This truely is a special place, nestled in the center of Newark's 35,000-acre Pequannock Watershed, one of New Jersey's few remaining relatively unspoiled wildernesses, yet only 40 miles from New York City. The cache is placed on a cozy little overlook with inch deep moss whih should make the search all the more rewarding on tired feet. The moss covered exposed bedrock would be a nice place to sit back and relax a bit or a soft spot for bears. A visit here in any season will be rewarding. The trails are so empty that you will likely see more bear then hikers and sounderused that the moss underfoot softens your step on much of your path. There is always something of interest for every outdoors person. Winter, with its spectacle of ice and snow, is a photographer's delight. Winter finches (pine siskins, crossbills, redpolls, and grosbeaks) in flight years often frequent the many conifers that dot the landscape. During these frigid months that feature colors of white and brown, a botanist is not at a loss to find something green, since lichens, mosses, club mosses, and evergreen ferns abound.
March heralds the end of winter and the hope of spring. The sight of skunk cabbage peaking through the soil is the first sign of the season. The vanguard of the passerine bird movement north is the eastern phoebe proudly announcing itself along Clinton Road's many streams. Warmer days feature Compton tortoise shell and mourning cloak butterflies as well as stone flies dotting the many rocks and bridges. Clinton Reservoir, when not frozen, serves as an excellent stop-off spot for ducks and loons on their journey north. Coltsfoot wins the award for the first flower of the season, blooming in late March or early April.
The melting snow provides copious quantities of that precious clear liquid that supplies the many streams welcoming the Louisiana Waterthrushes back in April. Cinnamon and sensitive ferns almost blanket the moist areas, where salamanders can be found with some searching. Kinglets and yellow-rumped warblers are plentiful as they wend their way north. May and June are the months most folks look forward to for wildflowers, spring migration, and, ultimately, the breeding season (for birds).
<>The breeding season is something special here--over 140 species have been recorded in the "watershed" on various surveys taken over the last 20 years. Clinton road alone has registered 25 species of warblers in June and early July. Nesting raptors are also a specialty of the area. Owls include Great-horned, barred, and saw-whet , and hawks include goshawk, broad-winged, and red-shouldered (the best location in New Jersey for this declining species).
Summer is the season to explore the many trails that find their origin along Clinton Road, where with luck, mammals such asblack bear, river otter, beaver, porcupine, and red and gray foxes may be found. But beware, timber rattlesnakes have are also present in the areas. A visit here is most pleasant at this time of the year, with mountain laurel blanketing the landscape and assorted berries to provide a fine dessert for a picnic lunch. Thirty-five species of ferns bring joy to "fernatic's" hearts, and the abundant wildflowers are ample fodder for any nature photographer. </>
Autumn, with its brilliant displays of changing foliage, renders this the place to be, especially during mid-October, but a visit anytime is worthwhile. To truly enjoy the experience of Clinton Road, take a closer look. Buy a permit and parking sticker and find out why many of this state'sfinest naturalists consider this one of their favorite haunts and why this area must be preserved for future enjoyment.