AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Baldcypress, Taxodium distichum, Buttressing2.JPG
Kieran Hunt · CC BY-SA 4.0
Duke Farms

Wood Duck Lake–Heron Lake, 6 lakes

2.7 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 54 min

Wood Duck Lake–Heron Lake, 6 lakes is a 2.7-mile out-and-back in Duke Farms near Raritan, NJ. The route passes Heron Lake, Boathouse Lake, Turtle Lake and Frog Lake before reaching Wood Duck Lake at the turnaround, 1.3 miles in. It is mostly level, with 0 ft of elevation gain, and mostly grass. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi56 – 69 ft3.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Railroad Way 40.55078, -74.62618
Nearest town Raritan, NJ
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Wood Duck Lake–Heron Lake, 6 lakes

2.7 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 54 min

Elevation 57–70 ft

Out & Back · Duke Farms

Trailhead: Railroad Way · 40.55078, -74.62618

Weather Sep 5: Overcast, high 78°F / low 67° · precip 1% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:30 AM · sunset 7:26 PM

Bikes allowed on the whole route · Toilets at the trailhead

  1. Start on Railroad Way, heading SW.
  2. 150 ftTurn right onto Orchid Range Way, heading NW.
  3. 350 ftSharp right onto Wildflower Meadow Path, heading NE.
  4. 0.1 miTurn left onto White Oak Path, heading NE.
  5. 0.1 miBear left onto Turtle Lake Path, heading NE.
  6. 0.2 miPass Heron Lake.
  7. 50 ftPass Boathouse Lake.
  8. 0.3 miPass Turtle Lake.
  9. 350 ftPass Frog Lake.
  10. 0.5 miReach Wood Duck Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  11. 1 miBear right onto White Oak Path, heading SE.
  12. 0.1 miTurn right onto Wildflower Meadow Path, heading E.
  13. 0.1 miSharp left onto Orchid Range Way, heading S.
  14. 400 ftTurn left onto Railroad Way, heading W.
  15. 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/otter-lake-out-back

Trail surface

83% grass9% dirt8% paved

Weather

OvercastTemperature 78°F67°
Precip1%Wind5 mphUV7Humidity75%
Rained 1.7″ yesterday · trails may be muddy
Hourly temperature
80°65°
Sunrise 6:30 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:26 PM
Sun 73°62°
Mon 80°61°
Tue 82°62°
Wed 86°67°
Thu 84°69°
Fri 75°58°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.2 mi in (~29 min). Leave by 6:37 PM for the 7:26 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:10 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Bikes allowed on the whole route
  • Toilets at the trailhead

More from Railroad Way Trailhead

Hikes near Raritan, New Jersey