Merrill Creek Reservoir (Phillipsburg, NJ)
Recently, I found myself in Phillipsburg, New Jersey. Phillipsburg and Warren County don’t get a lot of attention in the Garden State. It’s an area northwest of Trenton and an area that is truly considered “the Garden State.”
The reservoir is a 650-acre reservoir surrounded by a 290-acre environmental preserve. The Merrill Creek Reservoir is a man-made lake with a dam constructed in 1986-1987. A surprising fact is the construction cost $217 million and was one of the largest construction projects in the US.
Merrill Creek Reservoir has plenty of space and can be used for running, hiking, cross-country skiing, and photography. If I was local it would be somewhere I would run. There are several loops, but I chose to walk around the 5.5-mile perimeter loop. The Merrill Creek Reservoir is relatively flat and well maintained. The visitor center noted some of the animals seen included bald eagles, rainbow trout, lake trout, and white-tailed deer. It’s the tranquil setting of water and land that allows people to interact with the natural beauty of the Merrill Creek Reservoir.
There are beautiful views of both the Merrill Creek Reservoir as well as mountains and additional acres of woods and fields in the background. If I lived close by, I could see myself running there. It was quiet at the Merrill Creek Reservoir and there were only a few others on the trail.
In all, it was a lot of fun and a short easy walk at the Merrill Creek Reservoir. It took about 2 hours to complete. If you’re looking for something easy, scenic, and fun, the Merrill Creek Reservoir is a good option.
You Can See More Hikes here.
Questions for you:
Have you ever walked around a reservoir? Have you been to the Merrill Creek Reservoir?
Where is your favorite spot to hike around you?