Elks Preserve is in the Mount Rose vicinity of Hopewell Township. A loop trail of just over 1 mile traverses through former agricultural lands, now reverting to red maple and red cedar. In addition, the trail connects to the Stony Brook Millstone Watershed Association trail network, offering a longer hike.
This is an especially pleasant walk in autumn when the red maples and other trees are at their most colorful states. In early spring when the maples are a haze of red flowers this area is also beautiful, but the trail is likely to be muddy in spots. The loop trail passes through lowland woods of predominately red maples with elm, white ash, beech and oak scattered throughout. In the southeast section the trail enters a dense stand of red cedar. This stand is so dense that there is no undergrowth or ground cover. Look for muscular, wildly artistic grape vines looping and climbing to the tops of the trees. Near the half way point, the trail crosses a small stream where a bench has been placed. The trail then continues through the lowland forest and returns to the parking area. There is also a connector trail that leads to the Mount Rose Trail system on the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Preserve. The property was farmed until 1973. Since then, the farm fields have succeeded, first to brush and then to the young forest you see. The property was used as a hunting preserve by the Elks Club of Hopewell until 2002 when FoHVOS purchased the property. The loop trail was constructed by volunteers in 2007. The entrance to the trail is marked with our “Nature Preserve” sign.
The Elks Preserve Trail has a connection to the trail network of the Stony Brook Millstone Watershed Association. For more information about their trails, visit their page here or see our hiking trail guide here.
Click here to read the stewardship plan for more detailed ecological information.
The Elks Preserve property was farmed until 1973. After the farming ceased, grasses, shrubs, and brush began to grow over the landscape. Trees took root and grew into the young forest that is there today. The Elks Preserve contains lowland woods of predominately red maples with elm, white ash, beech, and oak scattered throughout. There is a dense stand of red cedar as well. This forest stand is habitat to a myriad of insects, fungi, and wildlife.
Click The Elks Preserve has a looped dirt/gravel parking area with room for 4-5 cars. It gets muddy when it rains, so be cautious. Click here for directions or use the address 181 Crusher Road, Hopewell, NJ or the coordinates 40.3777, -74.7799.
