Junction Road/County Road 622, Newton, NJ
Phone: (973) 383-0918
www.njfishandwildlife.org/wmas.htm
NJ Department of Environmental Protection
Turn Left out of parking area onto Route 94 South. After 1.6 miles turn Left at the traffic light onto U.S. Route 206 South. After 2.2 miles turn Right at the traffic light onto CR 519 North/Mill Street. After 0.4 miles turn Left at the light onto CR 622 West, noting Sussex County College on the far corner. After 2.5 miles turn Right on Junction Road. Parking is 0.3 miles farther on the Left. To view Paulinskill Lake, pass by Junction Road, proceed 2.0 miles to the southern bridge. Map
The 30-plus mile long PVT passes through this WMA along the eastern edge, connecting the town of Lafayette with Columbia. Great for hiking and bicycling, there is also abundant wildlife, especially in the early morning. To access the PVT when returning to Junction Road from Parson Road, turn Left at Junction Road and look for the spot where the trail crosses the road.
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| Black-throated Green Warbler | Lloyd Spitalnik |
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| | The Paulinskill River WMA South is admired for its scenic beauty along with its diversity of habitat. It offers access to Paulinskill Lake, fields, forests, wetlands and the Paulinskill Valley Trail (PVT), which runs along its eastern edge. Many species of waterfowl as well as Great Blue Heron, Killdeer, Double-crested Cormorant, Belted Kingfisher and even Bald Eagle can be seen at the lake and in the small pond along Junction Road.
The northern bridge on Parson Road it is a favorite birding location that also offers a scenic view of the Paulinskill River. Also try the trail by the parking lot on Parson Road near the small tunnel that leads into a field crowded with cedar trees.
Although winter tends to be a quieter time of year for wildlife, observers have seen a total of 70 bird species here since 1989 including Bald Eagle, Common Snipe, Pileated Woodpecker, Common Goldeneye, Common and Hooded Mergansers, Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s Hawks, Ruffed Grouse, Brown Creeper, as well as Barred, Screech, Saw-whet and Great Horned Owls.
A walk down Parson Road should bring plentiful sightings of a variety of warblers, vireos, woodpeckers, flycatchers, thrushes and other birds. Otter, mink and beaver are also possible here. Look for early spring ephemerals such as trout lily, bloodroot and Dutchman’s Breeches; these wildflowers emerge and bloom before trees become fully leafed.
Breeding birds and wildflowers are abundant along the PVT. A Bald Eagle can sometimes be seen perched on a branch over the lake. The several fallow fields in the WMA have a good variety of butterflies such as Monarch and Spicebush, Black, and Eastern Tiger Swallowtails, skippers, fritillaries, Mourning Cloak and hairstreaks. Peskier insects also abound; insect repellant is recommended.
A walk along Junction and Parson Roads can reveal a variety of migrating birds. Rarities in the marsh in recent years have included Purple Gallinule and Glossy Ibis. The combination of deciduous tree species and wetlands makes this area popular for leaf peepers.
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