Watchung Reservation
Directions
Take Route 22 to New Providence Road in Mountainside. More specific driving directions are on the park's web site [see Contact Information on this site]. GPS Coordinates: 40.683185, -74.373076
Bus Directions
NJ Transit bus #114 from the Port Authority Bus Terminal to the intersection of US 22 and New Providence Road in Mountainside; but hikers must walk uphill 1.4 miles to reach the reservation
Park Overview
Highlights include Lake Surprise, the Deserted Village of Feltvile/Glenside Park, the Trailside Nature and Science Center, Seeley’s Pond and the Watchung Stables. Sierra Trail forms a 10.8 mile loop.
Trail Overview
Four short nature trails, ranging from 0.2 to 0.9 mile, are near the Trailside Nature & Science Center. The Sierra Trail [white square blaze; 10.8 miles] forms a loop that encircles the reservation. Various connecting trails can be used to fashion shorter loop hikes. Use Web Map link (elsewhere on this site) for a trail map.
Located Within the Reservation the Deserted Village of Feltville features 10 surviving historic buildings, some still occupied. A brief history, a historic photograph, one-mile self-guided tour, and map of the immediate area are available on its web site.
Park Description
Watchung Reservation Highlights
Watchung Reservation in Union County is a 2,000-acre wooded tract where animal and plant life are protected. Highlights of the park include Lake Surprise, the Deserted Village of Feltvile/Glenside Park, the Trailside Nature and Science Center, Seeley's Pond and the Watchung Stables. Opened in 1941, The Trailside Museum was New Jersey's first nature museum.
Although I-78 traverses its northwestern flank, most of the reservation remains in a natural, wild state, and sound barriers muffle the road noise.