Get DirectionsMount Hope Historical Park was once a booming iron mining and processing site. It forms a part of the original Mount Hope Tract, first developed by John Jacob Faesch in 1772. Three separate veins of ore – each of which runs in a southwesterly-to-northeasterly direction – were mined on the property. The property was divided into three ownerships, which operated the Teabo, Allen, and Richard...
Hike Description:
Mount Hope Historical Park was once a booming iron mining and processing site. It forms a part of the original Mount Hope Tract, first developed by John Jacob Faesch in 1772. Three separate veins of ore – each of which runs in a southwesterly-to-northeasterly direction – were mined on the property. The property was divided into three ownerships, which operated the Teabo, Allen, and Richard mines, respectively. Mining operations ended in 1958, and the park was opened in 1997. Second-growth woodlands have reforested the areas that once were cleared for mining operations.
From the trailhead at the east end of the parking area (at a kiosk and a sign for the “Richard Mine), follow an unmarked trail up a switchback. When you reach a trail junction under power lines, turn left onto the Red Loop Trail. After crossing a seasonal stream in a quarter mile, the pits of the Teabo #2 Mine – opened in the 1850s and abandoned by 1883 – may be seen on the left.
About 400 feet beyond the last mine pit, turn sharply right at a double blaze, leaving the mine road, and follow the Red Loop Trail in a counter-clockwise direction. This section of the trail departs from the main ore vein, so no mine pits are visible until a T-intersection is reached in another half a mile. Turn right here onto the Orange Loop Trail, which passes several small mine pits. In a quarter mile, you’ll reach a junction with the Green Trail. Turn right, continuing to follow the Orange Loop Trail as it heads northwest on a narrower woods road and soon begins to descend. Then, in 650 feet, you’ll come to a Y-intersection. The Blue Trail begins on the right, but you should bear left to continue on the Orange Loop Trail.
About 1.5 miles from the start of the hike, the trail curves sharply to the left. A short distance beyond, it passes the remnants of the Richard #6 Mine, opened in 1897. Several mine pits and stone foundations may be seen to the left of the trail. In another 500 feet, you’ll pass the site of the Richard #2 Mine – one of New Jersey’s most productive mines in the 1880s.
After crossing under power lines, follow the Orange Loop Trail as it bears left, leaving the wide woods road it has been following (the junction is marked by a double orange blaze and an arrow). The trail soon passes the stone-and-concrete foundations of several homes. Just beyond, the trail turns right under the power lines, then in 75 feet turns left onto a rocky woods road. After a short climb, the trail passes six shafts of the Allen Mine, first opened in the 1830s (the mine openings are atop a low ridge about 75 feet to the left of the trail).
Just beyond, you’ll reach a junction where the Orange Loop Trail turns left. Bear right, now following the Red Loop Trail, which passes several more trenches and mine pits of the Allen Mine on the left. Note the protruding iron bars, which were used to anchor machinery needed to operate the mines. One of the pits (the Smoke Stack Shaft) was excavated in the 1850s to provide ventilation for the Allen Tunnel, which extended south to Teabo Road (the tunnel is not visible from the trail). As the trail swings to the left, a huge pit of the Allen Mine may be seen on the right.
Just beyond, you’ll reach the start of the loop of the Red Loop Trail. Bear right and follow the Red Loop Trail back to the trail junction under the power lines, then turn right and continue to the parking area where the hike began.
Publication: Submitted by Daniel Chazin on 07/17/2003 updated/verified on 06/03/2018
This loop hike, through pleasant second-growth woods, follows old woods roads past numerous mine openings of the abandoned Mount Hope Mines.
40.921393, -74.553351
Morris Co., NJ
3 mi
2 hrs
Web Map: Mount Hope Historical Park
Buy Map: Morris County Highlands Trails Map
Avenza App Map: Morris County Highlands 126
Hike Checklist:
Whether you are going for a day hike or backpacking overnight, it is good practice to carry what we call The Hiking Essentials. These essentials will help you enjoy your outing more and will provide basic safety gear if needed. There may also be more essentials, depending on the season and your needs.
The Essentials
Hiking Shoes or Boots
Water - Two quarts per person is recommended in every season. Keep in mind that fluid loss is heightened in winter as well as summer. Don't put yourself in the position of having to end your hike early because you have run out of water.
Map - Know where you are and where you are going. Many of our hiking areas feature interconnecting network of trails. Use a waterproof/tear-resistant Tyvek Trail Conference map if available or enclose your map in a Ziplock plastic bag. If you have a mobile device, download Avenza’s free PDF Maps app and grab some GPS-enhanced Trail Conference maps (a backup Tyvek or paper version of the map is good to have just in case your batteries die or you don't have service). Check out some map-reading basics here.
Food - Snacks/lunch will keep you going as you burn energy walking or climbing. Nuts, seeds, and chocolate are favorites on the trail.
Sunscreen and insect repellent
Rain Gear and Extra Clothing - Rain happens. So does cold. Be prepared for changing weather. Avoid cotton--it traps water against your skin and is slow to dry. If you are wearing wet cotton and must return to your starting point, you risk getting chills that may lead to a dangerous hypothermia. Choose synthetic shirts, sweaters and/or vests and dress in layers for easy on and off.
Compass - A simple compass is all you need to orient you and your map to magnetic north.
Light - A flashlight or small, lightweight headlamp will be welcome gear if you find yourself still on the trail when darkness falls. Check the batteries before you start out and have extras in your pack.
First Aid Kit - Keep it simple, compact, and weatherproof. Know how to use the basic components.
Firestarter and Matches - In an emergency, you may need to keep yourself or someone else warm until help arrives. A firestarter (this could be as simple as leftover birthday candles that are kept inside a waterproof container) and matches (again, make sure to keep them in a waterproof container) could save a life.
Knife or Multi-tool - You may need to cut a piece of moleskin to put over a blister, repair a piece of broken equipment, or solve some other unexpected problem.
Emergency Numbers - Know the emergency numbers for the area you're going to and realize that in many locations--especially mountainous ones, your phone will not get reception.
Common Sense - Pay attention to your environment, your energy, and the condition of your companions. Has the weather turned rainy? Is daylight fading? Did you drink all your water? Did your companion fail to bring rain gear? Are you getting tired? Keep in mind that until you turn around you are (typically) only half-way to completing your hike--you must still get back to where you started from! (Exceptions are loop hikes.)
Check the weather forecast before you head out. Know the rules and regulations of the area.
The Leave No Trace Seven Principles
Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Know the regulations and special concerns for the area you'll visit.
- Prepare for extreme weather, hazards, and emergencies.
- Schedule your trip to avoid times of high use.
- Visit in small groups when possible. Consider splitting larger groups into smaller groups.
- Repackage food to minimize waste.
- Use a map and compass to eliminate the use of marking paint, rock cairns or flagging.
Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
- Durable surfaces include established trails and campsites, rock, gravel, dry grasses or snow.
- Protect riparian areas by camping at least 200 feet from lakes and streams.
- Good campsites are found, not made. Altering a site is not necessary.
- In popular areas:
- Concentrate use on existing trails and campsites.
- Walk single file in the middle of the trail, even when wet or muddy.
- Keep campsites small. Focus activity in areas where vegetation is absent.
- In pristine areas:
- Disperse use to prevent the creation of campsites and trails.
- Avoid places where impacts are just beginning.
- Pack it in, pack it out. Inspect your campsite and rest areas for trash or spilled foods. Pack out all trash, leftover food and litter.
- Deposit solid human waste in catholes dug 6 to 8 inches deep, at least 200 feet from water, camp and trails. Cover and disguise the cathole when finished.
- Pack out toilet paper and hygiene products.
- To wash yourself or your dishes, carry water 200 feet away from streams or lakes and use small amounts of biodegradable soap. Scatter strained dishwater.
- Preserve the past: examine, but do not touch cultural or historic structures and artifacts.
- Leave rocks, plants and other natural objects as you find them.
- Avoid introducing or transporting non-native species.
- Do not build structures, furniture, or dig trenches.
- Campfires can cause lasting impacts to the backcountry. Use a lightweight stove for cooking and enjoy a candle lantern for light.
- Where fires are permitted, use established fire rings, fire pans, or mound fires.
- Keep fires small. Only use sticks from the ground that can be broken by hand.
- Burn all wood and coals to ash, put out campfires completely, then scatter cool ashes.
- Observe wildlife from a distance. Do not follow or approach them.
- Never feed animals. Feeding wildlife damages their health, alters natural behaviors, and exposes them to predators and other dangers.
- Protect wildlife and your food by storing rations and trash securely.
- Control pets at all times, or leave them at home.
- Avoid wildlife during sensitive times: mating, nesting, raising young, or winter.
Be Considerate of Other Visitors
- Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their experience.
- Be courteous. Yield to other users on the trail.
- Step to the downhill side of the trail when encountering pack stock.
- Take breaks and camp away from trails and other visitors.
- Let nature's sounds prevail. Avoid loud voices and noises.
The Trail Conference is a 2015 Leave No Trace partner.
(c) Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics: www.LNT.org.
Directions to Trailhead
Public TransportationDirections to Trailhead :
Take I-80 to Exit 35 (eastbound) or Exit 35B (westbound) and proceed north on Mount Hope Avenue. In 0.5 mile, turn left onto Richard Mine Road. Continue for 0.7 mile and turn right onto Coburn Road (which becomes Teabo Road). The park entrance is 0.7 mile ahead on the left.
TRAIN TRANSPORT :
Not availableBUS TRANSPORT :
Not available
Support the trails with a donation!Trip Reports
rate experience August 28, 2016
Nice hike, but LOTS OF BUGS!
<p>I chose this hike for the purpose of giving my dog some exercise for 1-2 hours. It was a nice hike even though there's not much to look at scenery-wise.. the mines are more like big pits in the ground, but still interesting to look at. </p>
<p>As soon as I stepped out of the parking lot into the woods, I was SWARMED by small flies/gnats... those really annoying ones that don't bite but fly into your ears/eyes/nose constantly. I've never been swarmed with bugs that badly before. It was so bad I considered turning back after 5 minutes.. I kept going, but it was a constant annoyance throughout the entire hike.</p>
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<p>The timing above says 2 hours, however I completed the described circuit in just under an hour. But again, I was walking at a pretty brisk pace due to the bugs, and didn't really stop to look at the mine pits/ruins as much as I would have if there were no bugs. </p>
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<p>Long story short, nice quick hike, but for the love of god BRING BUG SPRAY!</p>
May 03, 2011
Mount Hope hike
<P>If you follow the blue & white trails, you will face some hills and interesting places. Because they are both "dead ends", it isn't difficult to bushwhack from the end of one to the end of the other; the deepest pit I saw here was at the end of the white trail (couldn't see the bottom due to double barbed-wire fences). Beware of ticks; I was here a few weeks ago before everything was grown in and still picked some up. </P>
April 17, 2010
Nice hike, and my dog loved it!
<p>I took my dog for a hike here and wasn't quite sure what to expect as I have never visited this park. Overall, I thought the trails were well-marked and the abundance of mine pits, piles of rubble and other ruins were very interesting. We even met a kid who, with his nearby school's Ecology Club, adopted a section of the main Red Trail...I'd say they were doing a good job!</p><p>Although lacking great views and other neat water features, I'm sure we will visit this park more often for a nice walk in the forest. </p>