Stephens State Park Conditions

[The Worst]

Rode Stephens yesterday and just wanted to say what an amazing job the team has done on the new trail and cleaning up the whole park. Phenomenal.

One word of warning… be careful for thorny vines hanging out over the trails. I was cruising one of the short downhill sections on Border Trail and never saw the face-level thorns hanging across the whole trail. Slashed up my face and lips pretty bad. We cut it back after we got the bleeding stopped, but they’re growing so fast right now that you should all be careful.

 

[mtn]

Rode Stephens yesterday and just wanted to say what an amazing job the team has done on the new trail and cleaning up the whole park. Phenomenal.

One word of warning… be careful for thorny vines hanging out over the trails. I was cruising one of the short downhill sections on Border Trail and never saw the face-level thorns hanging across the whole trail. Slashed up my face and lips pretty bad. We cut it back after we got the bleeding stopped, but they’re growing so fast right now that you should all be careful.

Ugh I will say thorns are The Worst.

Safety glasses alwaysss.

 

[The Worst]

Ugh I will say thorns are The Worst.

Safety glasses alwaysss.

I always wear them on the road bike, but rarely on the mtb. That’s changed forever now. If the thorns hit 2” higher, I’d be blind now.

 

[Shredley]

'Bout time! Not that this will change the amount of invasive plants that already exist in Stephens (and other parks in Warren/Sussex area), but it's good to see that this is being addressed.

https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/environment/2026/04/09/invasive-plants-banned-in-nj-bill-what-it-includes/89514400007/

 

[gmb3]

'Bout time! Not that this will change the amount of invasive plants that already exist in Stephens (and other parks in Warren/Sussex area), but it's good to see that this is being addressed.

https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/environment/2026/04/09/invasive-plants-banned-in-nj-bill-what-it-includes/89514400007/

This is good in theory, but some of those species i doubt people are buying and planting (like multiflora rose which is everywhere on trails) and there probably enough of it already around to keep it expanding anyway.

 

[AS4321]

Tree down in the maze (ballsack). See pic and map attached.

 

[Teutonic]

Tree down in the maze (ballsack). See pic and map attached.

Haha, was just about to report that one too. The only one I saw in 16mi of riding Stephens today.

Can someone not so susceptible to poison ivy take care of that one?

 

[Sawyer1]

I'm super allergic to that stuff....I can't get near it

 

[Cole]

Haha, was just about to report that one too. The only one I saw in 16mi of riding Stephens today.

Can someone not so susceptible to poison ivy take care of that one?

If I come across it tomorrow I can take care of the vines at least. I won't have a saw for the trunk.

 

[Cole]

Haha, was just about to report that one too. The only one I saw in 16mi of riding Stephens today.

Can someone not so susceptible to poison ivy take care of that one?

 

[Teutonic]

The tree on the "ball sack" was removed. I appreciate @Cole for trimming off the poison ivy. I carried the saw in (hanging from my right arm) while pedaling the Ripley since I had just ridden Stephens/DP with it.

With no other reports, I think Stephens is all clear again.

 

[PinchFlat]

Some rhinestone cowboy tried to take his horse up "Pots & Pans" this weekend. I say "up" because I'm assuming that if the horse saw the drop-in from above, it would have been smart enough to throw the rider and walk home solo. And I say "tried" because I really can't tell if they made it; the drop looks like Gary Busey tried to climb it with his teeth...