Pequest Trout Hatchery and Natural Resource Education Center

Pequest Trout Hatchery and Natural Resource Education Center At A Glance...

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New Jersey Skylands Region Warren County

About Pequest Trout Hatchery and Natural Resource Education Center

The Pequest facility includes a Natural Resource Education Center for environmental education as well as the only state-owned and operated trout hatchery. Pequest began operations when trout production was transferred from the Charles O. Hayford Hatchery in Hackettstown in 1981. Pequest produces up to 700,000 trout annually for stocking in the public waters of New Jersey.

Visitors to the site use the area to learn about trout and how they are raised, as well as to use the nearly 5,000 acres of land that surrounds the hatchery for recreational opportunities such as hiking, hunting and bird watching, while great fishing opportunities abound in the nearby Pequest River.

Pequest is open for visitation Monday through Friday, from November 1 through April 1, from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Pequest is open weekends for special events or programs only. The best time to see the hatchery is from October through May when all areas of the facility are in operation. From May through September, the nursery building is not in use.

Pequest strives to teach visitors about a variety of natural resource topics - from fishing to forestry - in the hopes that visitors will develop the behaviors and skills necessary to become stewards of wildlife and natural resources. Educational programs can be scheduled year round for groups of all ages. Besides scheduled group programs, Pequest teaches about trout and wildlife conservation at its annual Open House and other public events and programs throughout the summer for families, boys and girl scouts.

Description borrowed from state.nj.us

Activities:
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Hunting
- Walking
Amenities:
- Bathrooms
- Parking Lot(s)
- Dog Park / Dog Area
  Dog Training Area
- Nature / Environmental Center
Trails:
- Flat / Easy
- Self Guided / Nature trail
- Rugged / Rocky
- Walking Paths
Park Type:
- State Parks
- Park (General)

Contact / Location

Primary Address:

Get Directions 605 Pequest Rd.,
Oxford, NJ 07863

Contact:

Website

Maps & Brochures:

Trail & Path Info

The Pequest NREC offers 3.9 miles of trails through a variety of habitats. The Red Trail offers interpretive signs about the habitat and is used to access the other two trails on site, the Yellow and Blue trails. Horses, bikes, ATVs and other motorized vehicles are not permitted on the Wildlife Management Area.