Rosedale Park

Approximately four miles of trails that loop around and join each other in a variety of combinations. IMPORTANT NOTE: This map has been revised to reflect new trail markers and trail segments.

There are new trail markers to indicate trails. There are blue markers on the trail shown as orange on the map. The park is using arrows on posts and trees to guide visitors.

1.There is space for 21 cars immediately outside the front gate.

2. Main parking area by the lake has space for 50+ cars.

3. The group picnic area by the brook has space for 70+ cars.

4. The Blackwell Road parking area has places for at least 35 cars.

Trail links to other nearby walking spots include Curlis Lake Woods and Mercer County Northwest Park(Pole Farm)located elsewhere on this website.

There are bathroom facilities and picnic areas in the park.

Rosedale Park encompasses 472 acres that includes a 38 acre lake stocked with trout. The land on which the park stands was originally three farms. The dam for the lake was built by the Soil Conservation Service starting in 1969. The lake was filled in 1971 and stocked for fishing. Around the lake are two picnic areas with a dozen picnic tables, two playgrounds, areas for playing volley ball and baseball and grassy fields for recreation. The trails wander through the woods and old farm fields to the Hunt House (one of the original three farms). This is an excellent area for flying kites, bird watching, fishing and general recreation.

1. From Interstate 95:

Take Exit 5B-Federal City Road north. At the second light (1.2 miles) turn left onto Lawrenceville Pennington Road. In .5 miles turn right onto Federal City Road again. Rosedale Park is straight ahead in 1.4 miles.

2. From Princeton:

Take Route 206 south to the light on Carter Road. Turn right onto Carter Road and proceed 1.7 miles to the light at Cold Soil Road where you will turn left. In 1.5 miles turn right onto Blackwell Road. One parking lot and access to trails is on the right in .5 miles. To get to the main entrance of the park, continue for .4 miles and turn right onto Federal City Road. The park is in .2 miles.

The trails at Rosedale Park are well marked on posts and on the trees. All trails except the white trail (gray on the map) and part of the orange trail are road-wide mowed paths.

Red Trail- this is the main trail that makes the longest loop and connects to most of the other trails. It starts at the picnic area, crosses over the dam, and goes around Rosedale Lake where it enters the area of woods and thickets on the northeast side of the lake. It connects to both ends of the white trail and proceeds around a small lake that is filled with wildlife (look for frogs, snakes, ducks, geese and osprey). On the east side of the lake it heads straight south towards the old Hunt house on Blackwell Road. There it connects to the yellow trail.

White Trail – This path descends from the red trail to Stony Brook and follows the brook through a beautiful beech woods before it ascends to rejoin the red trail at the dam of the small lake.

Yellow Trail –This trail starts at the red trail by the small lake. It follows the lake shoreline then turns away from the lake to enter a young woods that is sprinkled with stands of red cedar.

Blue Trail- The blue trail connects the red trail, orange trail, white connecting trail and Blackwell Road. It is straight and wide and runs through thickets and young woods.

Orange Trail- The orange trail runs from the yellow tail to the blue trail through thickets and from the blue trail to the Blackwell Road parking lot. This part of the trail crosses a wetland area with a view of the lake, a mowed field and a small woods by the parking lot.

White Connector Trail- Running through thickets, this short trail is a short cut between the yellow trail and the blue trail.

*This trail guide was updated on July 20, 2009