Prices Switch Road, Vernon, NJ
Phone: (973) 853-4462
www.state.nj.us/dep/
NJ Department of Environmental Protection
Turn Left onto Maple Grange Road. After 0.9 miles turn Left onto Route 94 North. After 0.8 miles bear Left onto CR 515/Prices Switch Road. After 0.4 miles turn Left into the dirt parking lot. There is no sign for the parking area, but passing over the small bridge on the creek means the entrance has been missed. Map
Access to parking is contingent upon weather conditions; be aware of snow/ice in winter and mud or flooding in early spring. Parking along the roadside shoulder is limited. The parking area has one small picnic table and a grill alongside the creek. If parking is inaccessible, the canoe trail may be started from the Canal Road access, the previous stop on this trail. Insect and tick repellant is strongly recommended in spring and summer.
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| Blue Dasher | Lloyd Spitalnik |
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| | Wawayanda Creek flows into Pochuck Creek and Black Creek and crosses under Maple Grange Road. Whether walking along the creek edges or canoeing or kayaking the water, naturalists are bound to enjoy some encounters with nature, especially in spring and early summer. Paddlers should be aware that the water level on the creek can drop significantly during drier months. Birds, butterflies, amphibians and dragonflies are abundant, making it interesting for beginners and experienced naturalists alike.
Typical winter birds are found here such as Red-tailed Hawk, Song Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Northern Cardinal, Downy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, Black-capped Chickadee and more. It is also a popular hunting location, so Sunday visits are recommended when hunting is not permitted.
Early arriving migrant birds that also nest here include Great Blue Heron, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Tree Swallow, Eastern Phoebe, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Eastern Bluebird and Red-winged Blackbird. These are soon followed by Yellow Warbler, Warbling Vireo, Baltimore Oriole, Common Yellowthroat, Gray Catbird and Blue-headed Vireo, which will also stay in the area to nest. Yellow-rumped, Magnolia, Black-throated Blue and Black-throated Green Warblers may also be seen during migration.
Streamside exploration is one way to beat the heat on a sweltering summer day. Look for frogs and toads and even red-backed and slimy salamanders. A keen-eyed observer may also witness the slice-through-the-water of a northern water snake or the faint movement of a garter snake in the underbrush. Warm, still days are perfect for butterflies and dragonflies. A good day in late June or early July may yield 30 to 40 species of butterflies.
Paddlers engaging in final trips of the season may be treated to a show by migrating Monarch butterflies. As the bird migration winds down, be on the lookout for black bear, woodchuck, muskrat and chipmunk. As a reminder, hunting season begins, so be aware of the schedule and the rules.
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