The freshwater Black River briskly cuts its way through rocky Hacklebarney State Park, cascading around boulders in the hemlock-lined ravine. Two tributaries, Rinehart and Trout Brooks, also course their way through this glacial valley, feeding the Black River. Even in the heat of midsummer, the temperature of Black River gorge is cool and refreshing.

Today Hacklebarney is a favorite place for avid anglers, hikers and picnickers, yet in the 19th century the park was a mined iron ore site. The gushing river against the grey boulders and dark green hemlocks creates a majestic beauty in any season.

Three rare and endangered plant species exist within the park: American ginseng, leatherwood and Virginia pennywort. Over a hundred bird species and wildlife such as black bear, woodchuck, deer and fox live in the park.

Horseback riding is not permitted in the park.

Through the Carry-In/Carry-Out Program you can help us keep the parks clean and beautiful by carrying out the trash you carry in. Please bring a biodegradable bag with you when visiting to take your trash home. Thank you for your cooperation and remember to recycle.

Hacklebarney State Park has very limited access for people with disabilities. Only the parking lot and adjacent restrooms can accommodate wheelchairs. Please contact the park office for further information regarding disability access needs. Text telephone (TT) users, call the New Jersey Relay Service at (800) 852-7899.

The park office at Hacklebarney is temporarily closed. Information regarding Hacklebarney State Park can be obtained by contacting Spruce Run Recreation Area at (908) 638-8572.

Visit https://njparksandforests.org/sps_covid.html and follow www.facebook.com/newjerseystateparks for the most recent information on park operations — some amenities may not be available due to COVID-19.

Open daily sunrise to sunset. 

 

HSP COVID reopening map

 

Deep in the ravines of Trout and Rinehart Brooks are remote places that one can view the glacial moraine of millennia ago, when an ice sheet covered the region. The rock strewn landscape is all that remains of that major geological event; it is also a place that is endowed with a fascinating history.

It is said that the word Hacklebarney has a Native American derivation. Depending on which source one reads, it may have come from the words haki, meaning “ground” and barney, a variation of bonihen, “to put wood on fire,” or hakiboni, “to put wood on a fire on the ground” or “bonfire.” Other explanations come by way of the area’s iron-mining history. The first concerns an iron mine foreman named Barney Tracey, who was lovingly but persistently heckled by his workmen – hence the name “Heckle” Barney. Another tradition says the name came from the Irish miners and their home village in Cork County. Finally, the land near the Hacklebarney forge may have been owned by a Barney Hackle.

Whatever the origin of its name, we do know that Hacklebarney Memorial State Forest Park Reservation, or Hacklebarney State Park, as it is now called, was established because of the generosity and vision of Adolphe and Sarah Borie. Their vision for Hacklebarney has endured long after their deaths and continues to guide the destiny of the park once described as “the most beautiful park in New Jersey.”

- Peter Osborne, author
Images of America: Hacklebarney and Voorhees State Parks

 

Hacklebarney State Park Area Map

Eastern hemlock dominates the cool shady slopes of this ravine and several trails provide access to this forest and the Black River. Steep ravines along the Black River and surrounding areas of mixed oak-hardwood forest and young woodlands comprise this area, which supports a variety of state endangered and threatened species.

State Park Service areas open to hunting

Tree Stands and Blinds Policy

The Black River provides excellent stream fishing year round. During the spring and fall, the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife stocks the Black River with brown, rainbow and brook trout. Anglers have the opportunity to catch fish due to the excellent holdover rate of trout in the river. Hunting is permitted within 628 acres of designated land that is separate from the day-use area. Fishing and hunting are subject to New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife regulations.

Hacklebarney State Park Fishing 2020

The Park staff offer a variety of historical and natural interpretive programs seasonally. Contact the park office for a schedule of programs and to register. Program fees may apply.

Common Mammals of Spruce Run Recreation Area, Voorhees & Hacklebarney State Parks

Common Songbirds of Spruce Run Recreation Area, Voorhees & Hacklebarney State Parks

Special Use Permit Application Package

A Special Use Permit is utilized to accommodate a specific activity or event being conducted over a short duration. There are two types of special use permits: Non-Commercial and Commercial and fees are based on NJ residency and Non-residents.  A completed application must be submitted to the park/forest area where the activity or event is being held at least 90 days prior to the event. If the special use or event is extremely large or complex, at least one-year’s prior notice is recommended.

Hiking trails in the northern portions of the 465-acre natural area offer breathtaking views of the Black River, which lies deep within a shaded hemlock ravine. Rinehart and Trout Brooks empty into the Black river and several small waterfalls can be seen from the high trails. The diversity of upland and wetland habitats provides excellent birdwatching opportunities, especially during migration, Since the topography of the park is rather rugged, comfortable walking shoes are recommended.

• Division of Fish and Wildlife

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