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Somerset County offers bikers many trails, whether you are a novice or an expert, using a mountain bike or a ten-speed. Be sure to wear your helmet!
Easier Biking Trails
If pavement is your preference, check out Duke Island Park, located in Bridgewater Township, or the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park, in the southern part of the county.
Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park Towpath
70 miles of flat trails along the canal and the Delaware, Millstone, and Raritan rivers. Maps available at the park HQ, 145 Mapleton Road, Kingston, 609-924-5705, or online. Access points in Somerset County: Kingston, Rocky Hill, Griggstown, Blackwells Mills, East Millstone, Weston, South Bound Brook, and Demott Lane in Franklin Township.
Duke Island Park
Located in Bridgewater Township along Old York Road, Duke Island Park offers leisurely rides where the whole family can enjoy the great outdoors. Truly an island, the park is bordered by the historic Raritan Power Canal and the Raritan River. Acquired by the Somerset County Park Commission in 1958, this 339-acre site has biking and walking paths, athletic fields, and picnic facilities. Concerts on Sunday evenings in July and August. For more information, call the park at 908-722-7779.
Mountain Biking
Mountain biking trails abound in the county. Call the Somerset County Park Commission at 908-722-1200 x226 for more information about these two parks:
Sourland Mountain Preserve
The preserve’s 3025 acres provide an intense, challenging course and a great technical workout. The rocky trail crosses wooden bridges, dried stream beds, and scattered boardwalk as it ascends to an elevation of 450 feet. US Route 206 to C.R. 601, then 1.2 miles to East Mountain Road.
Washington Valley Park
Located between the first and second ridges of the Watchung Mountains, this 705-acre park offers pine and hemlock forests, and marshes around a 21-acre reservoir. Very technical with some very rocky/root covered downhill drops; a few very steep long downhill stretches covered in rock. Many very challenging trails. Take US 22 to Chimney Rock Road, Martinsville. At the top, turn left onto Washington Valley Rd. In 0.5 mile, turn left on Newman’s Lane. Parking lot is 0.7 mile on left.
Walking and hiking trails abound in our county parks as well as the 70-mile Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park. The canal park is part of the National Recreation Trail System as well as the East Coast Greenway. Maps are available at the park HQ, 145 Mapleton Road, Kingston. Access points in Somerset County include: Kingston, Rocky Hill, Griggstown, Blackwells Mills, East Millstone, Weston, South Bound Brook, and Demott Lane in Franklin Township.
You can also find walking paths at Duke Island Park, in Bridgewater; Colonial Park, in Franklin Township; and along the Raritan Power Canal, which parallels Old York Road in Bridgewater and Raritan.
Here’s an idea: Many of the towns in our county are conducive to walking. Try taking a stroll through Somerville, Basking Ridge, Bound Brook, South Bound Brook, Manville, Rocky Hill, or Raritan.
Somerset County’s streams and rivers, as well as the Delaware & Raritan Canal, provide many opportunities for freshwater fishing.
Bedminster Pond, Bedminster
Best Pond and Watchung Lake, Watchung
D&R Canal State Park
Anglers abound along the peaceful D&R Canal. The locks at South Bound Brook, Griggstown, and Kingston are popular spots. Some prefer the more serene locations along the tree-lined banks. Although the canal is stocked with trout in the spring, sunfish, catfish, pickerel, and perch can be found year round. (Remember that the State of New Jersey requires a valid license.)
Fairview Farms, Upper Raritan Watershed Area—2121 Larger Cross Road, Bedminster; 908-234-1852. 150-acre wildlife preserve with five miles of walking trails and fishing spots.
Mettlers Pond, Powder Mill Pond and Spooky Brook Pond, East Millstone
Raritan River—At Duke Island Park and North Branch Park, the Raritan River is stocked and offers prime fishing locations. There is also easy access to the river in Neshanic and along US Route 202 in Bedminster.
Griggstown Canoe and Kayak Rental
1076 Canal Road, Corner of Canal Road and the Griggstown Causeway Griggstown section of Franklin Township
908-359-5970
Duke Farms
80 US Highway Route 206 South
Hillsborough
908-243-3627
Duke Farms offers birding field trips with
award-winning naturalist Chris Aquila. Check out the programs for novice and advanced birders at their website or call 908-243-3627 for reservations (5 days in advance) and information.
Other programs include Creatures of the Night, a butterfly walk, and tree identification.
Colonial Park Arboretum
Mettlers Lane off County Route 514, in the East Millstone section of Franklin Township
This 144-acre arboretum contains labeled specimens of flowering trees,
evergreens, shade trees, and flowering shrubs that grow in Central New Jersey. Visitors will find many species and varieties that are native to the United States, as well as Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, and the Middle East.
Great Swamp/Environmental Education Center and Lord Stirling Park
North Maple Ave
Bernards Township
(908)766- 2489
Hikers are welcome on two miles of trails, an observation blind, and a boardwalk through woods, fields, swamps and marshes. Self-guiding trail books are available and there is a connecting trail to the Eastern edge of the National Wildlife Refuge.
Sourland Mountain Preserve
East Mountain Road, Hillsborough
908-722-1200
The 287-acre Sourland Mountain Preserve provides passive recreational opportunities in an undisturbed natural setting for walking, birding and hiking activities. The preserve occupies a portion of the northeast point of the Sourland Region which stretches across Hillsborough and Montgomery Townships through southern Hunterdon and northern Mercer counties to the Delaware River.
The Fragrance and Sensory Garden
This park is located at the western portion of the Rudolf W. vander Goot Rose Garden. Designed to be of interest to visitors who are visually or physically impaired, the garden demonstrates how plants can appeal to all of the senses.
Visitors are invited to touch and smell the herbs. Culinary and fragrant herbs including basils, mints and geraniums are displayed within reach. Fragrances of lavender, daphne and sweet autumn clematis perfume the air. Textured plants such as the rubbery sedum, spiky blue fescue, and downy lamb’s ear delight the sense of touch. Behind the herbs is a backdrop of annuals and perennials that provide color throughout the season.
The Perennial Garden
The Perennial Garden was originally established in 1976 as a lilac collection and flourished as a 5-acre garden that provides year-round interest and color for bridal parties, as well as the general public. Green lawns and colorful perennials, bulbs, trees, and shrubs and the gazebo is the focal point of the
garden.
The Rudolf W. van der Goot Rose Garden
This park is one acre in size and contains more than 3,000 roses of 325 varieties. As an accredited All- America Rose Selection display garden, it is honored to display AARS award-winning roses one year before their release to the public. From late spring through fall, the roses present a kaleidoscope of color, form, and fragrance. Visitors can view popular modern hybrids, species, and various classes of Old Garden Roses.
Washington Valley Park
Miller Lane, Bridgewater
908-722-1200
This park consists of approximately 705 acres that lie along the First Watchung Ridge in Bridgewater Township. The 7-mile-linear park contains a reservoir which is the focal point of the hiking trails. The park offers hiking, mountain biking and hawk watching. Washington Valley Park’s Hawk Watch area is one of the East Coast’s premiere locations to watch thousands of raptors migrate south every autumn.
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