Long-term residents of Lebanon Township may remember Miquin Woods as Camp Watchung, a summer camp for the Boy Scouts
of America. The Boy Scouts established the
camp in 1928 for the Watchung Area Council, which comprised of the scout troops of Union
and Somerset Counties, and Piscataway
Township in Middlesex County. About 1,300
scouts a year were exposed to fishing, nature, crafts, camping, and other related topics. The oldest structure on the property, a circa 1850 stone farmhouse, served as the main office. The dining hall could hold up to 150 people.
The camp operated for 53 years before closing in 1981.
After plans fell through for the property to become a housing development, the County and New Jersey Water Authority were able to
acquire the property, a total of 302 acres, in 2003. The word "Miquin" is the Lenni Lenape
word for "feather" and is a tribute to the scouting heritage of the site. The feather was the symbol for the Boy Scouts Order of the Arrow Lodge, which was located within Camp Watchung.
HABITAT: Miquin Woods is bisected by the Spruce Run. This creek is one of the main tributaries of the Spruce Run Reservoir, which provides clean water to four different counties. The creek also feeds a small pond on the property. Together,
the creek and pond provide shelter to several kinds of amphibians and reptiles.
Two small meadows exist within the park and provide a mixture of grassland and forest-edge habitat. Field and Song Sparrows, Red-tailed Hawks, and other mixed habitat species can be seen. Within
the forest areas,
one can search for
several species of
woodpeckers, Red-breasted Grosbeaks, Scarlet
Tanagers, and migratory
warblers.
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PHYSICAL LOCATION: 326 NEWPORT ROAD, GLEN GARDNER, NJ 08826
Location: Miquin Woods is located at 326 Newport Road, Glen Gardner 08826 (Lebanon Township). The park is open from sunrise to
sunset. No restroom facilities are available.
Directions from the Clinton Area: Take Route 31 north to the Borough of Glen Gardner. At the traffic light for Sanitarium
Road, turn right and make the immediate left
onto Main Street. Proceed on Main Street a short distance and turn right onto Hill Road
(Route 628). Stay with Route 628 for about 3.5 miles and turn left onto Red Mill Road (before a right turn for 628). In about 1.5 miles, turn right onto Newport Road. The park entrance will be
on the right in about 3/4 of a mile.
Directions from the Califon Area: Take Route 513 south to Bunnvale and the junction with Rte 628. Turn right onto Rte 628
and proceed to past the Woodglen School. At
the stop sign turn left and then right on to Red
Mill Road. Then proceed as above.
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RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
Much of the trail system of Miquin Woods was created by the Boy Scouts of Camp Watchung. Many of the trails are several feet wide and are
very easy to hike. Mountain biking is possible
on most of the trail system. During the winter
some of these trails can be used for crosscountry
skiing. Fishing is allowed along the
banks of the Spruce Run and in the pond, which
supports Largemouth Bass and sunfish. NJ
State Fish and Wildlife laws apply. Bouldering
is not permitted within this park.
HUNTING: In order to control the deer population, hunting is allowed (by Parks Division permit only) in some sections of this park. Please wear blaze orange during hunting season or confine your visits to Sundays. See additional information on the Hunterdon County Park System Controlled Hunting Program.
TRAIL MAP: Trail Guides are set up as foldable brochures. Please print and fold in half vertically to view in proper order. Additionally, you may have to rearrange pages. Maps should be printed on Legal Size Paper
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