Cushetunk Mountain Nature Preserve
Directions
Parking Lot Trial (white blaze), 99 Old Mountain Road, Lebanon, parking area – GPS Coordinates: 40.629327, -74.804513
Remington Connector Trail (blue blaze) at Pickell Park, 515 Main Street, Whitehouse Station – GPS Coordinates: 40.606224, -74.779713
- Pickell Park: I-78 West to Exit 24 for County Road 523/Oldwick toward County Road 517/Whitehouse. Turn left on County Road 523/Oldwick Road and proceed for 2.1 miles. Turn left on US-22 East and immediately get into the right lane to turn right on County Road 523/Main Street in .2 mile. Continue for 1.1 miles, turn right on Mountain Road then left into Pickell Park. Proceed to the right in the parking lot towards the kiosk at the far end of the ball field.
Public transportation: NJ Raritan Valley Line via weekday commuter service to Lebanon; 1.7 mile walk via Railroad Avenue, Cherry Street, Old Mountain Road. GPS Coordinates: 40.636907, -74.835762
Park Overview
A difficult, steep trail in the park leads to an overview of Round Valley Reservoir, the deepest body of water in New Jersey.
Trail Overview
The Preserve has three blaze colors to mark its four named trails, which form a network in the shape of a lollipop. Due to steep inclines, the trails leading to and including the Ridge Trail are considered difficult. The Parking Lot Trail (White), which leads directly from a parking area in the northwest corner of the park to the ridge top, climbs 450 vertical feet in less than 0.5 mile. It is closed from January 1 to August 1 to protect a sensitive environment.
Use the Web Map link on this site to view a trail map.
Want to find a hike in the Preserve? Click here.
- Hikers during hunting season are strongly encouraged to wear blaze orange or confine visits to Sundays
- Note: Access to Round Valley Recreation Area is prohibited from county property.
Park Description
Adjacent to and eleved above Round Valley Recreation Area is the 380-acre Cushetunk Mountain Nature Preserve. Cushetunk Mountain is part of a ring of mountains that were formed by volcanic activity over 160 million years ago. From the mountain's crest there are seasonal views of the nearby hills and valleys to the north and the Round Valley Reservoir to the south.