Welcome to the Plainsboro Preserve 80 Scotts Corner Road Cranbury, NJ 08512 Phone: (609) 897-9400 Directions

Hours -- Building: 9:00am-5:00pm Tuesday through Saturday, 12:00pm-5:00pm on Sunday (closed Mondays and Holidays) Trails: 7 days a week, sunrise to sunset.

Current Programming

Calendar of Events

Nature Camps

Employment Opportunities

For Birthdays:
* Birthday Brochure (PDF)
Pricing: For 15 Children: $165 for a birthday and you must be a NJAS member
$5 per additional child.

For Schools:
* Our instructors use the forests, fields and streams that grace the property as an outdoor classroom for learning. Classes are tailored to meet each age group's needs. Click here for a brochure (PDF) with detailed information about our Environmental Science Programs for schools and groups.
* School site visitations
* Educator workshops in Bridges to the Natural World, NJWATERS and others.

For Scouts:
Bird Study Merit Badge class for Boy Scouts. More Information
Pricing: $75 per session up to 10 people, $7.50 for each additional person.
Call or e-mail the Preserve for more information.

For Families, Groups, and Adults:
Earth Day Festival - Saturday, April 19 - More Information
* Natural history programs and workshops
* Family Nature Programs - for more information see the Calendar of Events
* Slide and lecture programs for groups and organizations
* Summer day camps
* Interpretive hikes

Every Day At The Preserve
(Tuesday through Sunday)
The Preserve: Be our guest on our deck and watch the wildlife around Lake McCormack.
Exhibits: Enjoy interactive exhibits including our Under-the-Pond experience and the Tree of Life.
Reference Library: Use the library to research topics or enjoy volumes of natural history information.
NJAS Nature Store: Your source for field guides, bird feeders, optics, kids’ stuff, and more.
Hiking Trails (open daily dawn to dusk, as posted): There are over five miles of trails at the Preserve in a variety of interesting habitats.

The Environmental Education Center

Come visit New Jersey Audubon Society's Plainsboro Preserve and explore the Environmental Education Center. Climb the indoor tree house, enter the "under the pond" room, or sit back and enjoy the view of the lake from the deck. And don't forget to pick up something in the nature gift shop for the nature lover in your life. Look though the Calendar of Events to find up coming events at the center or check out the educational programs listed below.

The Plainsboro Preserve

Imagine over 1,000 acres of open space preserved in the heart of New Jersey's sprawl center, the Route 1 corridor. A partnership was formed between Middlesex County, Plainsboro Township and the New Jersey Audubon Society to preserve and provide accessibility to one of the region's most significant ecological legacies.

Enjoy over five miles of trails meandering through mature beech woods, wet meadows, and the shoreline of scenic 50-acre McCormack Lake. Walk the floodplain of Devil's Brook in search of the more than 150 species of birds that call the preserve home during the year. Plants on site consist of a diverse showing of spring wildflowers and also include over ten species of rare or endangered plant species found sparingly elsewhere in the state including the majestic southern Twayblade orchid. In addition to the trails, we are running programs on some weekends. Check out our Calendar of Events.
 

From US Route 1: Follow Route 1 north or south to the Scudders Mill Road exit in Plainsboro Twp. Exit onto Scudders Mills Road and follow to the traffic light at the intersection with Dey Road (County Route 614). Make a left onto Dey Road. Follow to first light (Scotts Corner Road). Make a left onto Scotts Corner Road, the Preserve entrance is one mile up on the left.

From NJ Turnpike: From exit 8A. When paying toll stay to the Right, once through the toll follow sign for South 535 to West 32, 130 and Cranbury. At the Traffic light, following a sign with the same info, make a left onto South 535 (Cranbury-South River Rd.) After 0.2 of a mile, bear to the right at the intersection (the first light) to get onto 32 west (toward South Brunswick.) After about 0.7 miles you will come to a fork in the road, bear left. You will be going straight over 130 so you will need to be in the "straight only" lane. Crossing over 130 you are now on Friendship Rd. After traveling on Friendship Rd for 3.7 miles you come to a T-intersection with a large Open Space Sign in front of you....bear to the right at this intersection. The Preserve is 0.4 on the right hand side of the road. If you pass Community Park, you have gone too far.

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The following regulations are in effect at the Preserve:

• No smoking, except in the parking area.
• No picnicking, fires, camping or woodcutting.
• No alcoholic beverages on the property.
• No vehicles, bicycles, skateboards or horses on the trails.
• No hunting or fishing.
• No collecting of plants or animals.
• No pets.
• Leave only footprints -- Take only pictures and memories.
  
   

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Staff