Hacklebarney State Park Things to Do

Without a doubt, one of Hacklebarney State Parks most admirable features is the Black River. The river runs through most of the park and there is a very easy trail that goes along side the river allowing the visitor to explor the many curves, bends, and drops of the Black River. The river gets it's name from it's dark water which is actually just very turbid (lots of sediment floating suspended in the water). You will find the occasional fishermen having a go for some trout during the season. I have yet to see one of them catch something.

There are a number of benches along the Black River where you can just sit and enjoy the view. Some even have tables for picnicking.

I like to assign the name, the Trout Brook Waterfall, to this one particular waterfall because it is the most impressive of the several waterfalls that comprise the Trout Brook. Being the most impressive, and also because none of the falls are named, I have singled this one at as 'the falls". As you make your way down to the Black River from the most direct route from the park entrance, you pass this water fall and find a large congregation of people admiring it. It's the largest waterfall in the park (as you can see not very large at all), but don't be fooled by it's small size. After a rain storm, this little waterfall starts pumping water like a cracked Hoover Dam. I've seen it! One wonders if those boulders ever come loose!

Aside from the Rhinehart Brook, the Trout Brook also feeds into the Black River. This brook however, is much more frequented as a number of the trails head down past this brook. Scattered along the way down-stream to the river, you'll find a number of waterfalls amongst all the boulders. Elisabeth and I like to hike the Trout Brook upstream for a more enjoyable experience.

This little waterfall is one of the hardest to find in the park because it's near the opposite end from the park entrance. However, when find the entrance, take the trail that takes you past Rhinehart brook and you'll find a small wooden bridge. When you get to the bridge, take a little detour up stream and you find a rarely seen waterfall called Rhinehart falls. Well I call it that because it's on Rhinehart Brook which eventually empties into the Black River.