Hiking Project Logo

A nice hiking loop around Merrill Creek Reservoir.


Your Rating: Rating Rating Rating Rating Rating      Clear Rating
Your Difficulty:
Your Favorites: Add To-Do · Your List
Zoom in to see details
Map Key

5.7

Miles

9.2

KM

Point to Point

1,022' 312 m

High

677' 206 m

Low

531' 162 m

Up

539' 164 m

Down

4%

Avg Grade (2°)

33%

Max Grade (18°)

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Fall Colors · Lake · River/Creek · Wildlife

Description

Start hiking from the boat ramp and climb the wooden stairs to near a small building, where you'll continue to climb on a footpath. Shortly, you'll see green and black markers directing you to the right. If you want to go the shortest way around the lake, turn right and follow the black-marked Perimeter Trail. If you want to hike close to the lake, continue straight at this point.

At 1.5 miles, you'll cross a wooden bridge over Merrill Creek before meandering along the shore of the lake. At 2 miles, you'll have an especially nice lake view before going back to the woods.

At 4 miles in, you have two choices: go straight ahead by the shaft (easy), or take the difficult trail going down to the creek and back up a steep ravine. Through the ravine, be especially careful as the trail can be loose and easy to slip on.

Once you've successfully made it through the ravine, the trail takes on an easier, gravel character as it ushers you back to your car.

Contacts

Shared By:

Miroslaw Wierzbicki

Trail Ratings

  3.5 from 4 votes

#24400

Overall
  3.5 from 4 votes
5 Star
0%
4 Star
50%
3 Star
50%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#153

in New Jersey

#24,400

Overall
2 Views Last Month
612 Since Sep 30, 2017
Intermediate Intermediate

25%
0%
50%
0%
25%
0%

Photos

After sunset on Merrill Creek Reservoir.
Sep 27, 2017 near Brass C…, NJ
Thousands of thousands of migrating white geese.
Oct 4, 2017 near Brass C…, NJ
White Geese
Sep 28, 2017 near Brass C…, NJ
Mayflower on the Perimeter Trail (Black)
May 23, 2019 near Phillip…, NJ
View from Boat Ramp.
Oct 3, 2017 near Brass C…, NJ
Trail through the forest.
Oct 11, 2017 near Brass C…, NJ

0 Comments

Weather


Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 18 days ago
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Join the Community

Create your FREE account today!
Already have an account? Login to close this notice.

Get Started.