Sourland Mountain Preserve — Attraction in Hillsborough Township

Excellent park for hiking. Great scenery as you walk. Multiple trails depending on how long you want to walk or how difficult the terrain. Only bathrooms are a couple porta potties at the parking lot so be aware of that. Parking lot is decent size but especially in the spring it packs out on the weekends. You can spend anywhere from a few minutes walking to the pond area to hours on the trails. There are 4 trails-white, yellow, red and blue. Be careful-the trails are well marked but the trails all intersect and I find it very easy to get off one trail and onto another without realizing it because you have to keep your eyes on the ground due to rocks/roots etc. rather than on the tree markings which keep you on the correct trail. The red and blue trails are the longest but the white and yellow are decent lengths for sure. There are awesome rock formations at Devil's Half Acre and Roaring Rocks. Great photo ops. Some go there to do rock climbing up the sides. *I call it rock climbing but people call it bouldering. You can get up onto a lot of the rock areas without doing major rock climbing for photo ops. Great for kids of all ages but would not recommend any kids under the age of 8 or so unless they have lots of energy and are used to long walks/hiking. Some though not many ride their mountain bikes which I find annoying as the trails are narrow and extremely rocky. I am a cyclist so I get the ride but it's too rough even for mountain biking and too many people to be there biking. Lots also bring their dogs which I don't agree with either. I think most of the terrain is way too rough for them and again way too narrow of trails with too many people and if someone is afraid of dogs or a dog gets defensive and bites...dogs are supposed to be leashed and some are but many are not. Lots of jagged rocks and roots all over the trails. Wear comfortable shoes/hiking boots. The terrain is rough. It can also be muddy on the trails if it rained the day before. Not recommended for people who have weak ankles. Terrain goes up and down-definitely a good workout. Although the scenery is beautiful there are not really any spectacular views-the rock/boulders are cool to see but other than that it's a nice walk in the woods basically. Hard to believe you're in Hillsborough when...

Having hiked around many of the local parks, I was pleasantly surprised to find the rugged Sourland Mountain Preserve. I'd biked past the western area but never entered the park until today.

The park has an extensive trail system, some quite rugged with a decent amount of vertical gain (for this region). You can take short or long hikes on the many trails, making it family friendly as well as good for those who want something a little more exciting like The Devil's Half Acre Boulders.

The Pipeline Trail, while somewhat boring, has beautiful flowers that attract numerous butterflies. But hikers are rewarded at the top by a long view of the valley.

Other trails lead up fairly steep and slippery rocks, so you are advised to wear good hiking boots to protect your ankles. Even the casual trails are often over large rocks. I was glad I brought my hiking poles as they saved me from a couple nasty slips.

Most trails are very well marked, making the trail system good for beginning hikers. I've been to many trails systems that are so poorly marked that it was impossible to tell the difference between animal trails and hiking trails, leaving me somewhat lost.

All in all, these trails are some of the best in the area. The only reason that I don't give it 5-stars is that the views are mostly limited since the hikes are through dense woods. While pretty, they can be...

Awesome is the one word I can use! We recently got recommended to get onto the mountain climb by a friend and we just jumped right into it... it’s a rare gem within the hustle and bustle of NJ. It’s in quaint neighborhood of fields and it’s well maintained park area of Somerset county...

Ample amount of parking and one Chemical Toilet (was horrendously maintained, understandable considering the winter/spring shift, but we have seen worse in other parks). Clean and well maintained area surrounding the pond!!!

it’s a great hike and climb for kids to learn the life as they grow into it. Some boulders at the summit that makes a great fun for kids.

Perfect for dogs as well... plenty of pet owners bring their 4 legged friends... just a suggestion, have your dog in a harness and waist tie leash... it’s safer for both of you!

Our personal suggestion is to download google offline maps for the area, there a longer hikes that might have network drops if you really want to follow... however, the town has done a great job in placing path markers... it’s for the inexperienced we think it’s better you have google maps as well.

Carry water and some food to enjoy at the top boulders... it will be an absolute fun for...