Hacklebarney State Park — Attraction in Washington Township

This park was packed and most of the people we saw didn't care about social distancing or wearing masks, something we consider super important. BUT once you venture deeper into the trails it is not bad at all.

We were surprised by the amount of people at this park but there are places to barbecue and tons of picnic tables available, especially near the entrance, so that was what drew the majority of the people. It looks like a blast for a typical summer and we will definitely barbecue here once COVID is under control, hopefully next summer.

Once you reach the red path that meanders next to the river (Red Wallaby Riverside Loop), there are far less people hiking. The path becomes very rocky right next to the river, so just be aware of that, especially if you're going with smaller children.

There are tons of places to skip rocks or wade in the water. Although there are posted signs in many places that say "No swimming," we encountered a lot of people in bathing suits fully immersed, mostly children. The current is quick in some places, so if you or your children do wade or attempt to swim in the water, be careful.

We took a shortcut at the Blue Collar Loop to the main trail back to the parking lot. That trail is much easier to traverse, (wide and smooth) but it is predominantly uphill for a while so it gets tiring after having walked the rest of the trail (especially with kids).

There are bathrooms open and available near the entrance but we tried to steer clear of pretty much everything at the beginning because of the sheer mass of people at the park. It was an exceptionally hot day and a weekend, so I'm not sure if it is always like that but if you're being cautious, be sure to wear a mask, venture deeper into the park, or hold off visiting until...

Probably won't be a five if I hadn't visited during the fall foliage, but upon witnessing its glory during our visit, the hike and the sceneries are as good as it gets. We hiked on Nov 5. It was after the peak foliage, but the colors were still spectacular. It was a brisk sunny day, perfect for hiking.

From the parking lot, we started with the Main Trail. This part was paved, though not in good condition. With the picnic area on the right (also where wheelchairs can't go any further), we took the Windy Ridge Trail which could be easily missed. There are a lot of tree roots. At the end of the trail, we cross the bridge on the right, which is the start of the Riverside Trail. As soon as you see the river, look for a park bench on a pedestal on your right, because you wouldn't want miss the most picturesque view there. Don't let the name of the trail fool you. The part of Riverside trail right up to the Three Pools Trail is rocky and difficult to hike. Trail is also hard to follow. We took the Three Pools Trail back to the Main Trail. Before concluding the hike, we made an excursion to the Waterfall Trail for the waterfall which was not easy to get close to despite reaching the bottom of the long staircase for the Trout Brook Waterfall.

It took us 2 hours while taking lots of photos along the way, and it covered about half of the trail. We hope to come back some day to explore the rest of the trails.

There are plenty of parking. The approaches to the park from both the east and west are a bit unexpected. Almost just a single lane in some parts, and windy in others. Remote and out of the way for sure, but that's makes this state park even more of a...

I adore this park. I’ve been coming up here for over 35 years with my husband, kids, and have introduced many friends to it as well. Unfortunately, my biggest issue (as well as others I’ve passed every time there) is that the trails are VERY poorly marked. By this, I mean that you will not know which trail will lead you to what location, nor what type of terrain to expect. This can be an enormous issue for many people of all ages and capabilities. There is a map near the parking lot as well as paper ones available to take along. BUT…. the trails are not labeled properly, and it’s always a guessing game (unless you’re extremely familiar and come often). There is signage at some of the intersections with historic information. There should be a map at each intersection to let you see exactly where you are AND which way to the parking lot. These are extremely easy things to achieve, and they’d prevent frustrated people from needing to ask others for help (which has happened almost every time I’ve visited). Otherwise, it’s really a very beautiful place to walk. There are benches along some of the trails as well as picnic tables. Many are in disrepair, but could very easily be fixed by a couple people within one day and a trip to Home Depot. I’m hoping someone from the State Parks will read this. These are honestly very easy fixes to make a truly lovely location...