Home » A Winter Glimpse of Jacobs Creek Trail

A Winter Glimpse of Jacobs Creek Trail

by Community Contributor

Jacob’s Creek is a well-known stream that flows north from Woosamonsa Ridge and journeys south, emptying into the Delaware River. There are currently 11 preserves and easements that Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space (FoHVOS) manages and/or co-owns that protects over five miles of the creek, its tributaries, and hundreds of acres of surrounding forest and shrubland. In this column, join Kaitlin Muccio, FoHVOS Land Steward on a winter walk on one of our trails that follows the creek, appropriately named, Jacobs Creek Trail. 

While many FoHVOS preserves are partially closed until February 15 for deer management (check our website for details), the southern portion of Jacobs Creek Trail is open all year. The 0.25-mile out-and-back trail is the perfect length for a short walk on a sunny winter day. Please note that while you can hike there any day, bow hunting is allowed Tuesday through Saturday until February 15. If you want to avoid hunting, enjoy your hike on a Sunday or Monday. I had no trouble exploring the area Friday morning, and I promise it is worth a visit!

I parked at the main gravel lot along Pennington-Titusville Road and from there easily accessed the preserve kiosk and Jacobs Creek trail sign where one can review the trail map. Starting my walk, I descended the natural staircase and was immediately taken aback by the beauty of the creek. A bit of snow the night prior left the area glittering white. Only partially frozen, the creek was still melodically flowing around snow-covered stones and under sheets of grey ice. The coldness of the winter morning was appreciatively eased by the sun, its light casting shadows of sycamores, maples, and elm across the ground.

The 19-acre preserve surrounding this portion of Jacobs Creek was acquired by FoHVOS in 2000, followed by an additional 25 acres acquired a year later. Together, these preserves encompass the entirety of Jacobs Creek Trail. The preservation of these properties is vital in protecting this tributary of the Delaware River and the surrounding forested wetlands and uplands. In the years to come, this trail would serve as a link to Hopewell’s longest trail that now connects over 350 acres of preserves and easements and concludes at Hopewell Township’s Woolsey Park. Weaving together multiple preserves not only provides continuous trails for us nature lovers, but is also important in creating continuous habitat for nature to flourish in and to ensure safe corridors for wildlife to traverse through.

As I continued down the trail, there was clear evidence of such wild movement. Deer and squirrel (and human!) tracks ran up and down the footpath. A mammal light enough for the ice to hold left footprints atop the snow-covered creek as it cantered about the frozen waterway. Above me, resident birds like red-bellied woodpeckers, American goldfinches, and chickadees sang from the treetops.

I eventually came to the connector trail towards Woolsey Park where I crossed the creek, stepping on stones wedged in the ground. Here, I traversed through mature woodland nestled between private property and came upon a wintery meadow where last year’s goldenrod, queen anne’s lace, and mountain mint stood frozen with snow stuck to their dried seeds. After taking a moment to appreciate the view, I turned to retrace my steps, as the adjoining preserve was closed that day, and I went back to explore the western portion of the trail. 

When this preserve was first surveyed, the plant understory was severely browsed with nearly no regeneration of either shrub or canopy species. Much of the native plant community was suppressed by deer, allowing invasive species like garlic mustard, japanese stilt grass, and multiflora to quickly take over. When invasives become so widespread, the best course of action is to help rebuild the native plant community through deer management. When native species have a chance to rebound, they are able to compete with the widespread invasive species on a long-term basis, gradually restoring the integrity of the ecosystem. 

Crossing back over the creek and walking west, I entered a part of the preserve that, based on 1930s aerial maps, was previously cropland or pastureland. Long since its time as an agricultural field, the land has transformed into a thicket of young red cedars. The Eastern red cedar, is the most widely distributed eastern conifer and is one of the first trees to repopulate disturbed areas like abandoned fields (often referred to as a pioneer species). The purplish-blue “berries” of these trees are an important winter food source for many bird species – a well-known connoisseur being the cedar waxwing of course! Interestingly, this food is not a true berry, but is in fact, a cone, Looking nothing like the archetypal pine cone, with woody scales, the cone of the red cedar and other juniper species is fleshy, giving it that berry-like appearance. While there were no waxwings in sight, I did run into a flock of chickadees that I’m sure were also enjoying the tree’s bounty. 

Despite the cold weather, our preserves are still full of life, with babbling brooks, caroling birds and mammals running about. On the next sunny day this winter, I encourage you to bundle up and take a trip out to Jacob’s Creek trail. I for one, am looking forward to the next time I can get out there.

Submitted by Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space.

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