Franklin Parker Trail Loop
Directions to trailhead
Take I-287 to Exit 30B. Proceed ahead at the traffic light, crossing U.S. 202, and continue on Childs Road. In 0.2 mile, turn right onto Hardscrabble Road, and follow this narrow, winding road for 1.9 miles to Lloyd Road. Turn left onto Lloyd Road and proceed to its end at Mendham Road. Turn right onto Mendham Road, continue for 2.0 miles, and bear left at the fork onto Pleasant Valley Road. In 0.7 mile, turn right at a small sign for “Schiff - Vickers Brook Preserve” and continue downhill to the parking area.
Hike Description
This loop hike traverses the 355-acre Schiff Nature Preserve, the largest private nature preserve in Morris County, as well as the adjacent 107-acre McVickers Brook Preserve. For most of the way, the hike follows broad woods roads, but several sections are on narrower footpaths.
From the parking area, head into the woods on the white-blazed Franklin Parker Trail, proceeding through an area with tangled vines. After crossing two streams on wooden bridges, the trail goes up wooden steps and begins to climb gradually. Soon, the trail bears right and continues on a relatively level route, following a woods road through an area with low vegetation.
In half a mile, the orange-blazed Farrelly Trail begins on the left. Continue ahead on the white-blazed trail, which jogs to the right, then to the left. The trail now enters a forested area and narrows to a footpath. After crossing a stream on a wooden footbridge, the trail begins a steady climb, soon widening to a woods road. Near the crest of the rise, the trail bears right at a fork and descends a little, soon reaching a second fork, which marks the junction of the main Franklin Parker Trail with a spur that leads in half a mile to a parking area on Thomas Road. You should bear left to stay on the main trail.
After crossing a wet area on a short boardwalk, you’ll reach a wide woods road. To the left, it is the route of the yellow-blazed Olde Colonial Road. Continue ahead on the white-blazed trail, which crosses the road, climbs a little, and proceeds ahead on a wide woods road, following a relatively level route.
After passing two concrete bench supports, the trail curves to the left and begins to climb. Soon, it curves to the right, crosses a wet area on a boardwalk and levels off. Approaching the northern boundary of the preserve, the trail curves sharply to the left.
A short distance ahead, the trail bears right at a fork and resumes a steady climb. After reaching the crest of the rise, it descends a little to reach a clearing with a stone fire ring and two picnic tables. Here, both the main stem and a branch of the purple-blazed Ann’s Trail begin on the left.
At the end of the clearing, turn right to continue on the white-blazed Franklin Parker Trail, which continues to descend, passing an outhouse on the left. After proceeding through an area with many fallen trees, the descent steepens, and the trail reaches the wide North Gate Road, a red-blazed woods road (to the right, it leads in 300 feet to the paved Roxticus Road).
Continue ahead on the Franklin Parker Trail, which crosses the road and turns left to parallel it. A short distance ahead, the Franklin Parker Trail turns right and heads downhill, but you should proceed ahead, now following the green-blazed Green Bar Trail, which begins here.
After climbing a little, the green-blazed trail levels off on an old woods road. It then climbs briefly to reach a wide woods road, the route of the yellow-blazed Olde Colonial Road. Turn left and follow the road for 125 feet, then turn right onto a footpath, continuing on the green-blazed trail. The trail climbs gradually to the crest of the rise. Here, the trail turns left and descends to the paved North Gate Road, where it ends.
Turn left onto the red-blazed North Gate Road and head downhill, passing homes on the right. In 0.2 mile, turn right onto the yellow-blazed Olde Colonial Road, which climbs a little and then descends steadily. After passing an historic stone foundation on the right, bear right at a fork and head downhill on a grassy woods road. At the next fork, again bear right.
At the base of the descent (opposite the North Conservation Pond), turn left onto the orange-blazed Farrelly Trail, which descends wooden steps and follows a footpath along a stream, passing a number of fallen trees. After passing the South Conservation Pond on the left, the orange-blazed trail ends at the white-blazed Franklin Parker Trail. Turn right onto this trail and retrace your steps for about half a mile to the parking area where the hike began.