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April 8 - 15

Creek Madness

The Paulins Kill, Flatbrook and the wild trout streams of Northwest New Jersey are ripe!
For many, the first day of fishing season is also Opening Day of Spring. Early April water is cold, high, and fast, but even the most severe conditions cannot deny dedicated fishers their place streamside early Saturday morning (April 11), when a fresh and feisty generation of stocked rainbow trout become fair game. Find your fish!

Big Bucks

This aerial view looking east from Pennsylvania shows Labar Island in the Delaware River and Sunfish Pond at the top of the Kittatinny Ridge. The Worthington State Park headquarters are visible on the river bank.
If you like to hike in New Jersey, chances are you know Worthington State Forest. But few of the hikers, campers, canoeists, and nature lovers that visit Worthington realize that industrial pumps are responsible for the preserved wilderness and natural wonders that they enjoy there. Charles C. Worthington, a prominent and very wealthy New York socialite, sportsman, fisherman, and skilled rifleman, assembled this park in the late nineteenth century. He called it Buckwood Park. More...

Great Stories

Convivial Hall and the Battle of Bound Brook, April 13, 1777. This painting by John Clymer was commissioned by American Cyanamid. The company once used the Van Horne House for offices and restored the property in the 1940s.
This year's 250th anniversary of American Independence invites deeper understanding of the many sites that made New Jersey the Crossroads of the American Revolution, hosting General George Washington and the Continental Army for nearly half of the war. Among the battles and skirmishes to take place, the Battle of Bound Brook was an early, though not crushing, defeat on the record of the Continental Army near what is recognized as the first Middlebrook Encampment. This weekend (April 11-12), American and British soldiers again do battle in street and field in Bound Brook, recreating the events of 249 years ago. Colonial crafters, encampment, children's activities, special programs and tours and more round out the event. Please check the website for details and to confirm times.

17 Von Steuben Ln, South Bound Brook.

Digging Deep

Picatinny Peak rises above Picatinny Lake, once known as Clifford Pond.
The Cultural Resource Program at Picatinny Arsenal has documented dozens of historic and Native American archaeological sites that tell a story that spans centuries in the New Jersey Highlands. More...

Planet Jersey

The wood frog is among the amphibians that depend on fish-free vernal pool breeding habitat for their survival. Others include the eastern tiger salamander (endangered), marbled salamander (special concern), spotted salamander, Jefferson salamander (special concern), blue-spotted salamander (endangered), and the eastern spadefoot toad.
A vernal pool in early spring feels like a place that’s only half awake, yet there’s a sense of urgency to everything there, quietly bursting with life. Because the pool will dry up by late spring or summer, every creature is on a tight schedule—breeding, laying and hatching gelatinous clusters of eggs—pulsing with amphibian calls before the water disappears. This spring, head for the woods on a special type of hunt. You won't find explicit directions, but if you log any appreciable trail time in the spring, you'll eventually come across one of these magical, temporary worlds. Or trek up to Lusscroft Farm this Sunday (April 12, 2pm) for a special guided vernal pool hike. (email to register)




Thanks for joining us in our appreciation of Northwest New Jersey and all the brilliant ways to get out and enjoy the pleasures of the season. Tap our calendar for the best events for you and your family, or check our current stories. Pick from a multitude of daytrip itineraries and watch out for our virtual efforts to keep you informed. For the more aerobically inclined, the Outdoor Map shows the way to go, or choose among dozens of natural attractions or outdoor activities suggested on our website.
Like many other small, independent and specialized information sources, our operation increasingly relies on reader donations. Help us keep you informed about all the great stuff to do in and around Northwest New Jersey! If you like what we offer, we hope you'll consider a contribution.

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