Skyview and Garfi Preserves protect a series of meadows, woodlands, hedgerows, and a portion of Woodsville Brook near Route 31. A hiking trail meanders through these habitats. The Garfi Preserve is owned entirely by FoHVOS, while the Skyview Preserve is co-owned with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
Start at the parking area and follow the trail up a slight rise through a wood of cherry, dogwood, hickory and pin oak. Note the large cedars, a reminder that this was once an open field. As the trail goes east the trees are larger and older. Look for large old grapevines climbing the trees as the trail nears the turn into the meadow. The mowed trail then loops through two meadows separated by an old hedgerow of mature elm, cherry, maple and ash. The field plants include goldenrod (shoulder high in the late autumn) asters, mullein, some young cedars and scattered small islands of multiflora rose. These fields are alive with birds during the fall migration. A variety of sparrows, finches and warblers can be found as well as hawks circling overhead. On the mowed trail, look for signs of deer, fox and woodchuck.
On the far northwest corner of the loop there is a short spur that leads down toward Woodsville Brook. This is an excellent place to look for birds taking shelter in the little valley cut by the brook. The mature trees and vines, along with little thickets of wild rose interspersed with raspberry bushes make good hiding places for the birds and mammals as evidenced by the nests in the trees and bushes.
Click here to read the stewardship plan for detailed ecological information.
Click The Skyview Preserve has a grassy parking area with room for 2 cars. Look for the “FoHVOS Nature Preserve” sign. Click here for directions. You can also use the address 73 Marshalls Corner-Woodsville Road, Hopewell, NJ for GPS directions or the coordinates 40.375512, -74.822207.