Please see the link below for our Deer Management Program

https://www.mercercounty.org/departments/mercer-county-park-commission/naturalist-department/stewardship/deer-management

Location & Contact:

28 Fiddlers Creek Road, Titusville NJ 08560

Office: 609-303-0700

History and Establishment:  Baldpate Mountain, once known as Kuser Mountain, was previously owned by the Kuser family.  The mountain, part of the volcanic Sourland Mountain Ridge, is the highest point in Mercer County.  In 1986 the property was sold to Trap Rock Industries, who planned to expand the quarry that already existed on Route 29.  When these plans failed, the remaining land was destined to be sold for luxury housing development.  Public concern and the efforts of the late conservationist Ted Stiles led to the property’s acquisition by Mercer County in 1998, creating today’s Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain.

The property has changed little since it was owned by the Kuser family.  Many of the original structures remain, including the main house, livestock barns, a spring house, and guest lodge.  The stone foundations and other remains of a farming community called Honey Hollow, which existed before the Kusers acquired the land in the early 1900s, can still be found within the preserve.  The forests remain one of the largest and least disturbed tracts of woodland in our region, and a variety of rare birds and wildlife are found there.  These elements of culture and ecology make Baldpate Mountain a preserve of both natural and historical significance.

Restrooms: Public restrooms are available at the lodge adjacent to the Main House.  Restrooms are closed during the winter.

Strawberry Hill Mansion at Baldpate Mountain: This building originally belonged to the Kuser family.  The recent addition of a stone patio overlooking the Delaware River completed the house’s renovation.  The house and patio can be rented for private events and parties.  For more information, click here.

Strawberry Hill Native Plant Garden: This stone-walled garden, originally belonging to the Kuser family, was restored and filled with native wildflowers, shrubs, and trees.

Picnic Tables: Picnic tables are located at the summit of Baldpate.

Accessibility: The restrooms, Main House, and patio are ADA accessible.

Program & Activities:

The following recreational activities are allowed at Baldpate: Hiking, Mountain Biking and Jogging.

Horseback: Horses are permitted on designated trails.  A trailer-accessible parking lot is located on Pleasant Valley Road.

Wildlife Viewing: Baldpate Mountain is a popular destination for birdwatching.  Park users are encouraged to enjoy birds and other wildlife from a respectful distance.

Nature Programs: For a list of upcoming public nature programs held at Baldpate Mountain, please download our Nature Program Newsletter.

Hollystone Preserve: The 108-acre Hollystone Preserve, located directly across Fiddler’s Creek Road from Baldpate Mountain, was acquired in 2010.  In 2012 – 2013 the preserve was the site of a 40-acre reforestation project.  With the help of volunteers, more than 5,000 trees and shrubs were planted, and an 8-foot fence was erected to prevent damage to the new vegetation by White-tailed Deer.  A new trail passes through this reforestation area, and links to trails at the Baldpate Mountain and Washington Crossing State Park, connecting these two important sites of cultural and natural history.

Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space: Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space is a nonprofit land trust that is dedicated to preserving the Valley's character though open space and farmland preservation, and natural resource protection. Since its inception in 1987, the organization has partnered with landowners, government, and nonprofit organizations to preserve over 3,700 acres of open space and farmland. 

In the late eighties, FoHVOS began working on its largest property acquisition, Baldpate Mountain. FoHVOS learned there was a proposal to quarry the entire mountain, despite the presence of threatened species, gorgeous vistas, and acres of significant habitat.

Through the use of grassroots petitions, public meetings, and the successful placement of the Pleasant Valley Rural Historic District on the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places, the organization spearheaded the development of a network of advocates to push for the protection of the mountain.

The bulk of the land was acquired from Trap Rock Industries in partnership with the State of New Jersey, Mercer County and Hopewell Township for more than $11 million. This 1,200+ acre park now stands at the western edge of the Valley, supporting rare plant and animal communities and providing beautiful vistas of the Delaware Valley.

For more information click here.