Ken Lockwood Gorge Wildlife Management Area
Directions
Take I-78 to Exit 17 and continue north on NJ 31 for 1.9 miles, turn right on County 513 toward the Borough of High Bridge.
- To reach the southern end of the wildlife management area, park in High Bridge in a municipal lot is located at 79 Main Street. GPS Coordinates: 40.66949, -74.896492. The Columbia Trail trailhead is near by, leading to the gorge.
- Parking is also available at Voorhees State Park further north on County 513 [on the left], just avoid staying after closing time when locked gates can trap your vehicle. Parking is permitted at Voorhees High School [on the right of County 513 near the Voorhees S.P. entrance] when school is not in session.
- Public transportation is available to High Bridge via weekday commuter service on the NJ Transit Raritan Valley Line.
Train Directions
Public transportation is available to High Bridge via weekday commuter service on the NJ Transit Raritan Valley Line.
Park Overview
Hike along an unpaved road closed to vehicles that parallels the South Branch of the Raritan River through a deep gorge. Some say it is amongst the ten most beautiful spots in New Jersey.
Trail Overview
Hikers can enjoy a stroll along the unpaved road that parallels the river without interruption by vehicular traffic.
- Hikers parking in High Bridge (use Trailhead Directions on this site) can access the gorge via the Columbia Trail where it crosses the Raritan River on a high trestle.
- Use the Web Map link on this site for a trial map of the Columbia Trail in the gorge.
- Current topographical maps are available for download from the Table of Wildlife Management Areas -- observe the steep contour lines.
Park Description
Typical of Wildlife Management Areas, the 500-acre Ken Lockwood WMA is managed primarily for hunting and fishing. It is also one of the New Jersey's most picturesque WMAs. Towering hemlocks lining the steep walls of the gorge provide shade and contribute to a sense of isolation. A 2.5-mile stretch of the South Branch of the Raritan River flows through the gorge, cascading over boulders, spilling over small waterfalls, and pouring into quiet pools. It is a wild and scenic river particularly in the spring.