| State: | New Jersey |
|---|---|
| Address: | 386 Wertsville Rd, Ringoes, NJ 08551, USA |
| Postal code: | 08551 |
| Phone: | (908) 997-0720 |
| Website: | https://njconservation.org/ |
| Monday: | 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
|---|---|
| Tuesday: | 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Wednesday: | 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Thursday: | 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Friday: | Closed |
| Saturday: | 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Sunday: | 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
Wonderful newly marked trail with a few different routes and easy maps.
Hiked around here 2 weeks ago for the first time and the trail was quite icy in some parts. The pond is super beautiful and was also frozen
This is a new preserve, opened in November 2023. All trails are well marked and cleaned. It can get muddy after heavy rain.
We combined several trails to get a nice loop-like hike for 3+ hours. Nice views of the meadow, little creeks, pond and vegetation around the pond.
Many birds, hickory trees, some native plants, moss and grasses around the pond. Shady and pleasant during hot days. Beautiful in the fall.
Beware about hunting season and wear orange or red colors.
One comment complained about abundance of invasive plants, but this a common problem in many places in the US. Instead of complaining, join a group of volunteers!
Local volunteers removed invasive plants, planted many native trees, shrubs and flowers in many spots in the preserve, built several deer exclosures to protect vegetation.
Details about loop-like hike:
We took the Red trail from the parking lot, switched to the White one near the pond, went out and back on it for about 45 minutes. Returned to the pond and took the Blue trail around the pond. Switched to Green one to continue around the pond. And then took the White one, then the Red one to the parking lot.
I'm very glad land is being preserved but it's distressing to see preserved land filled with invasive plants that have no value to wildlife. The trails were pretty well marked and clear. There are some wet spots and rocks on the trails and, sadly, an abandoned car right by the pond. We saw very few birds but lots of deer stands so wearing orange safety gear is a good idea.
Trails are in decent shape without the rocks that come with overuse. It looks like many of the trails are shared with horses but only a few times did I need to side step. I hiked to the lake in 12 to 14 minutes so don't be afraid to add a few more trails onto the hike.