Sourland Mountain Preserve
Managed by Somerset County Park Commission
4,609 acres12.1 mi of trail
Texas Eastern Pipeline TrailDevils Half-Acre TrailWhite TrailRidge Trail+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the trailheadWebsite ↗
Photo: Zeete · CC BY-SA 4.0A+Outdoors
Outdoors in Hillsborough Township
32% of Hillsborough Township’s land is conserved: 11,026 acres
8,042 acres are parks and preserves, 182 per 1,000 residents. 98% of residents live within a half mile of a park. 45 miles of mapped trail cross Hillsborough Township, 0.8 per square mile of land.
Ahead of 97% of U.S. towns · #54 of 468 in New Jersey. What drives it
Conserved land
32%
11,026 acres · of 54.6 sq mi of land
Trails
45 mi
0.8 per sq mi of land
Park land
8,042 ac
182 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
98%
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
11 mi
7.6 mi lanes · 0.8 mi paths
Highest peak
561 ft
Sourland Mountain
Lakes & rivers
14
What kind of outdoors town is Hillsborough Township?
Read from the map. The page puts what stands out first.
Outdoors grade
How much outdoors does Hillsborough Township have?
On conserved land, trails, park land and how close residents live to a park, Hillsborough Township is ahead of 97% of U.S. towns, #54 of 468 in New Jersey. All four inputs are above most U.S. towns; conserved land ranks highest, trail miles lowest.
A+
OutdoorsA character grade: shown, never part of Hillsborough Township’s overall grade.
Conserved land32% of the land · typical NJ town 11% · U.S. 4%ATrails0.8 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land (45 mi) · NJ 0.7 · U.S. 0.4A−Park land182 acres of park per 1,000 residents (8,042 acres) · NJ 25 · U.S. 13AParks close to home98% of residents within a half mile of a park · NJ 98% · U.S. 72%A−
All U.S. towns we grade (21,298)Ahead of 97%
LessMore
New Jersey towns of 2,500+ (468)Ahead of 89%
New Jersey towns conserve more land than most (a typical one, 11%; the U.S., 4%), so Hillsborough Township’s 32% is ahead of 86% of New Jersey towns, while its trails per square mile lead 58% of them.
How sure. Graded on any three of the four inputs instead, the letter would range from A to A+. Trails and many small parks come from OpenStreetMap, mapped by volunteers, so coverage varies from town to town; the half mile is a straight line from each census block, so a river or highway in the way isn’t counted against it.
PAD-US, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors), Census 2025 Gazetteer and 2020 blocks; details in Sources below. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Sourland Mountain Preserve, with 12.1 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Duke Farms
Managed by Duke Farms Foundation
2,673 acres10 mi of trail
Turtle Lake PathWalk On The Wildside TrailEagle Gate PathWildflower Meadow Path+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Otto's Farm Park
Managed by Hillsborough Parks & Recreation Deptartment
46 acres2.2 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Mike Merdinger Memorial Trails
Managed by Hillsborough Parks And Recreation Department
101 acres2.1 mi of trail
Mike Merdinger Memorial Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the trailhead
Ann Van Middlesworth Park
Managed by Hillsborough Parks & Recreation Department
38 acres0.7 mi of trail
Dogs on leash
Directionsto the parking lot
All 24 parks & preserves
Sourland Mountain Preserve4,609 acres · 12.1 mi of trail · Somerset County Park Commission
DirectionsDuke Farms2,673 acres · 10 mi of trail · Duke Farms Foundation
DirectionsOtto's Farm Park46 acres · 2.2 mi of trail · Hillsborough Parks & Recreation Deptartment
DirectionsMike Merdinger Memorial Trails101 acres · 2.1 mi of trail · Hillsborough Parks And Recreation Department
DirectionsAnn Van Middlesworth Park38 acres · 0.7 mi of trail · Hillsborough Parks & Recreation Department
DirectionsRohill Playground2 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
South Branch Greenway344 acres · Somerset County Park Commission
DirectionsDelaware and Raritan Canal State Park289 acres · New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry
DirectionsMountain View Park108 acres · Somerset County Park Commission
DirectionsSingley Park39 acres · Hillsborough Parks And Recreation Department
DirectionsWillow Road Park30 acres · Hillsborough Parks and Recreation Department
DirectionsThe Arboretum27 acres
Country Classics Park20 acres · Hillsborough Parks and Recreation Department
DirectionsDuke Island Park17 acres · Somerset County Park Commission
DirectionsWoodfield Park17 acres · Hillsborough Parks And Recreation Department
DirectionsDocherty Memorial Park16 acres · Hillsborough Parks and Recreation Department
DirectionsVillage Green Park11 acres · Hillsborough Parks And Recreation Department
DirectionsFlagg Way Park10 acres · Hillsborough Parks and Recreation Department
DirectionsMunicipal Soccer Complex9 acres · Hillsborough Parks And Recreation Department
DirectionsSouth Woods Road Soccer Park8 acres
DirectionsFlagtown Annex4 acres · Hillsborough Parks And Recreation Department
DirectionsFlagtown Park3 acres · Hillsborough Parks And Recreation Department
DirectionsMeditation Gardens3 acres
Surrey Park3 acres
Who protects it
11,026 conserved acres
32% of Hillsborough Township’s land. Who manages Hillsborough Township’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
County9,650 ac
Town or city2,452 ac
USDA easements (NRCS)1,173 ac
State natural resources398 ac
State fish & wildlife176 ac
Land trusts & nonprofits168 ac
Other state land93 ac
Agricultural Easement · 6,089 acLocal Conservation Area · 5,737 acLocal Other or Unknown · 1,458 acConservation Easement · 554 acLocal Recreation Area · 429 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 3,943 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. Public access isn’t recorded for 5 of 206 parcels. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sourland Mountain Preserve Local Conservation Area | County | 5,198 | Open |
| Hillsborough Township Unknown Local Other or Unknown | Town or city | 1,067 | Open |
| South Branch Greenway Local Park | County | 291 | Open |
| Hillsborough Twp Open Space Local Conservation Area | Town or city | 279 | Open |
| Raritan River Greenway Local Conservation Area | Not recorded | 262 | Open |
| Raritan River Confluence State Park State Park | State natural resources | 242 | Open |
| South Branch Wildlife Management Area State Conservation Area | State fish & wildlife | 176 | Open |
| Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park State Park | State natural resources | 157 | Open |
| Sourland Mountain Preserve 61 Local Recreation Area | County | 155 | Open |
| Camp Private Conservation | Land trusts & nonprofits | 101 | Closed |
5 smaller protected places aren’t shown.
Things to do
49 places to go in Hillsborough Township
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Playgrounds in Hillsborough Township
Municipal Playground
Directions44 playgrounds are on OpenStreetMap in all; the list shows named ones from the first 30.
Dog parks in Hillsborough Township
2 dog parks without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Peaks in Hillsborough Township
Sourland Mountain561 ft elevation · In Sourland Mountain Preserve
DirectionsDisc golf in Hillsborough Township
Willow Park Disc Golf CourseIn Willow Road Park
DirectionsCommunity gardens in Hillsborough Township
1 community garden without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Trails & water
25 named trails and 14 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Open to bikes · 28.7 miHorses · 1.0 miUnpaved · 32.7 mi
Texas Eastern Pipeline Trail2.2 mi
Mike Merdinger Memorial Trail2.1 mi
Devils Half-Acre Trail1.9 mi
White Trail1.9 mi
Turtle Lake Path1.7 mi
Ridge Trail1.4 mi
Maple Flats Trail1.1 mi
Walk On The Wildside Trail0.9 mi
Roaring Rocks Trail0.7 mi
Orange0.7 mi
15 more trails
Tributary Trail
0.6 miRidge Connector
0.5 miEagle Gate Path
0.5 miWildflower Meadow Path
0.5 miWalk On The Wild Side Trail
0.5 miGreat Meadow Path
0.4 miHay Barn Meadow Path
0.4 miGreen Connector
0.4 miYellow
0.3 miUS General Services Admin Res
0.3 miWhite Oak Path
0.3 miDevils Half-Acre Connector Trail
0.2 miRoaring Rocks Connector
0.1 miCoach Barn Meadow Path
0.1 miMaple Flats Connector
0.1 miBiking & sports
11 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
7.6 mi
painted or protected bike lanes
0.8 mi
off-road bike paths
2.6 mi
shoulders & shared lanes
Courts & fields
46Tennis
33Baseball
32Soccer
15Basketball
6Equestrian
6Pickleball
5Football
4Multi-sport
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
History along the way
History →10 places on the National Register
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service). The map also marks 2 historic points from OpenStreetMap: plaques, memorials and old buildings.
Huff House and FarmsteadBuilding · listed 1976
About itMillstone Valley Agricultural DistrictDistrict · listed 1977
About itSouth Branch Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 1977
About itNeshanic MillsDistrict · listed 1978
About itCat Tail Brook BridgeStructure · listed 1979
About itNeshanic Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 1979
About itClover Hill Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 1980
About itElmendorf HouseBuilding · listed 1992
About itHigginsville Road BridgesStructure · listed 2000
About itVan Der Veer-Harris HouseBuilding · listed 2008
About itWhen to get out
The best walking months in Hillsborough Township: April to June and August
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.6 | 10.6 | 11.8 | 13.2 | 14.4 | 15.0 | 14.8 | 13.8 | 12.4 | 11.0 | 9.9 | 9.3 |
| High (°F) | 40 | 43 | 51 | 63 | 73 | 82 | 87 | 85 | 78 | 66 | 55 | 45 |
| Rain (in) | 3.6 | 2.8 | 4.2 | 3.8 | 4.1 | 4.5 | 5.1 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 3.3 | 4.3 |
February is the driest month (2.8 in) and July the warmest (highs of 87 °F). 5.1 inches fall in July, the wettest month. Summer highs reach 87 °F, too hot for the outline. The climate in Hillsborough Township →
Next door
Hillsborough Township and its neighbors
Hillsborough Township has the second most mapped trails of the 8 towns around it. Tap a town to see its outdoors.
Franklin Township58 miHillsborough Township45 miReadington Township33 miMontgomery Township27 miBranchburg Township5.3 miNeshanic Station2.6 miNeshanic2.1 miManville0.7 mi
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillsborough Township | 32% | 0.8 | 182 | 98% | A+ |
| Branchburg Township | 20% | 0.3 | 129 | 97% | A |
| Neshanic Station | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Franklin Township | 26% | 1.3 | 111 | 96% | A+ |
| Manville | 18% | 0.3 | 26 | 99%+ | A |
| Neshanic | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Readington Township | 26% | 0.7 | 229 | 93% | A+ |
| Montgomery Township | 27% | 0.8 | 165 | 99% | A+ |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Hillsborough Township
Where can I hike in Hillsborough Township?
The longest trail networks: Sourland Mountain Preserve, 12.1 miles; Duke Farms, 10 miles; Otto's Farm Park, 2.2 miles; Mike Merdinger Memorial Trails, 2.1 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
How much of Hillsborough Township is conserved land?
32% of its land, against a typical 11% for a New Jersey town and 4% nationally (PAD-US). Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors: easements are usually private land.
Are dogs allowed on Hillsborough Township’s trails?
OpenStreetMap records dogs as welcome at Ann Van Middlesworth Park (on leash). For the rest, check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Hillsborough Township?
11 miles of bike routes are on the map: 7.6 of painted or protected lanes, 0.8 of off-road paths and 2.6 of shoulders and shared lanes.
Is there public land near Hillsborough Township?
68,991 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Hillsborough Township or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 8,042 of them inside the town line.
How much outdoors does Hillsborough Township have?
Ahead of 97% of U.S. towns on the Outdoors grade, #54 of 468 in New Jersey. The grade combines the share of land that is conserved, miles of mapped trail per square mile of land, park acres per 1,000 residents and the share of residents within a half mile of a park. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Hillsborough Township neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →