Watchung Reservation

Great place for a hike. The lakeside/dam side trails are definitely more enjoyable though. The mountainside ones are full of rocks and mud. Nothing unpassable, but annoying in comparison. If you're doing the full loop, I recommend going counterclockwise from the nature center

Several different trails to choose from for hiking. Visitors center, nature center, pamphlets, maps, trailside information posts in historic areas, deserted village, historic graveyard, Lake Surprise with dam and small waterfall, playground and special needs accessible sensory trail. Lots to explore and learn.

Great place for kids & family. Playground, Trails, Picnic area. Free parking but need to drive around thru different entrance.

Need a good hike? This place is pretty good. There is lots to do. The science museum is not too far from this lake. There's also the Deserted Village. It rained a bit but overall it was great.

There are a lot of great trails to walk. Some are better kept than others, but that just adds to the adventure. Definitely download a map from Union County, very helpful and can scan QR code at most of the parks to get map.

Very serene and peaceful. Trails are well-marked

A wonderful park and forest for all types of activities and interests. Lots of things to do for kids. We hiked from Nature Centre to Deserted Village and back it was so much fun . Make sure you wear proper shoes if you want to hike.

Nature center, sensory trail (and other trails) and solar system walk all right there!
Nature center was a pretty cool spot! Awesome tree at the center with information on different animals that are taxidermy and all within the tree you have to look for. There is a room for kids for some hands on activities and live animals to look at. A small gift shop that was not as pricey as I thought it would be. Restrooms also inside. Free to enter but donations excepted. Directly outside is the short and sweet sensory trail but you can also follow other trails off into the woods in all sides of the building. Don't forget the solar system walk where every step you take is 1 million miles in space. Planet boards are spaced out accordingly. Very cool and informative! Highly recommend for an afternoon on a nice day.

I went there on a beautiful sunny day in January. I did the purple/white trail around Lake Surprise. It was either wet or muddy in some places but what do you expect when it’d rained the day before. It was an hour long hike and just perfect for someone like me who needs to be pushed out of her cozy zone. The trail was much better in the 2nd half. Eventually I want to be able to cover most of the trails in Wachung Reservation. It is nature close to you!

Well maintained and provides me the decompression i need to get through the day. Thanks to those who ruled to preserve it and those who maintain it.

Took a hike on a Saturday and it was pretty empty which is what I like! Brought along my 2 dogs and they loved it. We came across several other dogs so this is definitely a dog friendly place. Lots of trails, beautiful tall trees, some parts are very historic. We also kinda took a loop via driving to check out other parts (definitely plan on coming back) but it seemed pretty convenient as they had a field where people were just hanging around playing and a picnic area.

I love exploring this reservation, especially the 11 mile Sierra Trail which traverses the perimeter. You can see horse stables, waterfalls, a chasm, a spring where George Washington watered his horse, two hilltops, several historic buildings and markers, a pond, a lake, a nature center and miles of beautiful woods. The only downside, the noise from cars, is a byproduct of its proximity to route 22 on one end and I-78 on the other.

Watchung Reservation has beautiful lakes, hiking paths, Dog Park and beautiful views East and West.

So I visited this place in summers and it has a story to tell. I heard in news it is a haunted historical place . Well when I visited this one it was so serene, peaceful and calm place, very well mantained historical area.It has historical houses which were first build centuries back. The walking trails are covered with trees and there are some in wooded areas. It is a beautiful experience to do exercise while learning something about American history. I would highly recommend this area. I am attaching few photos from my visit.

Watchung Reservation is a beautiful place! The air there is so fresh, the paths are clearly marked and there is so much to explore. I imagine this place is flourishing in season with a nice current flowing through the brooks and creeks. Just got back from here and I have to say one of my favorite places to hike and just enjoy nature. Will be back in the on season for sure. Also - if you work up an appetite, Famous Dave's has some delicious food and cocktails!

A Magical & Historical Place packed with Lots of Adventure Possibilities

Watchung Reservation not only has trails and playgrounds for kids, it also has a nice lake and an incredible piece of history called Deserted Village.

Deserted Village is packed with rich historical events perfectly well explained on the signs place all over by Union County Park Authorities. It tells the history of the first family that moved there and started the village. Besides describing the historical events, it also holds the grave yard with the grave stones of the first settlers. If you are like me, and love hiking and history, this is by far one of the best places to visit. There are well marked trails all over the Reservation. So there is no excuse to get lost.

For years, people have kept uttering urban legends about the ghosts of people who live in the abandoned houses. Unfortunately those urban legends have caused son vandalism-- I was told by a local that one of the graveyard stones was stolen, so it had to be replaced with a new one-- Some of these unfortunate situations happen especially by Halloween where some people like to play pranks. I guess this is part of the magic of this area.

Autumn is already here, and Halloween is around the corner, so Union County Park Recreation always plans lost of great activities for all families. It is without a doubt a great season to stop by and learn about the history of this enchanting Reservation.

A great experience to hike in Watchung!
Tip: Look up the visitor center on Maps rather than just Watchung, or you will get lost like us. There is ample parking space and most trails start right next to the parking lot. Maps are available at the center as well!
With advice from a helpful person in the visitor center, we started on the pink trail and after some beautiful views of forests and streams, the trail got really muddy. So we took a detour to the white trail. Once we reached the lake, we just used Google and took the shortest route back to the visitor center because it was starting to get dark. Overall, a fun experience and a great hike!

What a pleasant surprise this was. We went to find the Watchung "Waterfall" and stumbled on this gem. The visitors area was a fantastic experience, a great place to take your kids.

There are many trials here so make sure you grab a map before starting your journey. Highly recommend having good boots on. It's a bit muddy and some water crossings which a good water proof boot would prefect for. We ended our hike with stopping in the little abandoned town. It's very small. Just a few houses and even a little family cemetery plot behind one of the homes. It isn't spooky at all, like I was told it would. But still a nice way to end the hike.

So seen some reviews mentioning that the trails are not maintained. I disagree. If I wanted a leisurely walk, I would go to a manicured park.

Attached are photos of trails from different part of the Historic and Sierra Trails. The trails offer just the right amount of difficulty for beginners/ moderate hikers.

Wear good footwear, take water and mosquito repellent. A poncho in the rainy season is recommended.

Have fun!