Merrill Creek Reservoir

Merrill Creek Reservoir At A Glance...

• A 650-acre reservoir with a Perimeter Trail that circles the whole thing.
• Thousands of snow geese winter on the water, and when they all take off together it is a sight and a sound you will not forget.
• Bald eagles have nested here since 1999, and more than 275 bird species have been recorded.
• Home of the Scott's Mountain Hawk Watch, where counters have tallied more than 10,000 broad-winged hawks in a single day.
• Nine trees along the trails have faces, and the Tree Finder Game sends kids looking for them.
• Todays Sunrise: 6:39 am,   Sunset: 4:49 pm  
• New Jersey Skylands Region Warren County

• Activities:

  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Paddling - Kayak, Canoe, row boat
  • Skiing / Snowboarding
  • Walking

  Amenities:

  • Restrooms/Bathrooms
  • Boat launch
  • Parking Lot(s)
  • Gardens
  • Nature / Environmental Center

  Trails:

  • Self Guided / Nature trail
  • Natural Surface (Dirt/Roots/Rocks)
  • Walking Paths

  Park Type:

  • Preserve

  Attractions:

  • Animals

  Rules/Regulations:

  • Alcohol Not Permitted
  • Biking Not Permitted
  • Horseback Not Permitted
  • Must be Leashed
  • Swimming Not Permitted

Contact / Location

A Brief History

Merrill Creek Reservoir was built to store water for release into the Delaware River in dry spells, and the public has been welcome since 1989. In 1999 it became only the second bald eagle nesting site in the northern half of the state, and two nesting pairs now live here. The Scott's Mountain Hawk Watch began in 1973 on the nearby ridge and moved to the reservoir's tower lot around 1990.

Trail & Path Info

Trails are for foot travel only and open only during property hours. Stay on the marked, blazed routes. Every trail except the Perimeter Trail is inside the Environmental Preserve, where there is no hunting or fishing.

Most routes start behind the Visitors Center. Blue (Shoreline) runs about 2.0 miles along the water, and Red (Timber) and Green (Orchard) are loops of about half a mile each. Yellow (Farmstead) heads through old farm fields, and Orange adds a loop of about 1.5 miles. A short Sensory Trail starts near the Visitors Center, and two wildlife blinds sit on the trail network. The Black Perimeter Trail circles the whole reservoir, crossing the main dam and the dikes. Linking Red, Blue, Yellow and Black makes a hike of about 6.7 miles.

The Perimeter Trail crosses Upper Merrill Creek on foot because the old footbridge washed out in a storm and cannot be rebuilt. A section of the Warren Highlands Trail also passes through the property.

Things to See & Do

Stop at the Visitors Center for dioramas and hands-on exhibits, then watch the feeders from the window on the east side, walk the butterfly and hummingbird garden behind the building, or look over the reservoir through the spotting scope. The old farm sites on the trail map are marked as historic ruins: the Cathers House, a spring house, the Cathers/Shafer Farm, a lime kiln and the Upper Beers Farm.

Kids can play the Tree Finder Game: nine different trees along the trails have faces.

For birds, the best winter spot for snow geese, when they are in, is the Inlet/Outlet Tower parking lot off Fox Farm Road, or the main dam and the southwest dike on the Perimeter Trail. The Scott's Mountain Hawk Watch uses the tower lot in fall.

Best Time of Year to Visit

Fall brings the hawk migration, counted daily from September 1 to November 30 and strongest from mid-September to mid-October, especially after a cold front with north winds. Winter belongs to the snow geese: the reservoir is a wintering spot for thousands, and the operator says they typically return in December and leave by March. Boats are allowed on the reservoir from mid-March through November.

Tips and Tricks

Bring your own boat: rentals, bait sales, fishing guides and food service are not allowed on the property. Shore fishing is allowed in designated areas only, and a New Jersey fishing license is required.

Hunting is open to hunting club members only, in the multiuse areas outside the Environmental Preserve. Wear orange or other bright colors on the trails during hunting seasons.

Wear a life jacket on any kayak, canoe or inflatable. Children 12 and under must wear one on every boat. Fishing from the boat ramp, docks, dikes or the dam is not allowed, and neither is wading.

No swimming, picnicking, fires or grills, bicycles, horses, drones, alcohol or ice activities. Dogs must be on a physical leash, and hands-free leash devices and e-collars are not allowed on the trails or in the parking lots. Carry out all trash, including pet waste bags.

Hours / Season of Operation

Gates open at 7:00 AM year-round. The gate closing time changes with the season, and from October 1, 2026 to March 15, 2027 it is 4:30 PM. Check the website before you go. The whole property, including the trails and the boat ramp, is closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

The Visitors Center is open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 AM to 4 PM, year-round, except on major holidays.

Boats must be off the water one hour before the gates close, and no watercraft are allowed on the reservoir from December 1 to March 15. The ramp closing time is posted on a whiteboard at the ramp.

Facilities

The Visitors Center has indoor restrooms, a 100-seat auditorium, two classrooms, exhibits, a weather station, an interactive computer kiosk and a kids corner. Outdoor restrooms are at the boat ramp, the Visitors Center and the Inlet/Outlet Tower parking areas. A barrier-free fishing dock is off Fox Farm Road near the Inlet/Outlet Tower, and anglers with disabilities get preference there.

Parking

Park only in the marked lots, at the Visitors Center, the boat ramp and the Inlet/Outlet Tower off Fox Farm Road. There is no parking on roadsides or in fields, and no parking outside the gates before they open; Harmony Township has an ordinance against it on Merrill Creek Road.

Directions

The address is 34 Merrill Creek Road, Washington, NJ 07882, and the operator says to use Harmony NJ in a GPS. From I-78 west, take exit 4 (Warren Glen/Stewartsville) and turn right at the bottom of the ramp. After 1.8 miles, at the blinker light, turn right onto Route 638 (Washington Street). After 2.4 miles cross Route 57 diagonally onto Montana Road, go 2 miles and bear left at the Y. In 0.3 miles turn left onto Merrill Creek Road. The boat ramp is straight ahead and the Visitors Center is down the road that veers right.

From I-80, take exit 12 (Route 521, Hope/Blairstown), go 1 mile to Route 519 and continue south on 519 for 16 miles. Bear left at the Y with Route 646, go 1.3 miles, turn left on Fox Farm Road, right on Richline Road and right again on Merrill Creek Road.

The hawk count is sent each year to the Hawk Migration Association of North America. Merrill Creek is a certified Important Bird and Birding Area.

Two historic and farm stops are a short drive away: the Hoff-Vannatta Farmstead in Harmony Township, listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places, and, in fall, Von Thun Farms in Washington, with a corn maze, hayrides and pick-your-own. Eyes of the Wild Center is also in Washington. Farther out, Musconetcong Gorge offers a rugged hike along the Musconetcong River, and Delaware River Railroad Excursions is in Phillipsburg.

Here are 10 places near Merrill Creek Reservoir