 Home
| Department of Parks and Recreation | Park
Guides & Trail Maps | Wescott Preserve |
 |
SUMMARY OF RULES AND REGULATIONS
 
|
 |
||
Mr. And Mrs. Lloyd Wescott's donation of 15 acres of land to Hunterdon County in 1966 created the first county park and helped organize the Hunterdon County Park System in 1973. The Wescotts sold subsequent parcels to the county in 1970 and 1994. In 2006, an additional 102 acres were acquired from the Peters family, preserving a total of 182 acres that bisects the Lockatong Creek. The Lenni Lenape Indians had settlements in this area and took pride in collecting dense stones that covered the streambed. Known as Argillite, these stones were struck at acute angles against other stones to fashion tools and weapons. A small one-room schoolhouse on the property, constructed in 1861, served as the John Reading School or District Schoolhouse #97 for many decades. Historically, a school was located on this site since 1796.
PHYSICAL ADDRESS:
MAIN PARKING LOT: 70 RAVEN ROCK-ROSEMONT ROAD, STOCKTON, NJ 08559
STRIMPLES MILL SECTION: 63 STRIMPLES MILL ROAD, STOCKTON, NJ 08559
Wescott Preserve is located in Delaware Township. The parking areas are located on Raven Rock-Rosemont Road and Strimples Mill Road. The park is open from sunrise to sunset. Please note that there are no restroom facilities at this preserve.
Directions from Flemington to Raven Rock Road Parking Lot:
Travel west on Route 12 to the circle and take Route 523 south. At the junction with Route 604 in the center of Sergentsville. Turn right onto Route 604 and proceed to Rosemont. At Rosemont turn left onto Route 519. Route 519 makes an “S” bend while leaving Rosemont. Near the end of the “S” Bend, turn right onto Raven Rock-Rosemont Road. Proceed on Raven Rock-Rosemont Road approximately a mile until you come to the preserve located on the right.
Directions from Flemington to Strimples Mill Road Parking Lot:
Travel west on Route 12 to the circle and take Route 523 south. At the junction with Route 604 in the center of Sergentsville, turn right onto Route 604 and proceed to Rosemont. At Rosemont turn right onto Route 519 and proceed north. Strimples Mill Road will be a left turn in about a mile. Proceed on Strimples Mill Road for about 1.5 miles. After a hard left bend, the parking area will be on the left .
{To Top}
Additional Information:
|
|
|
The Hunterdon County Parks and Recreation Department is dedicated to preserving open space and natural resources, providing safe parks and facilities, and offering educational and recreational opportunities, all contributing to an enhanced quality of life for present and future generations.
{To Top}
Wescott offers an easy to moderate 1/2 mile loop trail off of Raven Rock Road that winds through meadows and hardwoods and provides a vista over looking the Lockatong Creek. A 1.5 mile hiking trail exists from the Strimples Mill Road and connects to Mimi’s Trail which continues another mile and enters the HLTA’s Zega Tract which has a parking lot on Raven Rock Road. Fishing is permitted in the Lockatong Creek and access to the creek can be obtained from the loop trail.
{To Top}
In order to control the population of deer on park property, hunting is permitted. Hunters must obtain a special permit issued by the Parks Department to be able to hunt on the preserve. Visitors during hunting season are strongly encouraged to wear blaze orange or confine visits to Sundays. See additional information on the Hunterdon County Park System Controlled Hunting Program.
{To Top}
Wescott Preserve offers a unique diversity in habitat and a wonderful opportunity to view wildlife. It is one of the few places in the county that exhibits a stately stand of Hemlock Trees. Hemlocks Trees have been hurt by the Woolly Adelgid , a small insect introduced from Asia. Studies have been done on the Hemlocks at Wescott Preserve to help discover solutions to this invasive pest.
The meadow provides shelter and food for grassland species. Eastern Bluebirds and American Kestrels take advantage of the nesting boxes placed in the park because of the excellent habitat. Grasshoppers, Katydids and other insect can be heard calling from the meadow during the summer months.
The Lockatong Creek, a native trout stream, provides an excellent draw for wildlife. Crayfish and other aquatic invertebrates can be found in the stream. Tracks from deer, raccoons, and other wildlife can be found along the banks of the stream and the edge of the trail. Within the wooded areas, other signs of wildlife can be observed such as Woodpecker holes in trees along the trail.
{To Top}
TRAIL
AND GUIDE INFORMATION
NOTES:
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.
{To Top}
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Home | Department of Parks and Recreation | Park Guides & Trail Maps | Wescott Preserve