Trail.  You could go straight or left here, but the shortest route back to the trailhead turns left on the Pipeline Trail.  The Pipeline Trail follows a sewer line corridor, and therefore it does not make for the most inspiring hiking.  At 2.3 miles, you close the loop.  Continue straight to hike back past the Princeton Friends Meeting House and return to the battlefield to complete the hike.

Monmouth Battlefield State Park: Hedgerow, Old Parsonage, and Red Trails (Blog Hike #1076)

Trails: Hedgerow, Old Parsonage, and Red Trails
Hike Location: Monmouth Battlefield State Park
Geographic Location: west of Freehold, NJ (40.26369, -74.32036)
Length: 3.6 miles
Difficulty: 4/10 (Easy/Moderate)
Date Hiked: September 2025
Overview: A loop hike through a major Revolutionary War battlefield.
Park Information: https://nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/parks/monmouthbattlefieldstatepark.html
Hike Route Map: 

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming April 17, 2026)

Directions to the trailhead: From the intersection of US 9 and SR 33 BUS in Freehold, take SR 33 BUS west 1.6 miles to the signed park entrance on the right.  Turn right to enter the park, and park in the large parking lot in front of the Visitor Center.

The hike: The first 2 years of the Revolutionary War did not go well for the American Patriots.  Victories were almost nonexistent, the British captured the American capital at Philadelphia in September 1777, and the American Continental Army nearly starved and froze to death at their Valley Forge camp during the winter of 1777-78.  But on February 6, 1778, a major ray of hope shined through the gloom: France signed a treaty of alliance with the United States, and several weeks later both France and Spain declared war on the British.  For the first time, the upstart American patriots had some official European help.

            Worried they would be trapped inland by the new alliance, the British abandoned Philadelphia on June 18, 1778 and marched their troops to the safety of their navy in New York City.  Although he was outnumbered nearly 2 to 1, Patriot General George Washington knew the British would be exposed during their march.  Thus, he chose to ambush the British at Monmouth, NJ, which features some of the highest hills between Philadelphia and New York.

            The ambush happened on June 28.  When British General Sir Henry Clinton realized a large number of American troops were in the area, he counter-attacked aggressively, hoping to destroy the American Continental Army once and for all.  At first the British advanced westward rapidly, and the Americans traded ground for time.  But eventually the British ended up in a field where they came under attack from 2 directions: General Washington to the west and General Nathanael Greene to the south.  At 11pm, the British withdrew to continue their march to New York, and the Americans had won a battle against British regular troops for the first time.

            Since 1961 the battlefield at Monmouth has been protected as Monmouth Battlefield State Park.  An impressive Visitor Center sits atop Coombs Hill where General Greene was stationed, and it features many exhibits and an interpretive video that ends with a live view of the battlefield.  The park also features 13 trails that total nearly 18 miles.  This hike tours the main battlefield, but it also explores the wooded areas around Coombs Hill, thus allowing you to experience both the human history and natural scenery this park has to offer.

Trailhead at back of Visitor Center

            From the 2 interpretive signs at the back (north side) of the Visitor Center, notice the footbridge downhill and to the left; that bridge will be our return route.  Angle right and start heading downhill to the north to find a second eastern footbridge that is not visible from the Visitor Center.  A very informative interpretive guide is available in the Visitor Center for the first part of this hike, and numbered posts correspond to points of historical interest in the guide.

Eastern bridge over wetlands

            As you cross the eastern bridge, notice the wetlands that make these bridges necessary.  These wetlands were critical to the battle's outcome: they prevented the British in front of you from charging General Greene's artillery position atop Coombs Hill behind you, thereby eliminating one of the Americans' 2 angles of attack.  After crossing the bridge, turn right at the next 2 intersections to begin a gradual climb into an apple orchard.  While hiking through an apple orchard may seem unusual and uninspiring, this land was being farmed at the time of the battle.  Thus, the orchard gives the correct historical ambiance.

The Hedgerow

            At 0.5 miles, you come to an area known as The Hedgerow.  The Hedgerow was the center of the battlefield, and it changed hands several times with the British charging from the right and the Americans retreating to the left.  A reconstructed wooden fence stands here today, and the next segment of the hike takes you north along this fence.  The Hedgerow is stops #3 and #4 in the interpretive guide, and the guide gives detailed information about the fighting that happened here.

North end of the Hedgerow

            Where the dirt orchard access road turns right, continue straight to keep heading north on mowed-grass trail.  The trails through the historic battlefield are unmarked, so the interpretive guide helps keep you on course.  At 0.8 miles, you reach the north end of The Hedgerow; railroad tracks and a road can be seen just ahead.  Do not cross the railroad tracks or road, but turn left to walk west, still on unmarked mowed-grass trail.

Interpretive sign marking The Parsonage

            Turn left again just past 1 mile, and reach the former site of The Parsonage at 1.1 miles.  The Parsonage was the turning point in the battle, and it marks the furthest advance of the British: retreating Patriots used the parsonage's shelter and good sight lines to hold their ground.  Nothing of The Parsonage remains today, but interpretive signs describe the action here.

Western bridge over wetland

            The trail curves right and then left as it goes up and over a low ridge before descending gradually.  At 1.6 miles, you cross the western bridge over the wetland, and the Visitor Center comes in sight uphill directly ahead.  If you are getting tired, running out of daylight, or only want to tour the battlefield, you could head directly to the Visitor Center and conclude your hike now.  To also see this park's natural areas, angle right as you head uphill to find the start of the Red Trail.

Start of the Red Trail

            Natural area hiking trails at this park are marked with brown carsonite posts bearing color-coded stickers, and no less than 4 different colors appear on the first post.  The White, Green, and Yellow Trails are all shorter versions of the Red Trail, and I followed the Red Trail for its entire distance.  All 4 trails head west on a wide dirt/grass path with Spotswood South Brook close on the right.  The forest is young and brushy, making the scenery less than attractive.

Hiking near Spotswood South Brook

            First the Yellow and then the Green Trails exit left.  At 2.2 miles, the Red Trail angles left to head away from the brook and enter the nicest forest on this hike.  Large old trees live here.  A brief steep climb brings you to the uplands.  Where the White Trail continues straight, turn right to stay on the Red Trail.

Old Coombs Farm field

            The southern arm of the Red Trail takes you through the grassy former fields of the old Coombs Farm.  Highway noise from SR 33 filters in from the right.  At 3.2 miles, turn right to stay on the Red Trail.  A final segment through a sunny field brings you to the park entrance road, where a left turn and short road walk return you to the parking lot to complete the hike.