Jockey Hollow Trail Map (click to enlarge)

Be sure to pick up a trail map at either the Jockey Hollow Visitor Center or the Washington’s Headquarters Museum. There is a small fee for the map. You can also download a PDF version on the Park Map web page here on National Park Planner.

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Length: 3-mile loop
Time: 2 hours
Difficulty: mainly easy with a few moderate hills

The Blue Trail at Morristown National Historical Park begins in the general area of where the New York Brigade set up camp for the winter of 1779-80 and stretches far enough south to reach the location of the Stark’s Brigade camp. It encompasses four shorter trails—the New York Brigade Trail, the Inner Loop Trail, the Outer Loop Trail, and the Old Camp Road Trail—all of which are open to hikers and horseback riders. For simplicity’s sake, I will refer to everything as the Blue Trail.

There are two places to access the trail. The one I chose is at the first parking lot that you come to on Jockey Hollow Road after entering the Jockey Hollow Encampment Area. In addition to parking, there is a restroom facility. The second trailhead is near the Trail Center parking lot, which is the next parking lot down the road towards the Visitor Center.

Start of the Blue Trail at the New York Brigade parking lot

The Blue Trail starts behind the restroom building and heads downhill on a gradual slope as it works its way towards a small creek called Primrose Brook, reaching it after only a quarter mile. At this point it intersects and temporarily merges for a short distance with the White Trail (aka the Grand Loop Trail). A directional sign is not very clear about which way to turn, but if you look closely, you will see a tree on which two blue squares that stair-step to the left have been painted. These paint splotches are known as blazes and they serve as Hansel and Gretel breadcrumbs for you to follow. A double blaze indicates a turn; a stair-step to the left indicates a left turn.

Double blue blaze indicates a left turn at the intersection with the White Trail

Before coming to where the Blue and White trails diverge, you will pass a small pond with a bench along the shore. This is Cat Swap Pond, and Primrose Brook supplies the water, but I am not sure if this is done by a natural or man-made dam.

Cat Swamp Pond at Morristown National Historical Park

The trails split just a couple of minutes past the pond. To remain on the Blue Trail, stay to the right and follow the sign that reads, “To Mt. Kemble Loop Trail.” This must be an old name, because the current map calls this the Inner Loop Trail and Outer Loop Trail.

Not long after making the turn, the trail crosses Primrose Brook and begins climbing uphill, then splits again just a few minutes later. The fork to the left is an unnamed trail that leads to the park boundary. The trail map shows this as a solid, brownish line. Stay straight to remain on the Blue Trail.

Intersection with unnamed trail

The intersection with the Inner Loop Trail comes about .75 mile from the parking lot. If you want to cut the hike short, take a sharp right at this intersection to head over to Old Camp Road Trail, otherwise continue straight towards the Outer Loop Trail, which is where I was heading.

Intersection with the Inner Loop Trail

There is one last intersection with another trail that leads to the park boundary before the Blue Trail begins to curve around to the south on the Outer Loop Trail. There are houses in this area, so I am guessing this provides trail access for the local residents. Take a right just past the gate to continue the hike.

Intersection of the Outer Loop and unnamed trail

The Outer Loop Trail starts off as a gravel path, but quickly becomes a dirt road. From the tire tracks, I’m pretty sure that park Rangers drive on the trail, which is why a gate was at the entrance.

This section of the Blue Trail is obviously used by vehicles

At the 1.25-mile mark on the hike—a quarter mile from the turn at the gated intersection—is an information panel and monument marking the slope where a brigade of New England troops under the command of John Stark camped during the winter of 1779-80.

Stark Brigade memorial

After a few thousand men died at Valley Forge in the winter of 1777-78 partially due to camping in low-lying terrain that was subject to poor drainage, General George Washington’s Continental Army learned to build camps on the slopes and tops of hills. This is why the Stark’s Brigade made its camp on the slopes of Mount Kemble, a small mountain the Inner and Outer Loop trails circle around. The trails do not climb to the summit, but they do rise high enough to provide a view of the valley where houses of suburban Morristown are situated.

View from near the Stark’s Brigade encampment area

Less that .2 mile past the Stark’s Brigade marker is a turnoff for Old Camp Road Trail. Old Camp Road was cut by soldiers during the American Revolution to connect Jockey Hollow Road to Basking Ridge Road, which no longer exists as far as I know. While the hike along the Blue Trail eventually ends up on Old Camp Road Trail, it makes this connection a quarter mile farther down, so skip this turn and continue straight.

Connector trail to the Old Camp Road Trail

As the Blue Trail makes its way to the second Inner Loop Trail intersection, the surface gets a little rocky and the trail begins to gradually slope downhill. Some of the rocks are loose, and stepping on them is like stepping on marbles, so be careful.

Typical terrain on the west side of the Blue Trail

When you arrive at the Inner Loop Trail, take a left towards Old Camp Road Trail as directed by the posted sign. It is only .1 mile to the intersection. Once there, take a right to head back to Jockey Hollow Road. Both turns are so sharp that you are essentially making U-turns.

Intersection with connector to Old Camp Road Trail

There is a little bit of confusion when the Blue Trail comes to its second intersection with the White Trail. The map shows these as two separate trails running parallel to each other for a short distance, when in reality they merge into one. At the first intersection, the White Trail dead ends into the Blue Trail from the left, and a hundred yards or so farther down, just after crossing Primrose Brook for a second time, the White Trail splits off to the right. Stay straight at each intersection to remain on the Blue Trail.

Footbridge over Primrose Brook

When the Blue Trail finally reaches Jockey Hollow Road, it crosses over and continues on the other side. No horses are allowed on this section, which becomes a traditional hiking trail, much narrower than it has been previously. It parallels the road all the way to the parking lot, so you do have the option to walk back on the pavement if you prefer.

Blue Trail continues on the other side of Jockey Hollow Road

If you do take the trail, shortly after you cross Jockey Hollow Road is an intersection with the Yellow Trail, which is marked by a small footbridge that spans a narrow stream. To remain on the Blue Trail, turn right before the bridge—do not cross the stream.

Intersection of the Yellow and Blue Trails

The final quarter-mile stretch of the trail has a surface full of rocks and roots. It also heads up a moderately steep hill. While certainly not a deterrent to anyone who set out to hike a 3-mile trail to begin with, this is undoubtedly the toughest section of the journey.

Typical terrain of the Blue Trail as it runs parallel to Jockey Hollow Road

When I am hiking a trail in a history-themed park such as here at Morristown, I want to hike a trail that takes me past historical sites so I can get a feel for the events that took place. Despite the fact that the Blue Trail starts off at the New York Brigade encampment site and passes the Stark’s Brigade monument—which can only be reached on foot—it simply isn’t all that interesting. Its width makes it a great social trail since you can walk side-by-side with a friend, but ultimately it’s just a walk through the forest, and one monument doesn’t make up for its shortcomings. I suggest spending your time elsewhere unless you are just out for exercise, and even then I’d recommend the much longer White Trail if that’s what you are after.

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