Wenonah Lake Trail

Two days ago, we hiked the Mantua Creek Trail in the Wenonah Conservation Area.  We've had such a great string of unseasonably warm and sunny weather that we had another great hiking day today; so we decided to return to Wenonah Conservation Area to hike the other direction on the Wenonah Lake Trail:

The Borough does a good job of maintaining the trail signage and is attentive to trail maintenance.  Along our way, we spotted this beautiful signage:

Setting out on the trail, we noted that Fall color still predominates, although the trees are getting more bare with each passing day:

Our trail followed up Break Back Run, a tributary of Mantua Creek, toward Wenonah Lake.  The run inhabits a broad wetland that is the bottom of an old stream valley:

Extensive work has been done to construct boardwalks over wet areas and along difficult cliffside stretches.  Even so, the numerous small streams feeding Break Back Run have created steep crevices we had to cross, up and down and up again, as we made our way upstream:

 Some of the boardwalks had unique character!

At one point, we spotted a small boardwalk leading to a viewing or sitting platform.  On closer inspection, we realized the small boardwalk was posted as private property.  It had been constructed by a neighboring landowner to provide access to enjoy the stream and wetlands near the trail:

Eventually, we reached Dilks' Pond, a private pond near Wenonah Lake.  We initially mistook it for the larger lake and took this photo of Kathy gazing out at it.  Soon after, we realized that Wenonah Lake was a little further on and significantly larger.

Wenonah Lake is a former millpond that was created in 1762 by Abraham Dilks to power a gristmill on Break Back Run. At that time, it was known as Dilks' Pond (we're not sure what the present-day Dilks' Pond was called at that time).  The mill operation lasted through succeeding generations until the late 1890’s.  The pump house for the newly formed Wenonah Water Company was constructed on the site. Just before the First World War the company deeded the lake to the Borough of Wenonah. Since that time it has been the primary recreation area of the community and is run by the Wenonah Lake Association. Old timers still call this Warner’s Lake, named after Joseph Warner who conducted an icehouse and creamery next to the lake.

As we hiked around the lake, we noted a great deal of beaver signs -- gnawed trees and such -- but no beaver or lodge.  We surmised that beaver had been active until perhaps a couple years ago, and perhaps the beaver was relocated.  The damp wetland encouraged significant growth of fungi on old trees:

The lake is beautiful in its autumn colors, even with tree branches starting to be stripped of their foliage:

As we said, we saw no beaver.  We did see two large, healthy looking deer but were not able to get a photo of them.  However, we caught these three geese in peaceful repose in the middle of the lake:

Lake Wenonah has been improved with a day use area, including a small beach and diving platform.  It was closed for the season, so no one was present as we passed:

The entire hike was only about 2 miles, but it was quite difficult, with many steep ups-and-downs, slippery leaves hiding the trail, and treacherous roots everywhere.  It turned out to be quite an unusual and interesting trail despite its short length.  We're hoping we can keep up this unbroken record of finding interesting hikes in this area of South Jersey until we leave for Fredericksburg, Virginia next week.  We'll keep you posted on the results!