New Jersey has countless natural gems that have been protected so we can enjoy them for generations to come. The Nature Conservancy has protected more than 60,000 acres of land and water so that while we go birding or hiking, animals can also live peacefully in their natural habitats. Here are some beautiful Garden State spots to give the kids an appreciation and respect for nature in our home state.
Alonzo F. Bonsal Wildlife Preserve
Montclair
Just 15 miles west of New York City lies a 30-acre wilderness and wildlife preserve. You can take part in Weekend Weed Whacks and Knotweed Smackdowns to rid the area of invasive species. Volunteers and school groups help maintain the area while learning about how to preserve it. You can take a walk or run with your pet.
Appalachian Trail Conservancy
This trail extends from Maine down to Georgia and across to Tennessee! Our portion takes you through the Wallkill National Wildlife Reserve, where you will likely see our state bird, the eastern goldfinch. There are 72 miles located in New Jersey and most of the path is ranked easy to moderate. But the elevation does change from flat to steep and rocky along the way.
Blair Creek Nature Preserve
Hardwick and Stillwater Twps.
Along the eastern part of Bobcat Alley is a series of forests that connect the Appalachian and Highland mountains. It’s located adjacent to the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and is at the base of Kittatinny Ridge. You can walk from the gravel parking lot through the forest, but keep your eyes peeled for beaver ponds, rocky streams and wetland meadows. Warblers, black bears and coyotes are often seen, as are bats that nest in the shagbark hickory trees. This area also protects the headwaters of Blair Creek which provides clean water needed for trout fishing and drinking water downstream. In the vernal pools, you might see amphibians and reptiles. Take note that the area is especially gorgeous in the fall, but the preserve is closed Monday-Saturday from early September to the end of January due to hunting season.
Bunker Hill Natural Area
Bunker Hill Road, Princeton
This area includes forest land, a meadow, fields and trails. There is a 30-foot high red rock cliff that overlooks Ten Mile Run stream. The stream itself can be crossed on foot, except when there’s a lot of rain. You can also look down and see a lake shale formed as far back as when the Atlantic Ocean was formed. You can hike here, go bird watching, and even go cross-country skiing or snowshoeing in the winter.
Cameron Wildlife Sanctuary
1099 Rte. 9 South, Palermo
The small area of parkland has woodlands, lakes and wetlands with different walking trails. You can see egrets, Canadian geese, warblers and kinglets – plus there is a herd of white-tailed deer that you can often see.
Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve
Nature Preserve Way, off High Mountain Road, Franklin Lakes
The trail preserves the natural environment and connects to the existing 2.3-mile trail system within the Nature Preserve that links to a network of 11.2 miles of trails at the High Mountain Park Preserve in Wayne. Come any day from dawn to dusk for fishing (as long as you have a license), boating, walking, hiking, jogging, bird watching and picnicking. Among the 120 acres of land and 75 acres of the lake is an ADA-accessible trail that follows the boardwalk along the water’s edge.
Garrett Family Preserve
Cape Island Creek, Lower Twp.
The saltwater tidal marshes of Cape Island Creek, which serve as a great home for lots of fish, make this spot extra special. And lots of fish means lots of hungry birds flying around, too. There are beautiful meadows of wildflowers and lots of trees that either provide food, shade, or both for the songbirds, raptors and pollinators that come through the area. If you’re spending the day, bring a picnic basket and sit at the pavilion. There are also artist easels and an interactive monarch butterfly statue. Walk or bike along the four miles of trails, which have picnic tables and benches along the way. There’s also a Braille trail and an audio tour.
High Mountain Park Preserve
Wayne and Morris counties
Parking is on the campus of William Paterson University in Wayne
You’ll feel like you’ve stepped back to prehistoric times since the mountain is of volcanic origin, dating back more than 130 million years. Leave the nearby city life for 1,200 acres of woodlands and wetlands. The 11.5 miles of hiking trails wind through the Watchung Mountains, so stop and take a break so you get a peak at the panoramic views at the summit. You’ll see both northern NJ and sites from NYC. Take in beautiful waterfalls along the way. There are rare and threatened plants and wildlife, too, including mountain mint and northern long-eared bats, as well as flying squirrels, wild turkeys, chipmunks and white-tailed deer.
Johnsonburg Swamp Preserve
Warren and Sussex counties
Parking is off Rte. 661 in Frelinghuysen
You may not think of glaciers when you think of New Jersey, but this area has 700 acres of limestone forest and the glacier-formed Mud Pond. You’re likely to see a black bear, fox or bobcat as you walk through the four miles of trails or at least some tracks. The overlooks for Mud Pond to the north and west are the largest in New Jersey, with “High Rocks” giving an elevated view for not just your family but also any wildlife or birds in the area. You’ll be able to see Kittatinny Ridge.
Lizard Tail Swamp Preserve
Middle Twp.
There is a very rare lowland swamp here at the headwaters of Bidwell Creek. Since the creek flows into Delaware Bay, and that means lots of salty marshes, it also means lots of birds popping by as they migrate. The three-mile trail system was built by The Nature Conservancy but protects the sensitive ecological areas, so you can still use picnic tables, benches and footbridges without disturbing natural habitats.
Maurice River Bluffs Preserve
Millville
The Maurice River is 35 miles long, but be careful because the 500-acre preserve is pretty hilly. There are cliffs overlooking the river, best seen at sunrise or sunset. At those times you’ll else catch a glimpse of different birds, waterfowl and raptors who come there to breed. You may even spot a Bald Eagle! There are freshwater ponds and NJ’s largest contiguous wild rice marshes. Put on the bug spray because fresh water attracts insects. As you walk along the six miles of trails, make sure to stop and take a photo when crossing the 35-foot-long bridge. Check out the bird blind enclosure and floating dock. If you’re up for a mountain chase, there is a six-mile trail designed following International Mountain Biking Association standards.
Mountain Lakes Open Space Area
Princeton
Considered a “central park” in Princeton, there are about 400 acres just north of the center of town, most of it open to the public. There are a variety of hiking trails, and two biking trails, some connecting to other trails outside the area. You’ll have views of Tusculum, the estate built by John Witherspoon, and historic Coventry Farm, plus a variety of open fields, several small streams and lakes, old stone walls, boulder fields, and old-growth pine and hardwood forests. The area is divided into five sections: The Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Preserve, including the Mountain Lakes House; Mountain Lakes North; John Witherspoon Woods; the Tusculum Fields; and Community Park North.
Palmyra Cove Nature Park
Science meets nature at this 250-acre oasis set apart from a highly developed area on the Delaware River. Habitats include wetlands, woodlands, meadows, wild creek shores, river shorelines and a freshwater tidal cove. The kids will get a kick out of the Institute for Earth Observations, which is a STEM educational initiative for students and teachers that studies Planet Earth.
Plainsboro Preserve
Scotts Corner Road: Cranbury, Plainsboro
Among Middlesex County’s hundreds of warehouses is 1,000 acres of undisturbed open space that include nature trails and the 50-acre McCormack Lake. The Rush Holt Environmental Education Center is like an outdoor classroom offering educational programs including natural history workshops, slide and lecture programs, interpretive hikes and educator workshops.
Rutgers University Ecological Preserve
Piscataway
As part of the university, this area is also a Natural Teaching Area. The 360-acre wooded preserve (which is part of a larger 425-acre tract of undeveloped land) lies between the Busch and Livingston campuses. There’s a new bridge you can walk over to cross Buell Brook along the Red Trail. Recently, the wildlife camera caught long-tailed weasels and minks hanging out along the brook; it’s the first time these animals were found in the preserve. There are dozens of red, white and black oaks; beech, maples and hickories; and red cedar, pin oak, white ash and red maple woodlands trees.
Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary
Bernardsville, Basking Ridge and Harding Twp.
In 1965, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Scherman donated 125 acres of their land to the New Jersey Audubon Society. Later, in 1973 and 1975, Mr. G. Frederick Hoffman donated parcels of land. The Hoffman estate house and caretaker’s house were added to the Sanctuary in 1981, at the time of Mr. Hoffman’s death. This completed what is now 276 acres of woodland, field and floodplain habitat supporting over 200 species of wildlife over the course of a year. The Hoffman estate house became the Hoffman Center for Conservation and Environmental Education, and has an environmental learning center, tree-top level observation deck, bookstore and exhibits. The bird feeding station next to the building is a popular attraction for birds and bird-watchers alike. There are trails you can walk from .3 to 1.3 miles, passing through forest, fields, woodlands and the floodplain of the Passaic River. The Sanctuary is home to more than 60 species of nesting birds, and over 200 species of birds have been sighted, in addition to the red fox, long-tailed weasel, mink, coyote and more.
Schiff Nature Preserve
Mendham
There are 12 miles of marked trails that protect approximately 768 acres of land in the heart of Morris County. Aside from nature, there’s also a lot of history here, like Revolutionary period artifacts and vintage buildings from the Depression era. Explore the trails, attend an environmental education program, hold an eco-themed birthday party, or send your kid to the Summer Nature Program.
South Cape May Meadows Preserve
Cape May
The 200-acre preserve is located along the Atlantic Flyway, which means thousands of native and migrating birds will pass overhead during your visit. There are flat trails more than a mile long that go through the meadows while you see the Cape May Lighthouse in the distance as you come upon the beach. Since there are lots of wetlands, the area is not developed, which means you get a true sense of the natural environment. Stop by the welcome center and use the interactive kiosk that will teach you about ecology and history, how to figure out which bird is singing and a map to follow the trail.
Stokes State Forest
Coursen Road, Branchville
This is a popular place for school trips as well as scout visits, and that’s because there are mountains covered in trees, freshwater streams throughout, and lovely views from Sunrise Mountain. There are over 63 miles of trails that lead you to the Appalachian Trail, Tillman’s Ravine and Stepping Stones Falls. It also has one of the best trout streams in New Jersey. While visiting, you can also go mountain biking, hunting, camping, skiing, snowmobiling and more.
Tamarack Hollow Preserve
East Brunswick
The area here is very special because just a few short years, ago, the 232-acre tract could have been turned into 57 single-family homes and a sewerage treatment facility. Instead, it remains a heavily wooded forest mixed with farmland that supports local agriculture. Families are lucky to still be able to hike, walk and bird watch. The two miles of trails are beautiful in the summer or winter. The preserve is also close to parkland at the Ireland Brook Conservation Area and Davidson Mill Pond Park.
Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge
Sawmill Road, Medford
There are more than 150 native New Jersey species of wildlife, and those that are orphaned or injured are brought here for rehabilitation. You can spend the day checking out the animals on display who aren’t able to be released back into the wildlife. You can also immerse yourself in nature, sitting by Cedar Run Lake to watch the birds in the trees and the turtles swimming in the lake. Or take a 3-mile hike through the trails and see all of the natural elements.
Read More:
Saving New Jersey’s Endangered Bobcats
10 Tips For Hiking With Kids
Top 10 Family-Friendly Nature Adventures in New Jersey
Birds of NJ: Figure Out What’s In Your Backyard
Osprey: From Surviving to Thriving
