Spruce Run Trail (Hunterdon County)

Spruce Run Recreational Area is nestled between State Highway 31 and I-78, with its southeastern corner touching the town of Clinton; a good place to fill up your gas tank and grab a bite to eat before beginning the trail. Once there you’ll have the opportunity to speak with the knowledgeable staff about the trails that traverse the reservoir. From there you will investigate the Clinton WMA and then spend some time exploring the hardwood forest, grasslands and ponds of Hoffman Park, (on the way is another opportunity to get gas). New Jersey Audubon’s Deerpath Sanctuary is the next stop and then onto the Jugtown Reserve where you can enjoy the views from the mountain top. Next you’ll enjoy the meadow and wetlands habitat at the Tower Hill Reserve before ending at Heritage Park for a hike along the Musconetcong River.

Green Heron at Spruce Run

The Trail Directions are in the first posting of the forum below. Please use the forum to enter any comments or feedback regarding this trail. Registration is required.

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Forum Skylands Trails Old Mine Road T... By far the best trail in guide to see wildlife

4/24/2008 4:13 PM

	Holotroph
1 posts

By far the best trail in guide to see wildlife

By far, in my opinion, this is the best trail of the Skylands to see not only a diverse array of birds (eagles, owls, turkeys, songbirds, warblers, waders and waterfowl) thoughout the seasons but this trail is your best chance to see black bear and other mammals such as fox, coyote, porcupine and beaver. Also the area is loaded with numerous species of amphibians and reptiles but note the rocky areas can and do have timber rattlesnake and northern copperhead. Also some of the best fishing spots in the state for trout and bass. Note: much of this area is open to hunting so check the seasons if hiking. However, hunting is not allowed on Sundays in New Jersey.

6/2/2008 3:10 PM

	tcapetta
2 posts

Re: By far the best trail in guide to see wildlife

Modified By tcapetta on 6/2/2008 2:12:06 PM)

Which of the trails (and which Park) are you refering to? I hiked a small portion of the Sussex Branch Trail in Allamuchy yesterday, where it begins at Waterloo Rd and heads north to Cranberry Lake. Not listed here, but the Boyle book said it was a great place for breeders in May/June. Hiked from 6:30am to 11 and while the habitat was wonderful and diverse, it was quickly over-run by humans. Humans everywhere, most on bike, loudly cutting through the serenity. The real kicker came at 8am when a construction backo came rumbling up the trail, spewing diesel behind it.

By the time I left at 11there were cars waiting for spots (at a very large parking lot to boot)

Any wonder why most of the breeders Boyle spoke of were not even heard?

My question of course is what is the human impact like on the trails described above?

6/2/2008 3:33 PM

	tcapetta
2 posts

Re: By far the best trail in guide to see wildlife

Modified By tcapetta on 6/2/2008 2:34:52 PM)

Weird, my reply above is showing up under the "Old Mine Rd." thread title under Forums, but it was posted as a reply under "Stephens State Park" one I thought.

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Skylands Trails

Old Mine Road T...

By far the best trail in guide to see wildlife