Wood Duck Lake–Heron Lake, 9 lakes
3.2 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 4 min
Wood Duck Lake–Heron Lake, 9 lakes is a 3.2-mile out-and-back in Duke Farms near Royce Valley, NJ. The route passes Heron Lake, Boathouse Lake, Turtle Lake and Frog Lake before reaching Wood Duck Lake at the turnaround, 1.6 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
Getting there
Directions
Wood Duck Lake–Heron Lake, 9 lakes
3.2 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 4 min
Elevation 57–68 ft
Out & Back · Duke Farms
Trailhead: Central Way · 40.54870, -74.62244
Weather Sep 5: Overcast, high 78°F / low 67° · precip 2% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:30 AM · sunset 7:26 PM
Bikes allowed on the whole route
- Start on Central Way, heading N.
- 50 ftBear right onto Walk On The Wildside Trail, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Walk On The Wild Side Trail, heading W.
- 0.2 miBear right onto Wildflower Meadow Path, heading W.
- 400 ftSharp right onto White Oak Path, heading SW.
- 0.1 miBear left onto Turtle Lake Path, heading NE.
- 0.2 miPass Heron Lake.
- 50 ftPass Boathouse Lake.
- 0.3 miPass Turtle Lake.
- 350 ftPass Frog Lake.
- 0.5 miReach Wood Duck Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1 miBear right onto White Oak Path, heading SE.
- 0.1 miSharp left onto Wildflower Meadow Path, heading E.
- 400 ftBear left onto Walk On The Wild Side Trail, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Walk On The Wildside Trail, heading E.
- 0.2 miBear left onto Central Way, heading E.
- 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 surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.4 mi in (~35 min). Leave by 6:31 PM for the 7:26 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:16 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Bikes allowed on the whole route
More from Central Way Trailhead
- Vista Lake–Otter Lake, 5 lakes 1.9 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Great Oak–Otter Lake, 7 lakes 2.2 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Duke Reservoir–Vista Lake, 7 lakes 2.3 mi · ▲ 27 ft
- Heron Lake–Turtle Lake, 7 lakes 2.7 mi · ▲ 0 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Royce Valley, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Royce Valley, New Jersey