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.

Lovely little walking train through the woods. It's isolated enough that I saw some deer here, but…read morenot enough to worry about getting lost! Also connects to the trolly trail right next to it for longer walks. Never that busy either!

Great short or longer hike in lambertville with good views of river and new hope pa! Be mindful as…read morethere is no trail map in parking area/trailhead. Downloading trails ahead of time might help, as paths do get confusing at times. Either way, can always opt for shorter walk of 0.5 miles each way which is easy!

You park a bit of a distance from the overlook so make sure you have good footwear. Once you get…read morethere, it is very pretty, but I wouldn't say spectacular.. on a nice day, after a big lunch, it will be a nice walk, not too many inclines.

I have always love this park and today it felt like the right day to visit despite the cloudy sky!!…read moreI have been here before but it's nothing to visit more than once!! They have picnic tables to eat your lunch or just enjoy the scenery!!

Washington Rock Park is more of a scenic overlook than it is a park and unfortunately you're not…read moregonna find any Hiking Trails or outdoor Picnic Areas with Grills anywhere near here, but it is still a pretty cool Historic New Jersey Landmark plus it was an important part of the Revolutionary War.     In May of 1777 this mountain overlook provided General George Washington's Army a vantage point in order to see the British encampments below which solidified an edge for any future troop engagements.    Long story short, the mountain's sheer height and location made it the perfect observation site and natural defensible fort. Definitely worth checking out if you ever find yourself in this immediate area. Come And Get Your History On!!

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.

Easily my favorite trail in the New Jersey area! Breathtaking views on both sides with canals and…read morerivers. Spectacular choice for fall foliage viewing! This is my hands-down winner for the best trail in New Jersey, I've hiked it, and I have biked it! I love all of the other trails in New Jersey, but this one rises to the top for a few reasons. Often there is water on both sides of the trail. There's a man-made canal on one side and sometimes either a river or a lake on the other side. Plus, it's lush with trees and vegetation. Also, the trail is really great if you wanna go biking. You can't go wrong wherever you decide to explore. I would recommend biking since it's such a beautiful trail and you'd want to see as much as you can. Also, the trail is very flat and easy to ride. It's not paved, but it is a wonderful easy riding surface without dust. I recommend parking either at Kingston, which is my favorite. Or at Rocky Hill. You could also park in Princeton along Washington Street near the kayak rental place. If you park at the Kingston trailhead, if you turn one way and head towards Rocky Hill you will see the most breathtaking views I feel the trail has to offer with majestic Streams and canals with cliffs and trees, and all directions. If you take this trail in the fall, you will be blown away by nature! If you ride in the other direction from Kingston towards the Princeton trailhead, you will pass a long and beautiful lake on your right hand side with beautiful views and trees on your left! If you love trails, this one put to the top of your list if you live in New Jersey or nearby Princeton! Super highly recommended! Going in October during the fall can be a transcending experience!

There are over 70 miles of paths/trails along the D&R canal, passing through many historic towns…read moreand landmarks in NJ with some pretty houses along the way, from near Frenchtown down to Trenton, then up to New Brunswick, in a V shape. The D&R runs parallel to the Delaware & Lehigh (D&L) trail on the Pennsylvania side, so you're also getting a view of the Delaware River on that part of the track. The trail is mostly flat and is suitable for walking or biking. We love riding this trail and exploring sections of it at a time and the surrounding towns. Some sections are more scenic than others. A favorite easy ride (or hike) of ours is to start in Lambertville NJ, ride up to Stockton, cross over Center Bridge to the PA side, grab a burger at Dilly's, then ride down to New Hope, PA, walk around town, and return to Lambertville via the New Hope-Lambertville Bridge. It's only about 8 miles roundtrip and makes for a leisurely day, and is very doable even for kids.

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.

My family and I had a wonderful weekend camping at Turkey Swamp. This park offers well maintained…read morehiking trails, an archery area, playgrounds, and affordable boat rentals. The campground is quiet and also well maintained. The bathrooms are spacious and clean. There is no camp store, but they do sell firewood and ice at the office. There is a Walmart in town about 10 minutes away if you need any supplies. This may become one of our regular getaways.

This is a very cute place to go fishing!…read more They have a very large dock area for fishing with tons of benches. Even if a good amount of people are here to fish there is still plenty of space to spread out. I also love that there is a large playground area and very clean bathrooms. The park ranger was extremely friendly and had bandaids for us when my 3 year old clipped her finger with a fish hook (ooof). Plenty of parking and overall a fun and easy way to take my little kids fishing for the first time.

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!