Trails | thewatershed.org

The Watershed Reserve offers more than 10 miles of hiking trails that are open from dawn to dusk throughout the year including a half mile ADA accessible boardwalk that is currently under construction.

Our trails explore wetlands, forests, meadows, streams and the four-acre Wargo Pond, which support the Watershed Reserve’s vibrant and diverse community of animals and plants. Some of the oldest trees in central New Jersey are found here, as well as fox, coyote, weasel and flying squirrel. Birders will enjoy looking out for osprey, bobolink, Coopers hawk, red-shouldered hawk, or any of six species of owl that frequent the reserve.

The trails are accessible from our main entrance at 31 Titus Mill Road, a parking lot on Moore’s Mill-Mount Rose Road and W. Broad Street just outside Hopewell Borough. View or download a copy of our trail map here:

Trail Map

HUNTING IN PROGRESS

The Watershed Institute is conducting a controlled Deer Management Program to protect the health of this forest. The Watershed Reserve will be closed to all other activities on designated days.

RESERVE WILL BE CLOSED ON THE FOLLOWING DATES:

Month Dates with Hunting
December 9-14, 20, 21, 26, 27*, 28*, 30, 31
January 3, 4*,10, 11*, 17, 18, 20, 24, 25, 31
February 1*, 7, 8*

*Hunting is only allowed before 9:00 a.m. south of the pond.

APPROVED HUNT CLUB MEMBERS ONLY

Legal hunting hours: ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset

Questions? Contact: Allison Jackson, Stewardship Coordinator [email protected]

Visitors should wear fluorescent orange during the hunting season.

Be seen. Be safe.

Please observe the following while enjoying the trails:

- Trails are for foot travel only. No bicycles, motorized vehicles or horses are permitted. [Snow shoes & Cross Country Skis ARE acceptable in the appropriate season]
- No off-trail travel is allowed to protect wildlife habitat.
- Picnicking is permitted in designated areas where there are tables. Please carry out all trash.

- Pets must be on leashes at all times. Respect other hikers by cleaning up after your pet.
- No smoking or lighting of fires is allowed.
- No hunting, trapping or collecting of any natural materials is allowed.
- Catch and release fishing is permitted only from the dock and shores of Wargo Pond in conjunction with an appropriate license.

Interested in Geocaching?

Geocaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunt using GPS. It has been described as “hiking with a purpose”! Participants navigate to a specific set of geographic coordinates and then attempt to find the geocache, or special container, hidden at that location. All you need to get started is a GPS-enabled device – even your phone will work! Visit Geocaching.com to learn more about the activity and to locate caches placed all over the world.

Geocaches on the Reserve

The Watershed Reserve has several permanent geocaches hidden throughout our 950-acre property. It’s a great place to spend the day with a GPS, friends, and miles of trails through a variety of habitats. How do you know where to look? Enter these GPS coordinates into your device and start hunting! Just be sure to leave the treasure for the next geocacher.

Geocaching Coordinates

Name	Coordinates	GC Code
Watershed – Returning	N 40° 21.318 W 074° 46.543	GC4HQCP
Watershed – Lonely Tree	N 40° 21.461′ W 074° 46.389′	GC6N5MJ
Watershed – Hedging Your Bets	N 40° 21.168 W 074° 46.632	GC3F2CG
Watershed – Cache but Don’t Dash	N 40° 20.969 W 074° 45.908	GC6ZV2Y
Watershed – Bad Shot	N 40° 21.336′ W 074° 46.242′	GC6MXMY
Watershed – Wilson Too	N 40° 21.624′ W 074° 46.074′	GC6MXK8
Watershed – Bush House	N 40° 22.825′ W 074° 46.372′	GC6MQQW
Stony Brook – Four Seasons	N 40° 20.935 W 074° 46.656	GC1F9G9
Watershed – Pooped	N 40° 21.268 W 074° 46.105	GC23J98
In the Shadow of the Two Towers	N 40° 21.497 W 074° 46.011	GC1KZ5F
Symplocarpus	N 40° 22.119 W 074° 46.468	GC1M55V
Rocky Too	N 40° 22.662 W 074° 46.236	GCH0R4
Watershed – Wrong Turn	N 40° 21.122 W 074° 46.111	GC45CNB