100 years of Hacklebarney State Park Traditional Cache

Geocache Identification Permit Approval Number: HSP2024060802
Permit Expires on:06/08/27

This cache is to celebrate 100 years of Hacklebarney State Park, located between Long Valley and Chester in Morris County. The park is managed by the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry.

This unique park, originally identified as Hacklebarney Forest Park Reservation, was established in 1924 when Adolph E. Borie donated 32 acres of land to the State of New Jersey as a memorial to his mother, Susan P. Borie, and his niece, Susan Parker Ryerson Patterson.

Design of the park in the late 1920s and early 1930s was the work of the Board of Conservation and Economic Development. The Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC), Company 1268 stationed in High Bridge, facilitated the development of the park throughout the 1930s. The CCC enhanced 70 percent of the park’s network of trails, added water fountains to the facility, crafted the large stone entryway into the park and built the present-day park office located at the main parking area.

Hacklebarney State Park is a popular hiking destination year round. It has 978 acres and multiple hiking trails throughout the park. Through the middle of the park runs the Black River. The river is fed by two brooks, Trout and Rinehart. The Black River is flanked by massive boulders. These boulders create many beautiful waterfalls that can be seen as a person ventures down the trail. At the end of the trail the river lets out into a pond where people can swim. The park is known for its hiking and beautiful scenery, especially in the fall when the leaves begin to change colors

It is not fully known how Hacklebarney got its name. There is the belief that it comes from Native American heritage. Some sources say it comes from the word haki meaning "ground" and barney a variation of bohihen meaning "to put wood on fire" or hackiboni meaning "to put wood on fire on the ground" or "bonfire". There is also the belief that it comes from the iron mining history. The mine in the area had a foreman named Barney Tracey, who often heckled the men on site, and took on the name "Heckle" Barney. The last claim is that the land near the Hacklebarney mine may have been owned by Barney Hackle.

The NewJerseyGeocaching profile is the home to some of New Jersey's Geotrails administered by The Northern New Jersey cachers, (NNJC). We have worked with many park managers to install educational geo trails by promoting their missions and enhance an overall geocaching experience.