Clinton Wildlife Management Area
Directions
Take Exit 17 [Clinton] from I-78, and proceed north on NJ 31 for 3.0 miles to the traffic light at Van Syckels Road. Make a left at the light and continue for 1.4 miles, passing the entrance to the Spruce Run Recreation Area, on the left. Gravel parking areas are on either side of the road, about 0.5 mile beyond the entrance to Spruce Run. The park office for the management area is 1.4 miles beyond the Spruce Run entrance.
- GPS Coordinates for entrance to Spruce Run Recreation Area: 40.662720, -74.938881
Park Overview
Adjacent to the Spruce Run Recreation Area, with woods roads and a segment of the Highlands Trail.
Trail Overview
Like most wildlife management areas there are no marked trails, except for a segment of the Highlands Trail [teal diamond]. Click here to go directly to information about the Highlands Trail in the Clinton Wildlife Management Area, and here for a trail map of Spruce Run Reservoir displaying the segments running in and out between the two parks.
Numerous woods roads and unmarked trails crisscross the region, with some actively farmed areas. The section of the management area on the north side of Van Syckels road offers about two miles of woods roads that are mowed to allow access to the area (except summertime May 15 to July), which makes for very easy hiking seasonally. It is possible to walk some sections of the shoreline of the reservoir, especially when the water level is low; however, other sections are impassable. Use the Web Map link on this site for a NJ DEP map showing park boundaries and multiple parking areas.
Park Description
This 2,000-acre WMA surrounds most of the Spruce Run Reservoir, with the exception of the day-use area of Spruce Run Recreation Area, which occupies two peninsulas jutting into the lake.