WEST MILFORD — Celebrate National Trails Day with New Jersey Conservation Foundation on Saturday, June 1, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with a guided hike at the Apshawa Preserve in West Milford.
Ingrid Vandegaer, Highlands regional manager for New Jersey Conservation Foundation, will lead this moderately strenuous hike along rugged mountain trails to a scenic reservoir in the center of the preserve.
Hikers will learn about the special features of this signature Highlands landscape and the innovative forest restoration work underway in the preserve.
Hikers will meet in the Apshawa Preserve parking lot on Northwood Road, 200 feet from the intersection with Macopin Road. The hike will be held rain or shine. Participants should wear hiking boots and bring water. For online directions and trail maps, go to www.njconservation.org/apshawapreserve.htm.
The cost of the hike is $5 per adult; children are free. Advance reservations are required and space is limited. To register online, go to https://donate.njconservation.org/2013trailsdayhike. For more information or registration assistance, contact Dolce Vieira at dolce@njconservation.org or 908-234-1225, ext. 126.
The 576-acre Apshawa Preserve, owned by Passaic County and New Jersey Conservation Foundation, offers a diversity of habitats in the heart of the Highlands. The 40-acre Butler Reservoir is a scenic attraction for hikers and birdwatchers, and the Apshawa Brook flows through the preserve to the Pequannock River. Nearly seven miles of blazed trails traverse the preserve and are open to the public for hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, nature study and fishing.
The National Trails Day Hike is part of New Jersey Conservation Foundation’s Step Into Nature series of walks, talks and fun activities. For a full listing of Step Into Nature programs, go to www.njconservation.org/njcfevents.cfm.
For more information on the Foundation’s programs and preserves, visit www.njconservation.org or call 1-888-LAND-SAVE (1-888-526-3728).