The only other review I could find was for the Mountain Lakes House. While I do not doubt that this…read moreis a fabulous event venue for weddings and the like (it's a beautiful house), the rest of the park is not to be ignored. It is, in my opinion, the most beautiful park in Princeton and amongst the most beautiful in Mercer County (Bald Pate Mountain in Hopewell is up there as well). There are about eight miles of nature trails at this park which offer fantastic hiking (not overly technical) and trail running opportunities. I bring my dogs here and they absolutely love it. Volunteers do an amazing job of keeping the trails in tip top shape (mix of dirt, grass, mulch and pebble trails). The lake itself is beautiful. Actually, everything about this place is beautiful. The trails are well marked and it's relatively hard to get lost.

Great hiking trails , for a nice stroll on a beautiful sunny day . See turtles and ducks, while…read moreenjoying nature.

I really wanted to go hiking and in the area this mountain is not bad! I came on a Sunday in the…read morelate morning (~11am) and there was ample parking. We hiked about 6 miles and when we finished there were more cars in the parking lot but not super crowded or anything. In the fall the trees are pretty and there is cell signal everywhere. Overall the trails are pretty easy to follow and shaded. You can get a decent workout since there is some elevation (our elevation map looks up and down and up and down, etc). Come Again? Yes! This satisfied my hiking cravings. In the area there aren't that many places to get a decent hike but this one is good.

Nice, pleasant hike. Paths were maintained and clear. Only comment would be that the markings for…read morewhich trail you're on weren't always the clearest. Never arrived at an end spot such as a "lookout point" but the trees itself were pretty. Farmhouse/guesthouse was perfect for a quick picnic lunch during our day. Really cute grounds with tables and chairs.

Mercer County Park is a complete park that offers something for just about everyone's needs…read more Whether you're looking to take the kids to the lake for a swim, go kayaking, let the dogs off leash in the fenced in dog park, ride your bike along paths both paved and natural, or just go walkabout to enjoy the largest park in the county. There are even a small number of campsites that can be reserved during certain times of the year. There are also large playing fields that host tournaments throughout the year for baseball, soccer, lacrosse, etc., and rowing regattas are hosted on the lake. At 3.9 square miles, Mercer County Park is a whopping 1.7% of the total acreage in all of Mercer County. The NE portion of the park is part that I like best, as it's also the part that gets the least amount of traffic, with the only folks you see being people walking the trails, birdwatchers and BMX bike riders. I wouldn't advise taking a gravel bike on the paths in this part of the park. I used to come here often with my bike, but now I'm also enjoying the trails on foot. If you're a road bike owner who's just looking for a short ride, the paved paths that run the length of the park, and the broad shoulder of the main road offer a good conditions for a road bike, but you'll need to look elsewhere for a longer, challenging ride. Also, I've yet to encounter the entitled dog owners who think that the leash regulations don't apply to them. I'm sure that they're out there, but perhaps they're not as common as they are at places like Mercer Meadows or Mountain Lakes--fingers crossed.

Great family park, great for walking, running, a nice stroll, picnic in the summer, day date,…read moreplaying football, soccer and softball.

These are beautiful woods, with easily walkable trails. If you stay on the wooded paths, it will…read morebe shady on the brightest of days. Wear light, waterproof hikers if you venture into the Rogers Refuge after a rain. The woods are filled with numerous varieties of trees and shrubs that provide a haven for a wide variety of birds, so bring your field guide! The trails are popular, but you'll encounter fewer humans the closer you get to the Delaware Canal. Parking is also limited, but you can park at the Rogers Refuge entrance, rather than the Battlefield Park lot. That said, here are a couple of notes: Beware of poison ivy if you step off of the actual trail, as it is everywhere. Also, during Autumn and early Winter, be sure to prep your shoes/pants for ticks, as they may be found in the leaf litter that blankets the trails. This is a good idea anytime and anywhere you hike. It's not a huge area, but the trail markings may as well be nonexistent. If you're unfamiliar with the trails, bring a map of the refuge and the institute grounds. They're both easily found and/or printed here: https://rogersrefuge.org/guides/

Lovely spot for a stroll, I find it very relaxing. Trails…read moreare level but tend to get muddy. They are pretty connected so even if you do loops and walk them all, it's not a long hike. If you're lucky, you'll see frogs and deer! If you're not, it's still fun to id trees and any mushrooms you stumble upon. There's a fun swinging bridge by the river's edge trail. I recommend: old sneakers or hiking shoes (for the mud), bug spray (mosquitoes), and a map (you can find one online or just use your phone). Note: I have never found a tick on me and I visit at least once a week, weather permitting! But you should still check for them.

We came to Mercer Meadows to catch the short-eared owls and northern harriers at dusk. There were…read moreso many birders that were also there. It truly couldn't have been more convenient as you could even see the action from the parking lot. Before the sunset spectacle we walked around the woods and checked out the other sights that the park has to offer. It's pretty great and extremely large. You can ride bikes, run, walk, birdwatch, etc. They even have bathrooms! Go have a picnic or something.

One of our favorite local parks, and one of the best around for Nature based activities, Mercer…read moreMeadows is a great place to visit during all seasons. The trails are multi use, and along with hikers, it's common to see people running, dog walking, biking, birding, or horseback riding. When there's enough snow, x-country skiers head there as well. If you're looking for swing sets and teeter totters for the rug rats, this is not the park you are looking for. The trails themselves run from gravel to paved to dirt, and they can get pretty muddy at times, but if the Shih Tzus can handle it, so can you.

An excellent preserve located in rural Mercer County. It contains well maintained paths and also…read morehas boardwalks along some stretches that help during the wetter months. There's a good mix of wooded paths and others that lead along the edges of the open fields. It's not technical hiking, but it's great for a walk when you're looking to get into some nature. The trails are well maintained and easy to manage, with additional areas of boardwalk in place compared to how it was several years back. As with many wooded trails, watch your step for tree roots so that you don't faceplant while enjoying the outdoors. Trail distances range from .7 to 6 miles, but you can easily walk 5 miles or so without even using the bulk of the 6 mile route that leads to the northernmost parts of the preserve. Waterproof shoes are recommended if you use the field trails after a rain. Get your map from the institute's website, as the NJ Trail Association's website map is out of date and somewhat inaccurate. You can also pick up a copy from the friendly people working at the Watershed Center. Trails are reasonably well marked, and maps of the trails that include your location are placed at the major trail junctions. Along with nature based educational programs, they often have special events for families, with the Butterfly Festival being a major draw in the Summer. Make certain that you visit the Butterfly House itself during the Summer and early Fall months. Check the calendar before you come, as the parking lots and trails can be very full and busy on the event days. Some trails may be closed certain days in Fall/Winter for deer population management. Check their website for information before you go.

I went back here recently with a friend my LO to go on the hiking event that they put together…read more.. unfortunately, we got there too late and the hike started without us. They gave us a map to catch up, but because we were advised that it was very muddy after the recent snow melt, we decided to just hang around the main center. My friend brought donuts and we were very pleasantly surprised to find out that there is complimentary coffee!! But.. like the good kind. Really brewed well.. and wonderful quality creamers and raw sugar to add. I enjoyed two cups. You can sit in an area and talk while your kid plays in this area that was very educational about nature. It was very clean and well kept with live animals such as toads, walking sticks, turtles, etc. We both thoroughly enjoyed the simple experience. Joan, was very helpful and friendly. We cannot wait to return and enjoy the wonderful nature events that they hold throughout the year!

LAWRENCE TWP: Rosedale Park is part of the Mercer Meadows district of parks featuring walking…read moretrails, views of Rosedale Lake, wildlife watching, open fields, and an off-leash dog park! The dog park is split into two sections: one for dogs 35 pounds and under & one for 36 pounds and over. The areas are spacious to run around with agility stations, a seasonal water fountain, picnics tables, and really pretty views. The gate to access the park was a little tricky for us to open and a park regular helped us get in. A very pretty place to spend some time outdoors! 111 Cold Soil Road, Lawrence Township, NJ 08648

This park is really nice. Great walking trails and lots of shade on the trails. If you have dogs…read morethey will love it.

A great trail for walking and jogging. Get to see virs of…read morethe golf course and the history the Delaware river. Is safe and inviting nice views a lone the way. Very nice. ! Nn

This is a very beginner friendly hike and it is right in my backyard…read more My area was gifted with beautiful weather this past weekend so I wanted to take advantage of the sun and explore some new trails in the area. This is within a mile of my apartment and is about 2.3 miles in length. Overall I recommend this trail if you are looking for something relatively flat and easy. It is not very long but is one straight line. So consider how far you want to walk. If you want the full length of the trail and back, you are walking close to 5 miles. It took me about 45 minutes to walk one way. But I also brought my camera along to stop and take some pictures along the way. Not super scenic as you are walking behind a few different apartment complexes. But you are walking along a really pretty body of water for most of it. So, there is some fun wildlife lingering around. All harmless. Another thing to note. I would definitely wear sneakers, and maybe a pair you don't mind getting dirty. While most of this trail is paved, there are some spots that are not and could potentially get muddy depending on the weather that week. I loved this hike and will definitely be coming back soon.

Very beautiful just wished we were able to view and visit earlier in the season …read more.. Good to know for next spring.....

Happy Mother's Day! Went to the Azeala Festival today and…read moreboy oh boy it was so beautiful outside. The festival had live music who were awesome. Yes, I did dance in my chair. Couldn't help it when they played and sang some popular disco tunes. The craft and food vendors were there full strong with lots of unique things, (hint, my daughter surprised me with beautiful flowers.

By all means you should come here. If you want to just exercise and enjoy a beautiful park along…read morethe Delaware river... Or stop in and learn a little about the significance of the area. There's also a gift shop where you can buy locally made items like freshly ground in flower as well as handmade soap and a little doll. You can enjoy a little 20 minute movie that tells you about the history of this area... Which is the history of America. There's also a museum . It was enjoyable.

This museum contains a lot of artifacts and are described well including their provenance and a…read moregood number are noted being outside the general area (although many like items would have certainly been included on location) I believe the building is set for renovation/relocation and I think it's deserved. It seems dated, but is functional for its purpose The one thing I found annoying (and I've seen in no other non-private museum) is they RESTRICT ALL PHOTOS!!! I've seen places understandably restricted FLASH pics, but frankly this is a huge loss to the public and for education. This is my primary reason for the 3 star rating. Give is 4+ for allowing pics!!!