Stark's Brigade Monument and Mount Kemble via Grand Loop Trail and Outer Loop Trail

This easy loop wanders through the oak–hickory woods of Jockey Hollow (Morristown National Historical Park), linking two of the area’s best “history-in-the-forest” stops—Stark’s Brigade Monument and the Mount Kemble ridgeline—using a mix of the Grand Loop Trail (white blazes) and the Outer Loop Trail (blue blazes). Expect a gently rolling hike of about 9 km / 5.6 mi with roughly 200 m / 650 ft of total climbing, mostly in short, gradual rises rather than one sustained ascent.

Getting to the start (and what “near” usually means here)

The most straightforward start is the Jockey Hollow Visitor Center area, whose commonly used approximate address is 580–586 Tempe Wick Road, Morristown, NJ 07960 (near the junction of Tempe Wick Rd, Jockey Hollow Rd, and Cemetery Rd). (nps.gov)
- By car: Park at the Visitor Center lot (typically the largest), then walk to the nearest trail access on the blazed network. (nps.gov)
- By public transport: The closest major rail hub is NJ Transit’s Morristown Station; from there, you’ll generally need a rideshare/taxi for the last few miles to the Jockey Hollow unit (there isn’t a simple “step-off-the-train-onto-the-trail” connection). (en.wikipedia.org)

If you’re using HiiKER for navigation, plan to download the route for offline use—cell service can be inconsistent under the canopy and in low spots.

On-trail flow and what to expect underfoot

From the Visitor Center area, you’ll ease into mixed hardwood forest on well-established park trails. The tread is usually packed dirt with leaf litter, plus occasional roots and small rocks—more “watch your ankles” than “scramble.” After rain, low areas can hold water and turn slick, especially where the trail skirts drainages and small seeps.

Within the first couple of kilometers (about 1–2 km / 0.6–1.2 mi), you’ll start feeling the loop’s rhythm: short climbs, brief flats, then gentle descents. Over the full route, the ~200 m / 650 ft of gain tends to accumulate gradually, so it stays approachable for newer hikers while still feeling like a proper workout.

Stark’s Brigade Monument (Revolutionary War landscape)

A key landmark on this loop is Stark’s Brigade Monument, a small stone marker set on a hillside that once held hut lines from the Continental Army’s winter encampment. The site is tied to Brigadier General John Stark’s brigade, a “blended” unit drawn from multiple New England regiments, and it’s part of the broader story of soldiers arriving and building huts beginning in November 1779 to endure the brutal winter of 1779–1780. (nps.gov)

The monument itself is modest, but the setting matters: you’re standing in terrain deliberately chosen for encampment logistics—close enough to the core area to function, but set apart on a slope. From around here, there are also openings that can give you a sense of the valley and distant ridges beyond the park. (nps.gov)

Plan on spending a few minutes here: it’s one of those stops where the “what you’re looking at” isn’t a ruin so much as a place—a preserved hillside that once held rows of temporary shelters.

Mount Kemble and the Outer Loop character

As you transition onto the Outer Loop (blue) portions, the hike often feels a touch quieter and more “deep woods,” with longer stretches between road-adjacent areas. The Mount Kemble side of the loop is where you’ll typically notice the day’s most sustained climbing (still moderate overall), and in leaf-off seasons you may catch broader views through the trees.

Because this is a shared historic-and-natural landscape, you’ll also cross or parallel park roads at times—slow down at crossings and confirm blazes before continuing. The official