Six Mile Run Reservoir Site is a 3,037-acre New Jersey State Park Service property with marked trails for hiking, biking, birdwatching and horseback riding. Near North Brunswick, it offers four routes to choose from, with different lengths, difficulty levels and access points.
Here’s how to pick a trail and plan your visit, from parking locations to muddy-ground precautions.
- Trail network: 13.5 miles across four marked routes.
- Access: Trail parking is listed at Canal Road, Jacques Lane and Route 27.
- Gate hours: open 24 hours
- Entrance fee: None.
Understand the Six Mile Run Reservoir Site
Six Mile Run is a state park area shaped by a water project that never came to be. Despite the site’s name, the planned reservoir was not built.
The state acquired properties in the area during the 1960s for a water-resource project. After alternative water sources were identified, the project was shelved in 1993. Today, the land is administered by Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park and has 13.5 miles of trails across four marked routes.
The routes support several kinds of outdoor use, but follow the marked, official trails. New Jersey State Parks advises visitors to avoid the area south of Six Mile Run and west of Creek Trail, where there is no authorized trail network established, approved or maintained.
Choose a trail and access point
The four marked routes range from an easy 1.6-mile walk to moderate multi-use trails, with access points along roads.
The state’s trail brochure gives these route details. Before setting out, match the trail name and its colored markings to the official park map.
- Blackwells Trail: A 4.9-mile, blue-marked, moderate multi-use trail with a trailhead at 625 Canal Road.
- Cedar Trail: An easy, white-marked, 1.6-mile multi-use trail starting at the Jacques Lane parking lot, 0.6 miles from Canal Road.
- Creek Trail: A 4.6-mile, red-marked, moderate multi-use trail starting at Route 27 by the Jersey Knights Soccer Field. Use extreme caution when crossing South Middlebush Road.
- Twisty Trail: A 2.4-mile, orange-marked, moderate route accessed from Creek Trail. Hikers, cyclists and horseback riders may use it.
There are three listed trail-access parking locations: 625 Canal Road in Somerset, Jacques Lane, and 2186 Route 27 in New Brunswick. Parking at the Route 27 location is shared with NJ Knights Soccer Club.
Check trail conditions and seasonal access
Check conditions before choosing a route, because the park asks visitors to stay off trails when they are muddy.
The soil erodes easily, so avoid muddy trails rather than trying to ride or walk through them. Hours and conditions can affect your plans, so check the official site before you go.
Hunting takes place during regulated seasons. Hunters need a park permit, and hunting is not permitted on Sundays on land managed by New Jersey State Parks. Keep to marked routes and check the park’s information when planning a visit during hunting season.
Prepare for parking and outdoor conditions
Plan to use one of the designated parking locations and carry out anything you bring, since there are no trash receptacles at the site.
Dogs must be leashed on a leash no longer than six feet, and owners must clean up after them. Swimming, alcoholic beverages, smoking and vaping are prohibited. The park’s facilities are not accessible for people with disabilities; contact the D&R Canal Park Office to ask about nearby ADA-accessible areas.
Use the official park map to confirm designated trails and access points before you head out. The state map shows trail routes, parking areas and nearby roads including Route 27, Canal Road and South Middlebush Road.
Combine the visit with a North Brunswick stay
Six Mile Run is about a 16-minute drive from Farrington Inn, making Farrington Inn - North Brunswick a convenient North Brunswick base for reaching its trailheads.
FAQs
Is there an entrance fee for Six Mile Run Reservoir Site?
No. Entry is free.
How many trails are at Six Mile Run?
The network covers 13.5 miles in total.
Can you bring a dog?
Yes. Dogs are allowed if kept on a short leash, and owners must clean up after them.
What should you do if the trails are muddy?
Stay off them; the park warns that the soil erodes easily.