Take advantage of the amenities offered in Hackettstown along U.S. Route 46 before beginning this driving trail. It begins at the Pequest Trout Hatchery and Natural Resource Education Center where tours the hatchery and trail guides are available. From there visit New Jersey Audubon’s Old Farm Sanctuary, and then on to idyllic Mountain Lake where you will can scan the lake or the bog for wildlife. The Wildlife Management Areas, Beaver Brook and Buckhorn Creek are next before visiting Lake Marguerite, Oxford Lake and Roaring Rock Park. On the way to Roaring Rock Park, travelers may wish to continue south on CR 623 to State Highway 57 for food and gas. After returning to CR 647 West, proceed to Merrill Creek, a private reservoir. Take the opportunity to speak to knowledgeable naturalists, visit the hawk watch and view the reservoir’s wildlife. The trail ends in the lower part of the county at the Alpha/Pohatcong Grasslands, which is praised for its wealth of grassland bird species.
Sunset at Merrill Creek Reservoir