Black River Wildlife Management Area
Park Overview:
The Patriots’ Path [white] follows four miles of the abandoned Chester Branch of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad, which closely parallels the Black River though the wildlife management area.
Park Description:
This 3,000-acre WMA encompasses river bottom, swampy woodland, freshwater marsh, fields and upland deciduous woods. Woods roads cross the mixed hardwood forest with a heavy understory and an occasional pine plantation. Some of the fields are filled with wildflowers and grasses, while others are still cultivated. The area is well known for birding.
Trails Overview:
The Patriots' Path [white] follows 2.4 miles of the abandoned Chester Branch of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad. The entire railbed through the WMA (about 4 miles), which closely parallels the Black River, is part of the West Morris Greenway. The rail bed with its gentle grade offers hikers easy walking and views of freshwater marsh. Other trails and woods roads are not marked.
- Horses require an annual permit
- Current topographical maps of WMAs in PDF format are available for download from the Table of Wildlife Management Areas.
Park Acreage:
3078.00 acresMunicipality:
ChesterThe Patriots’ Path [white] follows four miles of the abandoned Chester Branch of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad, which closely parallels the Black River though the wildlife management area.
This 3,000-acre WMA encompasses river bottom, swampy woodland, freshwater marsh, fields and upland deciduous woods. Woods roads cross the mixed hardwood forest with a heavy understory and an occasional pine plantation. Some of the fields are filled with wildflowers and grasses, while others are still cultivated. The area is well known for birding.