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20200216 – Hinckley Reservation – Judge’s Lake

Date: 02/16/2020 – Distance: 3.8 mi – Elapsed Time: 2 hr – Ascent: 387 ft – Descent: 358 ft – Difficulty: Easy

This was my last hike in Hinckley Reservation this weekend. I wanted to see this end of the park because of the East Branch Rocky River gorge. I parked at the Judge’s Lake Picnic Area. There is a great view of Whipp’s Ledges from the lake. I hiked north toward the ledges where the East Branch Rocky River flows through the gorge. The Carriage Trail is a little over a quarter mile from the parking lot. When I got to the Carriage Trail, I turned left and took the trail all the way to Harter Road, I could have taken this road which is part of the Buckeye Trail to State Road and across to the Carriage Trail again, but I didn’t want to stay that late since I had nearly a two hour drive home, so I turned and retraced my steps back to Judge’s Lake. At the lake, I took another trail around the opposite side of the lake and looped back to the parking lot. Today the mud on the Carriage Trail was pretty frozen, however when it thaws, this trail can be quite muddy. Altogether it was 3.8 miles.

Judge’s Lake parking area
Judge’s Lake Picnic Area
Whipp’s Ledges
Connector to the Carriage Trail
Carriage Trail intersection
Left to State Road
Right to Harter Road
Bluebird
Creek crossing about 10 inches deep
I crossed on the rocks
Sycamore
Sycamore
Beech
East Branch Rocky River
Beech
Culvert with some quarried sandstone blocks
Arriving at Harter Road. Notice the blue blazes marking the Buckeye Trail.
Someone lost their cheap sunglasses
Amazing colors taken with my phone on wide angle
Black Diamond Trail Ergo trekking poles are awesome

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