Watchung Reservation

I love this park! It’s a really great place to go for trail running as there are many different trails and they’re all at different difficulties and terrain. It’s a very family-​friendly park as well and you see people of all ages enjoying the areas around here. A word of the wise though, some paths are frequented by horses and one must pay attention to where they step…

Always a fun time here for a walk. They have lots of trails which could use better markings but overall paths are well carved out. They have a swing set for kids also and open fields for sports or family portraits. The leaves turned really nice in the fall. They have a lake as well which can look mucky. Overall this is a great hiking mountain.

It’s hard to believe that a place like this exists such a very short distance from all the hustle and bustle of Central NJ, but it does & it has something for practically everyone. There are a multitude of trails and other spots to truly enjoy nature, even just to take a book and sandwich to a simple picnic spot. Or for something a little more substantial there are other options — Trailside Center is great for all ages but especially younger children and the Historic, Deserted Village of Feltville is an interesting, slightly spooky way to look into the past. Whatever you choose, you will be surrounded by miles of natural beauty and the serenity of the woods, and you can spend all day «lost» or just a couple of hours to recharge your own batteries.

Beautiful park, with breathtaking views. My friends and I were mesmerized by the nature. The hike was little long for a group of people that were physically out of shape, however all of us would do it again. All the runners we came across were very friendly. Reservation is clean and well preserved. Great way to spend a weekend.

Watchung Reservation is a large, sprawling nature reservation snuggled in the middle of suburban life. There are many places to drive and park — then get right on a track and wander your way around, getting lost, but never too lost.
There are many different charted courses for you to follow, and they are marked clearly on trees as you walk around. A few of them take you into traffic, crossing a street or walking along the street till they take you back in the woods.
I went six miles with my friend on Sunday (Mother’s Day 2015) and it was gorgeous. The sun was hot, the breeze was cool, and by the time we got back to the car — we were pleasantly spent but not overly hot or tired.
I love hiking.

I came here with a friend to take photos and have a relaxing Sunday. This reservation was wonderful, the autumn colors make the long walks very enjoyable. Unfortunately one of the lakes were drained because it did not meet code regulations which is the only reason I won’t rate it 5 stars. The people here were very friendly, everyone was helpful to point you into the right direction if you got lost. It’s a good place to go for a run or take in the nature with some family or friends.
As far as spots for the photography lovers, there are plenty of areas that you can capture. The deserted village was very eerie especially this time of year. I definitely would like to see what this place looks like during the winter after some snow fall.

Once I found a vine here when I was a kid and started swinging on it like Tarzan. Sadly this vine fell after a hurricane. This is a good place to take your dog everyday.

Came here yesterday for the first annual Barn-​B-​Q and it was such an amazing experience and well planned event.
Choices were 10, 6, 3, or 2 miles further split to different running paces or a hike. My friend and I chose the 3 mile hike. The scenery here is so nice, trail was mapped out well (only got lost once!), and we finished with a BBQ, beer, and games!
Would definitely come back to hike on my own, with friends, and for next year’s event :)

Love, love, love this reservation!
Great trails to get some great exercise. Pet friendly but make sure you keep your dogs on a leash if possible.
Go early in the morning to avoid the crowds. Great picnicking area and some cool sites to check out while there. Walk around the lake for a romantic stroll.
ENJOY!

A really nice and scenic area to jog, bike, or hike around at. Even the roads that lead up to, and within this area are scenic as well. There are some really nice places to visit while you’re in this reservation too. Additionally, the picnic area looks good.
You’ll definitely enjoy coming here!