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Allamuchy and Frelinghuysen Townships, Warren County
643 Acres
A clear running stream, Bear Creek flows though some of Warren
County's most productive farmland areas. An old silo still stands
along Shades of Death Road, where a farm once had been. Today,
the Trust leases several agricultural fields to a local farm family,
where they continue to grow corn, wheat, soybeans and hay. Draining
headwater areas of the Pequest River, Bear Creek passes through
the fertile Allamuchy Valley before it enters the ancient glacial
basin of Great Meadows.
The Bear Creek Preserve encompasses a portion of a Natural Heritage
Priority Site, which delineates important areas for the state's
biodiversity. The Preserve supports habitat for a variety of endangered
and rare plants and animals including the state-endangered few
flower spike rush and large water plantain. The emergent wetlands
along the streamside support bog turtles and wood turtles, and
unique plants occur on the Franklinite marble and limestone rock
outcrops that edge the west side of the valley.
The Bear Creek Preserve is adjacent to other protected conservation
lands including holdings by The Nature Conservancy, Ridge and
Valley Conservancy as well as Jenny Jump State Park.
Public Access and Uses:
The general public can best enjoy the preserve from areas of Shades
of Death Road, Heller Hill Road, State Park Road and Southtown
Road. No maintained trails are available and road side parking
opportunities are limited. The Trust allows registration
for deer hunting at this preserve. Please do not enter into farm fields or crop
lands.
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