Welcome

Virtual Tour

Hours of Operation

  • Closed Monday
  • Open Tuesday 10:00 am– 4:00 pm
  • Open Wednesday 10:00 am– 4:00 pm
  • Open Thursday 10:00 am– 4:00 pm
  • Open Friday 10:00 am– 4:00 pm
  • Open Saturday 10:00 am– 4:00 pm
  • Open Sunday 10:00 am– 4:00 pm

Mission

To interpret the natural and human history of the Watchung Reservation and to foster an awareness and appreciation of the natural world.

Trailside Nature & Science Center is Union County’s Environmental Education Center, located in the Watchung Reservation, a 2,065-acre preserve containing woodlands, fields, lakes, streams and more than 13 miles of hiking trails.

This serene setting provides the perfect classroom to have fun while learning about the natural world. Renovated in September 2006, the Center houses 4,500 square feet of interactive, state-of-the art exhibits, including a towering 34-foot American beech tree exhibit that fills the building’s atrium.

This jewel, secluded in the Watchungs, also features classrooms that look out on the Reservation, a multipurpose room, a library, children’s discovery room and a 250-seat auditorium.

Directions

Within the Union County’s Watchung Reservation

452 New Providence Road, Mountainside, NJ 07092

VIA ROUTE 24 EAST
  1. Exit at River Road and follow it into Summit.
  2. Turn left at traffic light onto Morris Avenue at Schering Plough.
  3. Travel past Overlook Hospital, bear right just before the traffic light and turn immediately left at the next traffic light onto Baltusrol Road. (sign says to Rt. 22).
  4. At the top of the hill, turn right at the traffic light onto Summit Lane.
  5. At the wooded traffic circle, take the second right and proceed ½ mile to Trailside. Parking lot is on the right.
VIA ROUTE 22 WEST – EXIT #140A ON THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY SOUTH
  1. Take Route 22 West past Springfield exits to Mountainside/New Providence Road exit.
  2. Turn right (just before the traffic light) and proceed up the hill.
  3. Take the 5th right onto Ackerman Avenue.
  4. At the top of the hill, turn right onto Coles Avenue. Trailside’s parking lot is about 1/4 mile on the left hand side.
VIA ROUTE 22 EAST
  1. Take Route 22 East to exit marked Mountainside/New Providence Road.
  2. Take the jug-handle and turn left toward the traffic light.
  3. Cross over Route 22.
  4. Proceed as above from #3.
VIA ROUTES 287 & 78 EAST
  1. Take Rt. 287 to Rt. 78 to exit 44 (New Providence/Berkeley Heights).
  2. Turn left at the traffic light onto Glenside Avenue.
  3. Go 1.2 miles and turn right into the Watchung Reservation (Rt. 645 – W.R Tracey Dr.).
  4. Proceed past Lake Surprise, uphill and straight past loop picnic area to the wooded traffic circle.
  5. At traffic circle take the first right and proceed ½ mile to Trailside. Parking lot is on the right.
VIA ROUTE 78 WEST
  1. Take Rt. 78 West to exit 43 (New Providence/Berkeley Heights).
  2. Turn right at first light onto McMane Avenue.
  3. At T-intersection, turn left onto Glenside Avenue.
  4. Proceed as above from #3.
VIA N.J. TURNPIKE NORTH/GARDEN STATE PARKWAY NORTH
  1. Take NJ Turnpike to exit 11, Garden State Parkway.
  2. Take GSP to Exit 135.
  3. Stay to left on exit ramp and enter traffic circle. Proceed around circle, under parkway and straight onto Central Avenue.
  4. Follow Central Avenue into the center of Westfield.
  5. At T-intersection/traffic light, turn right onto Broad Street and make first left at the next traffic light onto Mountain Avenue.
  6. Follow Mountain Avenue to the traffic light in Mountainside.
  7. Turn Left onto New Providence Road.
  8. Go through the traffic light crossing over Route 22.
  9. Proceed uphill and take the 5th right onto Ackerman Avenue.
  10. At the top of the hill, turn right onto Coles Avenue. Trailside’s parking lot is about 1/4 mile on the left hand side.
LOOP PICNIC AREA/PLAYGROUND 

Turn left out of Trailside parking lot onto New Providence Road. Follow this road to a wooded traffic circle. Take the second right following Summit Lane. Go ¼ mile and turn left into Watchung Stable entrance.

LOOP PICNIC AREA/PLAYGROUND 

Turn left out of Trailside parking lot onto New Providence Road. Follow this road to a wooded traffic circle and take the third right onto W.R. Tracy Dr. (toward Surprise Lake). Bear left around loop for picnic and playground areas.

DESERTED VILLAGE OF FELTVILLE 

Follow directions to loop picnic area/playground. Stay on W.R. Tracey past picnic areas/playground, over Surprise Lake and to a stop sign. At the stop sign, turn left onto Glenside Ave. Go approximately ¾ mile and turn left. Obey the ROAD CLOSED sign and park in the field on the right.

SEELEY’S POND PARKING LOT 

Go Straight out of Trailside parking lot onto Coles Avenue. Coles Ave. becomes Skytop Drive (a winding, wooded road). Just past the intersection of Glenside Avenue, and before the traffic light, turn left into the parking lot of Seeley’s Pond.

Contact Us

Patricia Bertsch, Director

trailside@ucnj.org

908-789-3670

Contact form coming soon

Union County Falcon Camera

The fastest creature on Earth

WELCOME TO THE UNION COUNTY FALCON CAM.

A live stream of the peregrine falcon nest located on the roof
of the Union County Courthouse in midtown Elizabeth.

Link – https://ucnj.org/falcon-camera/