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Trail Guides
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Mountain Lake
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3
 
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137 Lakeside Drive West, Liberty Township, NJ
Phone: (908) 637-4579
www.libertytownship.org
Liberty Township
Return to U.S. Route 46 West and proceed 4.3 miles turning Right onto CR 617 North/Green Pond Road. Travel 0.8 miles and bear Right onto Mountain Lake Road. After 1.3 miles the road will become Lakeside Drive West; to the Right it is Lakeside Drive South. To reach parking for the boat launch and beach stay to the Left, proceed 0.4 miles and turn Right into parking area. There are also some parking spaces along the Right side of the road. To reach parking on the east side, turn Right onto Lakeside Drive South and follow it for 0.6 miles around to the Left where it will turn to Lakeside Drive East. Turn Right into the unpaved parking area. To reach the hiking trails at the Mountain Lakes Section of Jenny Jump State Forest from either lake side, proceed north following the main road around the lake. The trailhead is at the far northern section along Lakeside Drive North. Map
Open daily from dawn to dusk. Parking is available on the east and west sides of the lake and at the Mountain Lake Section of Jenny Jump State Forest at the northern end. There is no charge to use the beach during summer months. The boat launch fee is $5.00 on an honor system; drop the money in the supplied box. Only electric motors are allowed. Fishing is allowed from the shoreline. A NJ fishing license is required. There are portable bathrooms available at the boat launch. Water can be obtained at a spring house close to the hiking trails for Jenny Jump State Forest in the northern section; however, the water is not purified in any way.
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| Mountain Lake | Linda Gangi |
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 Nestled in an idyllic setting, Mountain Lake is Warren County’s largest glacial lake filling 122 acres. The southern section of the lake drains into the Mountain Lake Bog, owned by NJ Department of Environmental Protection Natural Lands Trust, whose densely vegetated peat wetland runs along Mountain Lake Brook and is a good example of a black spruce and tamarack plant community. The Liberty Township section borders the bog and extensive riparian restoration has been done along Mountain Lake Brook. It can be accessed by walking south from the parking area on the eastern shore. The property is to the right of the firehouse. In spring, prepare to be possibly greeted by Eastern Towhee, Scarlet Tanager, Indigo Bunting, Baltimore Oriole, Carolina Wren or Savannah Sparrow, just to name a few. Walk across the street to view Mountain Lake and look for waterfowl such as Common and Hooded Mergansers, Bufflehead, Common Loon or wading birds such as Green and Great Blue Herons. Listen for the rattling call of Belted Kingfisher before he dives headfirst into the water after small prey. During the hot summer months enjoy beach access along the western shore, which includes an area to launch a boat and lake side fishing access. It is another great place to survey the lake for wildlife. Mountain Lake is a trophy muskellunge lake and also contains bass and perch. Winter months may bring Bald Eagle and wintering waterfowl. In the northern section take advantage of the hiking trails at the Mountain Lake section of Jenny Jump State Forest.
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