Audobon’s Plainsboro Preserve
Clearly reverent of the beavers, herons, foxes, deer and many other forms of wildlife who thrive here, the nature center is welcoming to humans, too…
Autumn Hill Reservation
Tucked between Herrontown Woods and the Blue Spring Road development, Autumn Hill Reservation has quietly lingered under the radar for a long, long time. Quirky…
Baldpate Mountain
Scramble up a boulderfall and through some enchanting passageways and you’ll see all the way to Philadelphia – telescope provided! The ascent is not easy,…
Baldwin Lake Wildlife Area
A broad trail parallels the railroad tracks before curving into the woods, where small paths veer off to the river beaches and view of the…
Barbara Smoyer Park
This park checks every box for every age and interest. With several entrances, the park evolves from a serene, lake side historic garden to a…
Battlefield Park
Psssst. There’s a secret little park behind the Princeton Battlefield Monument – and it hides the best climbing tree in town. And a scenic little…
Beech Woods Park
Orderly, spacious and groomed as a country club, this park tucks its adventure all into one corner – and when you tuck into there too,…
Bessie Grover Park
New playground, picnic tables, BBQ pits, flat rock beaches, shallow river, winding footpaths, mini cliffs, a port-a-potty – all waiting for you if you don’t…
Big Brook Preserve
It’s not every day you find a 60-million-year-old shark’s tooth…. unless you’re spending every day at Big Brook Preserve, where “just one” is underwhelming. Lovely…
Brearley Great Meadow Trail
It all begins with a bonafide country lane that leads to a meadow in which has sat for a very long time the Beardsley house…
Broadmead Meadow
This lovely neighborhood meadow and woods in Princeton proper hides in plain sight. The footpath winds from Western Way to Hartley Ave. through a narrow…
Bull’s Island
Well it’s an island, so that’s a thousand enchantment points right from the get-go. And it over-delivers once you’re “tide-pooling” on the beach at it’s…
Bunker Hill Environmental Center
A picturesque stream curves through a rustic frisbee golf course draped with Tibetan prayer flags. An observation deck hovers over a forgotten marsh. Stepping stones…
Bunker Hill Natural Area
We waded in Huckleberry Finn’s footsteps here. Broad, mowed trails on the hill drop to an under realm of pure adventure. From the parking lot,…
Butler Road Natural Area
Though this preserve feels sweet and discrete, it’s actually quite large. The tight, snaking purple trail is jam packed with lovely vignettes, mini pastures, creeks…
Butler Tract (Princeton’s Unofficial Bike Training Ground)
What better place to learn to ride a bike, scooter, rollerblades, etc. than a relic of a neighborhood with all the roads and none of…
Carnegie Lake Trail
Even this well-groomed portion of Lake Carnegie tucks away a secret little wilderness, complete with a treehouse. Spanning the stretch of shoreline between Washington and…
Carson Road Woods
These are the things footpathing dreams are made of – all in one demure and lovely place. You’ll find a clear, level bike path, endless…
Cedar Ridge Preserve
There’s an epic aura to this place – Sherwood Forest meets the Serengeti. Trails start from either Van Dyke or Stony Brook Roads; and either…
Charles Rogers Wildlife Refuge (a.k.a. “Indiana Jones Bridge Path”)
Even without the swinging bridge, this would be a worthy adventure. In fact, technically, the Charles Rogers Wildlife Refuge doesn’t encompass the swinging bridge –…
Chauncey Trail
If there are Hobbits in New Jersey, they live here. There isn’t a more enchanting little wooden bridge, mossy river ledge or pebble beach upon…
Cherry Brook Preserve
From four major access points, trails amble along open farmland, curve through verdant meadows, tunnel through cedar groves and hop across foot bridges before converging…
Children’s Discovery Trail
Educational, mindful and conscientious, this is an ideal adventure trail for Kindergarteners and up (many stretches of planks and some rock cascades might be tough…
Cider Mill Preserve
What a wide open sky. You know you’re in a wildlife haven when every other human has a super zoom lens dangling around her or…
Clover Hill Park
This expanse of rolling farmland and forgotten pastures, plastered over here and there with crusted bands of weed-breached pavement seems not to be top of…
Community Park North & Pettoranello Gardens
A paved pathway ambles around Pettoranello Garden’s pond, passing scattered picnic benches and a charming amphitheater on its way. As you head North, asphalt gives…
Constitution Hill Path
Secret passages really do come true! …. usually in that one area that hardly seems worth checking. In this case, an unassuming corner of Greenway…
Cook Preserve & Heathcote Meadow
The age old stone bridge at its heart is a good representation of the whole preserve: timeless, intriguing and undiscovered by most. There are woods,…
Curlis Lake & Woods
A natural amusement park, this wonderful trail starts at a horse stable, glides along a swan lake, moguls over a parade of little mossy knolls…
Cypress Court
If the performance we enjoyed by the deer is any indication, not too many humans take this little corridor connecting Cypress Court with Dey Road.…
D & R Canal – Canal Pointe
There’s a wilder path paralleling the towpath across the canal at Canal Pointe. It’s easy to lose the path in the tall grass, but the…
D & R Canal – Kingston
Kingston is an ideal portal into the wonderful D & R Canal towpath world, with ample parking and so much to see. Scenically and/or historically,…
D & R Canal Tow Path – Princeton Country Club
Two pretty bridges bracket this sweet, shaded little section of the canal, with sweeping views over the golf course and a secluded wooded trail to…
Davidson Mill Pond Park
A lake, lily-padded ponds, vibrant wetlands, creeks, wide open meadows, grand old forests, boardwalks, sweet meandering footpaths with loads of natural stone steps and broad,…
Ettl Farm Trail
Just a hop down the Stony Brook from the Chauncey trail and yet it feels quite different. The beaches are shallower, the river more approachable,…
Fernbrook Farm Trails
But wait there’s more! Farm animals, formal gardens, hiking trails, campfires, children’s garden, lakes, creeks, accommodations…. and you will still find more than you expect.…
Fieldcrest Avenue Trail
This little wisp brings you from the curb, through some woods (hold right), and to a shallow section of Back Brook, full of broad flat…
Fieldston Road Dinky Line Footpath
Small but magical, especially if you’re a train gazer. This is no place for roving toddlers as the path runs between waterways and railroads. DIRECTIONS
Four Paws Trail at Stephen Way
If your posse includes advanced as well as beginning bikers, this place is perfect for you. A flat, paved trail runs between neighborhoods – alongside…
Greenway Meadows
If the great meadow were the entirety of this preserve, it would be a phenomenal destination. But instead, that marvelous sloping pollinator extravaganza presides over:…
Grey Farm Footpath
This inconspicuous little footpath along the bluffs of Carnegie Lake and eventually down to the water’s edge hides beautiful views and wildlife watching opportunities. The…
Gulick Preserve
A sweet little frogtopia, ever-changing clusters of wigwams and lean-tos, natural balance beam, intersections of tiny streams and a Christmas tree garden – all in…
Hamilton Veteran’s Park
You’ll see a fighter jet, 911 memorial, veterans’ memorial, formal gardens, Seward Johnson sculpture and sprawling playground before you even reach the main parking lot.…
Heathcote Brook Trail
Part meditatively tranquil and predictable, part rambling meadows and all around, forest that few humans ever breach (at least, that’s what the fox told me).…
Herrontown Woods
Unless you were at Herrontown Woods this morning, there’s something new for you to discover there. Exuberant and deft hands are clearing new trails, laying…
Historic Overlook Park
This forgotten place is full of wonderful, precious surprises. An allee of trees leads to one of Princeton’s oldest specimens, “The Washington Oak,” alive when…
Hobler Park
The expansive recreation lawn, brand new playground and large gazebo with plush BBQs come into view when you pull into the large parking lot. The…
Institute Woods
Timeless pathways for Sunday promenades connect vast prairies, historic landmarks, a wild life refuge and the D & R canal – not to mention the…
Iron Mike’s Trail
From the artisanal carved archway marking it’s beginning (on either end), this trail takes you by the hand and leads you on a sweet tour,…
Jacob’s Creek Trail, Franz Preserve
The out and back along Jacob’s Creek past awesome bathing beaches has become a family favorite. The lovely path climbs through the woods and skittles…
Kate’s Trail
A lollipop if ever there was one, this trail begins as an overlookable and usually overgrown narrow corridor between estates that opens to a cathedral…
Kendall Woods
Branching off from a tucked away little park and playground is this broad walkway through tall trees flanking the Kendall Woods. It’s an excellent place…
Kingston Grotto Berm Path
Two paths hug the canal heading South from the Kingston Locktender’s house. This is the sequestered one. It follows the canal past Kingston’s historic nursery…
Kunkel Park & Pennington Loop Nature Trail
Two charming wooden archways act as portals between the wonderworld that is Kunkel Park – with its large sandbox, play structure, covered picnic benches and…
Lake Carnegie Footpath at Rt. 27 Boat Launch
This sweet little tryst captures beautiful views of Lake Carnegie, through vignettes edged with wineberry brambles, hedge roses and water flowers. A perfect place for…
Lawrence Brook Trail
Your choice of paved or unpaved path ambles through this unexpected corridor of wilderness, complete with colonies of beavers, a tranquil river, wetlands and a…
Lenape Trail
Driving past this place and not stopping shows phenomenal restraint. From the road at Mill Pond Park, between lily pads and onto a long and…
Maidenhead Meadows
There’s the straightforward route along the spacious meadow and lollipopping through the woods – which is lovely – and then there are the wispy footpaths…
Mapleton Preserve
Deer, wild turkeys, foxes, eagles…. they’ll be startled by you in this tranquil, precious collection of trees and pathways. Several building relics and countless intriguing…
Mercer Meadows
Boardwalks add lots of pizazz, in my book, and this place is among the boardwalkiest of them all! And it’s a perfect place for biking…
Mershon Lane & Krebs Road
A sly little lake with a mini picnic meadow beside the railroad, this spot is absolutely ideal for train gazing – as long as little…
Metro Park / Dinky Line Trail
The skinny little path from the parking lot is a portal to another world that magically fits into this wild wetland space between office parks.…
Milford Bluffs
You’ll feel like a Condor, perched atop the Milford Bluffs gazing over the Delaware River. Uphill from the wooded parking lot and through dense vegetation,…
Millstone Park
Sneaking off behind Rocky Hill’s municipal building and magical co-op preschool is a charming path through wildflowers and grassland down a considerable slope to the…
Millstone River Park
As always, nature holds a lovely surprise for you in this strip of space between the Penn Medical Center and the Millstone River. The parking…
Millstone River Trail at Grover’s Mill
This wooded trail is packed with well worn as well as spindly trails, high bluffs atop dipping valleys, and dense woods that flank a broad,…
Montgomery Veterans Park / Arboretum
First things first: there’s a zipline! In fact, absolutely nothing’s missing from this gargantuan recreation area made up of an amazing new playground, expansive park,…
Mountain Lakes Preserve, Tusculum Meadows & Johnson Boardwalk
In the middle of Princeton, Mountain Lakes Open Space Area encompasses five distinct natural worlds, one more enchanting than the next. Mountain Lakes Preserve sits…
Negri-Nepote Native Grassland Preserve
There are woods – on the edges – but the substance of this lovely walk is tall, breathy grass. Scope and distance take on a…
Omick Woods
A lovely loop through the woods with 3 distinct features: stone stairways crossing a picturesque creek, a pretty overlook, and a fairyland path across a…
Otto’s Farm Park
Sloping views sweep across farmland and forests in this beautifully maintained preserve with picnic benches scattered at meandering intersections. Natural arches beckon to be explored…
Pond House Trail at The Watershed
Ah, The Watershed. A perfect destination no matter your mood or endurance. With its pretty centerpiece red barn, this short trail around the pond travels…
Pond View Trail
This sweet wisp of a trail clings to the edge of the pond in the margins of Woodfield Reservation, sheltering some lovely views and vignettes.…
Poricy Park Fossil Beds
Oh the fossil rush! It sets in as soon as you find the first shark’s tooth or ossified shell. But even without that amazing treasure…
Princeton Highlands
For someone who is ever in search of the English countryside, these tree-lined rolling meadows come quite close. TRAIL MAP DIRECTIONS
Ringing Rocks & Falls Creek Waterfall
Bring your hammers – and keep your kids close! Nature has really outdone herself here, serving up not one, but two distinctly magnificent spectacles. Just…
Rock Mill Preserve
Such care has gone into sharing this magical place, buried in the woods. Beginning at the trail head, signs appoint the pathway like footmen guiding…
Rocky Brook Trail
Stepping stones kick things off across the Stony Brook at a perfectly picturesque spot where you could happily spend the day stream stopping. But then…
Roger’s Preserve
So much personality is wedged into this former Christmas tree farm in a mini Bear Brook valley. From the parking lot, with its lovely view…
Schenck Covenhoven Graveyard
Hidden in plain sight, this unimposing burial ground has been here for over two centuries. Today it anchors pathways symmetrically mowed into a broad, flat…
Schoolhouse Trail at Schuss Woods
Squeezed between Orchard Hill and Montgomery Middle Schools and along Back Brook, the trail gets its name from the sweet one-room schoolhouse still perched at…
Scott’s Corner Conservation Area
This sweet little gem hides behind cricket fields opposite the mammoth Rowland Park grounds. Your child will love decoding the trail markers to find the…
Silver Maple Trail
From the humble wooden sign marking its beginning for about 50 feet, you’ll feel like you’ve rediscovered a lost tail. After that, it will be…
Six Mile Run Park
I’ve come at this natural wonder so many times and still have countless stones to turn. Known far and wide for its epic mountain biking…
Sondek Trail
Simple as this path looks on a map, these tall old trees shelter fire pits and campsites, artwork and even an amphitheater under their gorgeous,…
Sourland Ecosystem Preserve
Ambling through woods and along boardwalks and leap-frogging boulders along streams, your path will be fairly level with the exception of one knoll in the…
St. Michael’s Farm Preserve (West)
If you’re a fan of the English countryside like me, your heart will swell at the views in this lovely shire, complete with a village…
Stonebridge Preserve
Tunneling through the cedar grove that kicks off this footpath, no one could predict the dramatic river ridge or expansive wildflower meadows lying in wait.…
Stony Brook at Greenway Meadows
Perfectly idyllic and picturesque with pebble beaches, an easy meandering pathway and the adjoining Greenway Meadows’ playground, meadows and toilets. CONNECTING FOOTPATHS: Stony Brook at…
Stony Brook at Johnson Park School
It’s just a nudge downstream of Greenway Meadows, and yet the Stony Brook trail transforms again here – rising along higher bluffs, up a dramatic…
Sunset Park
Hovering between creepy and enchanted, Sunset Park is a veritable sculpture gallery with installations stationed along a 1/4 mile of adventurous tunnels through the junipers.…
Swan Preserve Trail
From its picturesque beginning at the foot of the old stone Opossum Road Bridge to the verdant, moss covered trees bending over the river banks…
Thompson Preserve
This farm preserve’s native Black-eyed Susans and Wild Bergamot will tower over you in July, as though saluting you on your way to the stream…
Van Horne Park
Hidden in plain sight, this spacious park is an excellent place for strollers or taking off the training wheels. A paved path encircles a large…
Watershed Blue Trail (Broad St. to Crusher Rd.)
Starting at the Broad Street end in Hopewell, this one is wonderfully overlookable – you will almost certainly miss it and have to swing back…
Watershed Blue Trail (Moore’s Mill Mt. Rose Rd. to Crusher Rd.)
Bridging the beginning and end sections of The Watershed Blue Trail, this is a lovely amble through thickets and woodlands with a delightful and unexpected…
Witherspoon Woods
“Nah, I don’t need to see the cave,” …. are words no child will ever speak! And the Witherspoon Woods’ Devil’s Cave has a supporting…
Woodfield Reservation
Trails scamper throughout this broad ridge, often across long planks and artisanal bridges with landmark destinations (like Counsel Rock or Pond View) that do not…
Woosamonsa Ridge Preserve
Everything here happens under a vast, towering canopy – an excellent place to lose your mind and save your soul. Steep as the white trail…
Zion Crossing Park
The centerpiece of this post-industrial naturescape is the waterfall (especially after a good rain). At 7 acres, the linear adventure is limited, but oh the…