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Maintaining The Trails At The Tourne

The research for this page was done in May 2002 by M.W., a 6th grade student at Briarcliff School, as part of the class’s Environmental Integrated Curriculum project on the Tourne.  In the EIC, each student picks a topic and does separate sub-projects on that topic in Social Studies, Science, Math, and English.  M.W.’s teachers are Mrs Anderson and Mrs MacQueen.

Social Studies

 

Human Impact
TO BE CONSIDERED SOLUTION
Litter Trash cans are located at several locations along the DeCamp Trail and other popular spots.  Hikers, bikers and picnickers are asked to place their trash in the trash cans.County Park employees must empty these trash cans to avoid animal contact.
Bike tires leaving ruts in trails Bikes are not allowed on Mountain Lakes’ trails and certain trails in the Tourne such as the Wildflower Trail.  Main trails have gravel on them not just dirt.  The gravel helps stop bike tires from making ruts in the trail.
People walking their pets and riding horses in the Tourne Dogs must be kept on a leash.  Dog walkers should use a pooper scooper.  Horses can only be ridden on marked Bridle Trails.
Benches for tired hikers and picnic tables for hungry park visitors Wooden benches made from logs are located along trails.  Picnic tables are located in recreation areas and at the top of the Tourne.  County Park employees must fix/replace the benches and tables when the wood gets rotten

OBSERVATIONS ON MY HIKE

 

  • Trails are mostly clean except for the cigarette I found along the Hemlock Trail.
  • Gravel does not always protect the trails from bike tire ruts as seen along the DeCamp Trail.
  • Horses can leave waste along trails.  Dog walkers sometimes do not clean up after their dogs.
  • Some benches along the DeCamp trail have been replaced recently

 

Tire Marks from a bike on Decamp Trail Dog Waste on Decamp Trail
Cigarette Butt thrown on Hemlock Trail Trash Can on Decamp Trail

 

Science

 

Natural Impact

 

TO BE CONSIDERED SOLUTION
Bears and Woodpeckers hurting trees.  Deers and other creatures destroying ground cover and wildflowers. Studies are being done to see how the bear and deer population can be controlled in the area.  A fence has been put around the Wildflower Trail to keep animals from destroying plants.  Nothing I know of is being done about the Woodpeckers.
Hemlock trees being destroyed by mites The county could spray the Hemlock trees with a “soap” that kills the insects.  However, most hemlock trees along the Hemlock Trail are dead already.
Rain and water runoff washing out the trails on impervious and pervious surfaces. Pipes have been placed under gravel trails (pervious) to redirect water runoff from rocks (impervious).

OBSERVATIONS ON MY HIKE

 

  • Woodpecker holes in dead trees.
  • Bear claw marks on trees along the Hemlock Trail.
  • Hemlock trees on the Hemlock Trail have the mites on them.
  • Some places along the DeCamp trail did not have pipes at places where water was running across the trail causing damage to the trail.  Pipes in some spots are either broken or clogged.  Water running down the trail is causing soil and trail erosion.  Other pipes were sticking up out of the ground which could cause injury to hikers and bikers.

 

 

naturalimpact01 naturalimpact02
Water runoff causing damage on Decamp Trail Wookpecker holes on Hemlock Trail
naturalimpact03 naturalimpact04
Bear markings on Hemlock Trail Clogged broken pipe on Decamp Trail

 

Math

 

Statistics
  • The main hiking trail is approximately 4 miles.
  • The Tourne is 219.85 acres.
  • The highest point in the park is 767 feet.

 

trailwidth01 trailwidth02
Decamp Trail was measured to be 8 feet wide allowing a tractor to be used for maintenance. Hemlock Trail was measured to be 8 feet wide allowing a tractor to be used for maintenance.
trailwidth03  
Unnnamed trail was measured to be 4 feet wide — too narrow to use a tractor for maintenance.  

 

Reading

 

More About the Trails
  • The Wildflower Trail was established in 1962 by the Garden Clubs of Mountain Lakes and Rockaway Valley.  These Garden Clubs continue to maintain the flowers on the trail.  Heavy maintenance is done by Morris County Park employees.
  • Over 250 plants native to Morris County are planted along the Wildflower Trail.
  • There’s no visible division between Mountain Lakes trails and those of the Morris County Park, The Tourne
  • Unnamed trails can be found going through the Wildflower Trail, the hemlock grove, and to the top of the Tourne.  All these trails join with the Denville trail system.
  • Trails to the top of the Tourne vary from quite steep to moderately sloped.
  • Trails wind in and around the picnic areas as well as the recreation areas.
  • Doing the winter months, many of the trails in the Tourne are used for sledding and cross country skiing.
  • White Tail Deer, Grouse, Raccoon, Rabbit, Red and Gray Fox and other animals live in the Tourne.
  • Dogs must be kept on a leash while in the Park.

 

English

 

A Saturday Hike

I went on a hike
through the Tourne
on a Saturday

I went with my Mom
I went with my Dad
We went on the Hemlock Trail
and the Decamp Trail
on a Saturday

I took a camera
on the trail and
took pictures for EIC
on a Saturday

Now you can see,
the pictures I took
on a Saturday


– M.W.

 

Questions or Comments
(The students have graduated and are long gone.  This e-mail link goes to the Webmaster who will attempt to answer.)

 

Please preserve these irreplaceable pieces of history for future generations.  It’s up to you!

 

Take only pictures. Leave only footprints.

Sights

  • The upper three lakes,
  • Rattlesnake Valley,
  • Elephant Rock
  • Mouse cradle balancing rock,
  • Spring house,
  • Rifle range,
  • Tower Hill sled run,
  • Boiling spring.

Briarcliff EIC Projects

Trail Maps

  • Halsey Frederick Park,
  • Maple Way Woodlands,
  • Richard M. Wilcox & Tourne Parks,
  • Mountain Lakes Eastern Trails

Morris County

  • Boonton Falls,
  • Pyramid Mountain,
  • Farny Highlands Trails,
  • Mahlon Dickerson Reservation,
  • Patriots Path,
  • The Great Swamp,
  • Jockey Hollow.

Northern New Jersey

  • Delaware Water Gap National Recreational Area,
  • High Point State Park,
  • Stokes State Forest.

About

Mountain Lakes is located in north-central New Jersey where the rolling hills of the New Jersey's Piedmont region meet the rocky outcroppings of the Highlands.

Our History

In 1910, Mountain Lakes was a rural woodland owned by a few families with names such as Righter, Grimes, Ball and Van Duyne. In the space of ten years, however, the entire face of Mountain Lakes changed from a wilderness of Dutch and English properties to a planned suburban community. Learn More

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Mountain Lakes, NJ 07046
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