Princeton NJ Nature Reserves

The Watershed Institute

The Watershed Institute, founded in 1949, is central New Jersey's first environmental organization, dedicated to keeping water clean, safe, and healthy. From our 950-acre Watershed Reserve in Hopewell Township, we lead a comprehensive effort to protect and restore the natural environment through a blend of conservation, advocacy, science, and education. At the heart of our Reserve is the award-winning Watershed Center - a LEED-Platinum facility that serves as a hub for innovation, learning, and community engagement. Visitors can also explore our popular Kate Gorie Butterfly House, Wargo Pond, Tree Frog Trail, and over 10 miles of trails. The Center is free to visit and open on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

153-Acre Wood

The 153-Acre Wood continues to offer a home to hawks, owls, coyotes and many other species of animals. Nearly 2 miles of trail invite visitors to experience the forest in all its beauty and to learn about the natural and human history of the 153-Acre Wood along the way. The 153-Acre Wood is now open to the public, with the trailhead and small parking area located on Province Line Road between Cherry Valley and Drake’s Corner Road.

Barton Arboretum and Nature Preserve

The Barton Arboretum and Nature Preserve of Medford Leas is a unique blend of accessible public gardens, collections, and preserved natural areas set amidst private residential space. With campuses in Medford and Lumberton, NJ, spanning more than 200 acres, the Arboretum offers visitors a diverse horticultural array of designed gardens, landscaped grounds, meadows, natural woodlands and wetlands, and one of the most extensive plant collections — including natives — in all of southern New Jersey.

Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve

Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve is a 134 acre nature preserve, botanical garden, and accredited museum located at 1635 River Road, New Hope, Pennsylvania. It is open daily, except for major holidays, April–June, and closed on Mondays July–March; an admission fee is charged to nonmembers.

Bucks County Audubon Society at Honey Hollow

The Bucks County Audubon Society at Honey Hollow (BCAS) is a private, non-profit organization founded as a chapter of the National Audubon Society in 1969. Since its inception, BCAS has been dedicated to conserving wildlife, promoting awareness of environmental problems, watching birds, educating the community about the interdependence of humans and their world, and furthering the wise use of land, air, and water.

D & R Greenway Land Trust

Fiddler’s Creek Preserve

This 121-acre complement to the larger Baldpate Preserve offers broad views of the Baldpate Mountain Ridge, stunning views down into the Fiddler’s Creek ravine, idyllic walking along the creek at the bottom of the ravine, and links to the industrial past of the Hopewell Valley a century and more old. The terrain falls in three categories: (1) scrub woods and open areas along the western side of the property; (2) a central 40-acre area of open fields (undergoing reforestation) extending northeast from those scrub woods to Fiddler’s Creek Road; and (3) the Fiddler’s Creek Ravine on the east side of the preserve, running from Fiddler’s Creek Road roughly south towards the Delaware River. The open field area is surrounded by a fence to protect young trees from deer, and is crossed by four trail segments, with gates at five points to let walkers through

Herrontown Woods

Herrontown Woods, lying across the eastern end of the Princeton Ridge, offers more than three miles of trails through pleasant woods. Intermittent streams come down from the ridge to join a creek near the parking lot. Princeton's first nature preserve, donated in 1957 by Oswald and Elizabeth Veblen, it includes the historic Veblen House and Cottage, and a botanical garden near the kiosk. The 142-acre property is owned by Princeton municipality and managed with assistance from the Friends of Herrontown Woods.

Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve

Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve is home to many species of trees, wildflowers, birds, amphibians and mammals. The best way to tour the preserve is to walk along the unpaved trail that loops the lakes.

Plainsboro Preserve - New Jersey Audubon Society

Explore Plainsboro Preserve’s 1,000 acres of woods, meadows and McCormack Lake shoreline on five miles of trails. Check out more than 150 species of birds. Plants include a diverse showing of spring wildflowers and a number of endangered species. At the Plainsboro Preserve Environmental Education Center, you can check out educational programs, visit the gift shop or enter the “under the pond” room.

HOURS: Tuesday to Saturday, 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. / Sunday, 12:00PM to 4:00 P.M. / Closed on Mondays TRAILS: Open dawn to dusk daily. CLOSINGS: December 24th, 25th, and January 1st

Sourland Mountain Preserve - Somerset

Sourland Mountain Preserve in Somerset County is 3,025 acres of woodlands, boulder fields, unique wetlands, and steep hillsides.Passive recreational opportunities include hiking, mountain biking, bird watching, orienteering, bird watching, and bouldering. The trails described here are located on the northern most border of Montgomery Township in Hillsborough Township. Sourland Mountain Preserve is part of the Sourland Mountains, a 90 square mile area extending over five townships (Montgomery, Hillsborough, Hopewell, West Amwell and East Amwell) and three counties (Mercer, Somerset and Hunterdon) in central New Jersey. The Sourlands consist of the main Sourland Ridge with an elevation ranging from 300 – 600 feet and several geologically similar adjoining areas, including Baldpate Mountain, Mount Rose and Pheasant Hill.

St. Michaels Farm Preserve

Now over 400 acres, the St. Michaels property, which was preserved in 2010 and expanded in 2017, is an expanse of farm fields and forests on the edge of Hopewell Borough. From many parts of this preserve the visitor has long views, lending the preserve a wonderful expansiveness which promotes a sense of well-being in anyone who walks its many farm roads and paths.

The Pinelands National Reserve

Featuring 1.1-million acres of dense forests, serene rivers, picturesque parks, rare plants and animals, miles of blueberry fields and cranberry bogs and a rich heritage dating from prehistoric times, the New Jersey Pinelands is a prime recreational destination.

Day-trippers can partake in a wide-range of activities, depending on the season. However, visitors are encouraged to spend several days to gain a full-appreciation of the region and its vast natural, cultural and historic resources.

Cedar Ridge Preserve

This property is a combination of meadow, forest and streams covering approximately 30 acres at the edge of the Sourland Mountains. The Cedar Ridge Trail is a preservation project of D&R Greenway Land Trust. The land includes a stream corridor to the Stony Brook, wetlands, woodlands and habitat for wildlife.

The Watershed Academy