Public invited to free hikes in Hunterdon County on Sunday, Nov. 10

STOCKTON - The community is invited to celebrate preserved land and local history at the 30^th annual Donald and Beverley Jones Memorial Hike on Sunday, Nov. 10, beginning at 11:15 a.m. at the historic Prallsville Mills on Route 29.

Sponsored by New Jersey Conservation Foundation (NJ Conservation) and Prallsville Mills, the hike honors the late Donald and Beverley Jones, conservation leaders who helped preserve landmarks in western Hunterdon County, including the Green Sergeant's Covered Bridge, the Locktown Stone Church and the Prallsville Mills complex.

The hike also showcases open space and farmland in the Wickecheoke Creek Greenway, preserved over the past 40 years by NJ Conservation and its partners.

Participants can choose between three guided hikes of different lengths and terrain types:

• The first hike will recreate the first hike from 30 years ago, walking through preserved farms and forests to the Jones's Farm and back. It will cover about six miles along roads and fields. Hikers will meet at the Prallsville Mills at 11:15 a.m.
• The second hike will meet at the Prallsville Mills at 12:20 p.m. and then carpool to the Jones's Farm to join with the rest of the hikers on their way back. This hike will cover about three miles through roads and fields.
• The third hike will travel along the Delaware River Canal Tow Path to celebrate its 50^th anniversary! Jim Amon, 1^st commissioner of the D&R Canal Commission, will lead the hike and share some history. This hike will leave from the Prallsville Mills at 1:20 p.m. and will include 1-2 miles of hiking along a gravel path.

All hikes will return to the Prallsville Mills at 2:30 p.m. for pizza from Local Harvest, refreshments from ShopRite of Hunterdon County, and beer (for ages 21+) from hyper-local OddBird Brewing.

The hikes and refreshments are free, but advance registration is required. To register online, go to https://www.njconservation.org/event/30th-annual-donald-beverley-jones-memorial-hike/.

About New Jersey Conservation Foundation

Recognizing that a healthy environment is critical to the well-being and survival of all living things, New Jersey Conservation Foundation is devoted to preserving land and protecting natural resources throughout New Jersey's rural, suburban, and urban landscapes.

Since 1960, the nonprofit, nonpartisan, statewide organization has preserved more than 140,000 acres of open space, farmland, and parks. The organization manages more than a dozen nature preserves, conducts public outreach and education programs, and advocates for sensible land use and climate policies that will protect the health of New Jersey's plants, wildlife, and people for generations to come.