First Stretch Of Den Brook Trail Inaugurated in Morris Co.

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — Morris County has a brand new patch for hikers and cyclists to enjoy called Den Brook Trail.

The new trail was inaugurated just this Tuesday in a ceremony with Morris County Commissioners and Denville officials, with a ribbon-cutting at the trailhead off Openaki Road.

The Den Brook trail was funded through the Morris County Trail Construction Grant Program, which has led to the creation of 27 others since its inception.

"It has been a phenomenal program,” said Commissioner Director Stephen Shaw. “The first grant was issued in 2016, and since 2016 we have awarded $3.3 million that has created or enhanced more than 17 miles of trails in Morris County on preserved land."

Funding worth $95,656 was approved in 2019 for Denville Township to construct the first 0.62 miles of the gravel-based Den Brook Trail.

After the second phase of improvements is completed, the trail will eventually stretch over a mile along Den Brook from where it begins at Openaki Lake, downstream to where the brook flows through Den Brook Park and under Mount Pleasant Road.

Applications for another $1.6 million in funding for new recreational trail grants for 2o21 opened last month.