NEW JERSEY TRAILS ASSOCIATION

Distance:

1.3-mile loop trail

Time:

30-45 minutes

Markings:

The single person wide trail from the parking lot to the loop trail is well marked. The mowed loop trail is marked by signposts at the entrance.

Trail Usage:

From 518 South turn left at Marshalls Corner Road. From 518 North turn right at Marshalls Corner Road. Trailhead is on your left before Skyview Drive. You can use the address: 99 Marshalls Corner Rd. Hopewell, NJ or Latitude 40.3755594 / Longitude -74.821943.

Elevation:

Trail from parking lot and around loop involves minor elevation gain of 55 feet. Otherwise flat trail.

Difficulty:

Easy. Very little elevation gain and mostly flat. The trail from the parking lot to the mowed loop trail is one person wide, while the mowed loop trail is wide enough for 5-6 people abreast.

Parking:

There is a small gravel parking area with room for 3 cars. Look for the “FoHVOS Nature Preserve” sign.

Tips:

Trail may be wet after periods of rain or snow in which case wear hiking boots.

Amenities:

Two park benches available for sitting.

Directions:

Start at the parking area and follow the trail up a slight rise through a wood of cherry, dogwood, hickory, and pin oak. Note the large cedars, a reminder that this was once an open field. As the trail goes east the trees are larger and older. Look for large old grapevines climbing the trees as the trail nears the turn into the meadow.

On the far northwest corner of the loop there is a short spur that leads down toward Woodsville Brook. This is an excellent place to look for birds taking shelter in the little valley cut by the brook. The mature trees and vines, along with little thickets of wild rose interspersed with raspberry bushes make good hiding places for the birds and mammals as evidenced by the nests in the trees and bushes.

The mowed trail then loops through two meadows separated by an old hedgerow of elm, maple, cherry, and ash. The loop reunites with the forest trail that returns to the parking area.

The land was once a farm, and it is still largely meadows divided by trees along former fencerows.  The field plants include goldenrod (shoulder high in the late autumn), golden ragwort, asters, milkweed, mullein, pentstemon, young cedars and scattered multiflora rose. These fields are alive with birds during the fall migration. A variety of sparrows, finches and warblers can be found as well as hawks circling overhead. The meadows are excellent for watching butterflies and dragonflies. On the mowed trail, look for signs of deer, fox and woodchuck.

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The 76-acre preserve was privately owned and farmed until the 1990s. It was destined for development until the Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space purchased the land in 2001 for preservation, hiking, and nature study. It is co-owned by FoHVOS and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

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