Shick Reserve Trail

Hunterdon County Park Consisting of 311 acres of rolling hills, fields, and woodlands. Schick Reserve is an undeveloped park. No formal marked trail system exists within the reserve. The general public can hike along the edge of the fields, wooded trails, and farmers tractor paths. Consisting of 311 acres of rolling hills, fields, and woodlands, this was the site of dairy and farming operations for the Apgar and Schick families for over 150 years. In 1844, Philip Apgar, a blacksmith, and his wife, Rebecca, acquired the first 126 acres. To meet the needs of an expanding farm and family of 13 children, they built several barns, including a Pennsylvania-German style bank barn which still stands. The farm remained in the family until 1917, when a neighboring farmer, Herman Schick, bought 160 acres, farm equipment, and livestock for $5000. He added another 120 acres to the farm in 1932. Eventually retiring from farming, he died in 1997 at the age of 101. His son, Curtis, sold the farm to the County as open space in 1994. In 2011, the Alexandria Equestrian Society agreed to construct and adopt a trail system on the property. The total length of the trail system adds up to about eight miles. AGRICULTURAL USE: The County leases much of the land to a local farmer. In accepting the lease, the farmer has agreed to farm the property while complying to a management plan. Please be considerate. Stay on the trails and do not pick or damage any crops. WILDLIFE AND HABITAT: The fields at the Schick Reserve offer a wonderful opportunity to view and find evidence of some of the Countys predators. Scan the skies to see if any raptors are hunting in the area. Red Tailed Hawks are common and Northern Harriers have been known to reside here during the winter season. While walking the field roads, look for scat and tracks of coyotes and foxes. There is an abundance of edge habitat throughout the Schick Reserve. The field edges provide shelter to several birds throughout the season. Some of the rarer species sighted include Fox Sparrows and Brown Thrashers. Small mammals, such as rabbits and skunks, also take advantage of this terrain.