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Trail Guides
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Roaring Rock Park
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8
 
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Harmony Brass Castle Road, Washington Township, NJ
Phone: (908) 689-7200
www.washington-twp-warren.org
Washington Township
Exit the lake area and turn Right onto Jonestown Road. Proceed 1.8 miles and turn Left onto CR 623 South/Brass Castle Road. After 0.7 miles turn Right onto CR 647 West/Harmony-Brass Castle Road. The entrance and parking area are 0.6 miles on the Left. Map
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| Wood Frog | John Parke |
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| | Purchased for the purpose of preservation from the American Water Company in 1999, this 401-acre park provides visitors with over three miles of hiking trails along the creek and reservoir. Trails climb the steep slopes of the forested property that provide access to a small meadow at the summit. The serene setting is immediately evident when the rushing waters of Roaring Rock Creek are heard after stepping out of the car.
Two trails provide access to the property; the 1.9-mile White Trail, along with the 0.8 mile Blue Diamond Trail. A picnic area, along with an “easy walk” trail can also be found on the property.
Hiking up to the summit of the property when the leaves have dropped from the trees affords a view of Roaring Rock Creek. Birds and wildlife feed in the meadow grasses. Pileated Woodpecker, Great Horned Owl, Eastern Screech Owl and possibly Barred Owl will be easier to locate now that the leaves are down. However, finding owls is a skill that needs to be cultivated. Learn the calls and listen at nightfall to pinpoint preferred owl locations. During the day, if pellets are found on forest floor beneath whitewash, an owl has surely been in the area.
A spring located close to the start of the White Trail is ideal for breeding amphibians such as wood, green and pickerel frogs. From late March to early April listen for the spring peepers and wood frogs as they serenade throughout the park. The tulip poplar and oak-forested slopes that mark the end of Scott’s Mountain are also ideal for migrating songbirds.
Roaring Rock Creek and the reservoir offer wildlife an important source of water in the dry summer months. Look for Scarlet Tanager, Blue-winged Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Prairie Warbler, Brown Thrasher, Wood Thrush and Louisiana Waterthrush. Other wildlife visit this creek, such as white-tailed deer, red fox, coyote, raccoon and even black bear.
Because the park is located at the end of Scott’s Mountain, it attracts migrating raptors such as Cooper’s, Sharp-shinned, Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawks. The warblers that nested during the summer and those that are migrating through will no longer be in breeding plumage, so now is the time to practice identifying those confusing fall warblers, also know as “LBBs” or “little brown birds."
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