[/cmsms_notice]
Located on the Franz and Nexus Preserves, Jacob’s Creek Trail offers close up views as well as scenic vistas of a one mile section of this well known Hopewell Valley creek. The trail runs from Pennington-Titusville Road to Pennington-Harbourton Road. Jacob’s Creek begins in Hopewell Township and ends at the Delaware River. Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space has obtained easements along the creek to preserve its beauty and provide public access.
The Jacob’s Creek Trail consists of a main trail north of Pennington-Titusville Road which is approximately 1.3 mile and quarter mile sections (both one way) and a shorter trail south of Pennington-Titusville Road which is approximately a quarter mile each way. The northern features panoramic views from a ridge above the creek where it traverses mature woods. The trail also traverses younger successional woods on lowland sections closer to the creek. Much of the area was farmed many years ago and remnants of old farm roads still exist. One historic feature of note along the northern trails is the ruins of an old five foot high stone wall, presumably built as a dam for ice production. Nearby is what appears to be small quarry where stone for the wall was obtained.
The southern trail offers delightful close-up views of the historic creek before heading about a mile east to link up with a trail in Woolsey Park. About a quarter mile from the parking area, the trail turns left and crosses the Jacobs Creek. From the creek, the trail passes through a mature woodland, a farm field, a maze of short scrub trees, a large delightful stand of spruce trees, and finally thickets of invasive multifora rose before reaching Woolsey Park’s Osage Ridge Trail.
The entrances to the Jacob’s Creek Trail are marked with green signs saying “Jacobs Creek Trail.” Major portions of the northern trail go through private property on which easements for public access are held by Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space. Hunting activity is variable on the entire trail, so please look for signage that indicates changes in hunting activity. However, the entire trail is open on Sundays and Mondays for hiking, including the portions on private lands from mid-September to mid-February.
Click here to download a PDF version of Jacob’s Creek Trail.
Click here to use our interactive GPS Map.
The Jacob’s Creek trail has a gravel parking area with room for 5 cars directly off Pennington-Titusville Road and facing the trail kiosk. Click here for directions. You can use the address 407 Pennington-Titusville Road for a GPS, or the coordinates 40.318199, -74.838607.