Deer Path Park

Shortly after crossing the South Branch of the Raritan River, turn right on West Woodschurch Road and turn right into the park driveway after 0.6 mile. Keep left past the YMCA building and park in the next lot on the left.

The South Branch Reservation is a collection of 12 small parks totaling about 1000 acres, and running, with two minor exceptions, about 10 miles along the South Branch of the Raritan River between Flemington and Clinton. The southern half is more developed from a hiking trail perspective, and forms a contiguous area with Deer Path/Round Mountain Park, also owned by Hunterdon County. Included in this half are the Wings Section, the Stanton Station Section (see HUN 7 and HUN 3), and the Assiscong Marsh Natural Area, the latter having no hiking trails. In general, the entire reservation seems to be a work in progress, and some of the trails indicated on the county maps either don’t exist yet or tend to disappear without warning. Trails are generally marked with orange diamonds, and trail maintenance varies considerably. All trails are designated for hiking, biking and horseback riding, but most are used very infrequently.

Deer Path and Round Mountain are separate sections of the same park, separated by West Woodschurch Road in Readington Township. Deer Path is a flat, active recreation area, with soccer and softball fields, picnic and play areas, and a three acre pond. In this section are walking and fitness trails, notably around the perimeter and consisting mainly of paths mowed in the grass. The Round Mountain section, on the other hand, is hilly and wooded, with narrow trails and old logging roads on the sides of the mountain. Hunting is allowed by special permit at certain times. There are also marked bridle trails associated with both areas that are maintained by the Readington Trails Association, which are open for hiking as well.

Trails in Deer Path Park are simply mowed strips in the grass, generally around the perimeter. In many cases, the walking paths are paralleled by bridle paths.

Readington Trails Association bridle trail leaves from the southern edge of Deerpath Park, near the lower parking lot, and runs mainly through the woods for a mile and a half before reaching county lands along the South Branch of the Raritan River. It drops almost immediately to follow a small stream in the woods, crossing it twice on stepping stones. At ¾ mile, it emerges to run along a stretch of back yards and mowed trails before turning left and running along an open area with cedars and multiflora roses. After re-entering the woods, it intersects a trail running in both directions along the river (See Wings Section elsewhere on this website).