So I figured regardless of which way a cacher might approach this one, whether it be from Pickell Park (my preferred approach), the parking area on Old Mountain Road (shorter and steeper) or from the Red Trail or camping area at Round Valley (about a 6 mile hike and an entrance fee in season) you need to slow it down and find an old school ammo can where you can sit and go through the goodies inside. There are a lot of nooks and crannies to check here. Maybe you'll find it right away, maybe you'll be here a while. Coming from Pickell Park, you'll be on the Blue trail then when the White trail starts, make a right and stay on the blue. Approaching from the Old Mountain Road parking area, the white trail will take you to the blue trail going off on the left. If you miss it and end up at the intersection where the big old tree is resting, you can head along the ridge trail which only has a few old blazes and loop around. "They" recently marked their territory up here so if you see County Park signs on on side of the trail and State Park signs on the other, you're good. From Round Valley, you will see a marker near the last woods potty with an arrow for the Red Trail which will take you up to the intersection I just mentioned.
ABOUT THE CUSHETUNK MOUNTAIN PRESERVE
Cushetunk is part of a ring of mountains in Clinton Township that were formed by volcanic activity during the Triassic Period over 160 million years ago. The Lenni Lenape Indians referred to this area as "Cushetunk" meaning "place of hogs," due to the wild hogs that roamed the mountains. Early settlers simply called the area "Hog Mountain."
Diabase rock made the area unsuitable for farming, so timber was the dominant early use. The natural bowl formation of the valley led to the selection of this site for the creation of the Round Valley Reservoir. Several farms in the valley were purchased by the state and the area was flooded in the 1960s. At a depth of approximately 180 feet, the reservoir is the deepest body of water in New Jersey.
Cushetunk Mountain Preserve spans across the border of Clinton and Readington Townships. The parking area provided is for Pickell Park which gives a longer hike but it is very enjoyable. The other parking area is located at 106 Old Mountain Road, Lebanon 08833.