Schiff Natural Lands Trust, Inc (Schiff) privately owns and manages four distinct nature preserves consisting of approximately 768 acres in Chester and Mendham. Our preserves, listed below, are open to the public from dawn to dusk for passive recreational activities such as walking/hiking, dog walking, bird watching, photography, and picnicking.
Schiff welcomes the public to enjoy the trails of the preserve from dawn to dusk 365 days a year. Please know that Schiff is NOT a municipal or town park and thus, we have neither security nor maintenance staff. We ask visitors to assist us in maintaining a safe and clean open space for the public to enjoy. All visitors are asked to abide by the Visitor Use Policy to ensure the prestige of the land and the safety of others so that all may have a positive visitor experience; most importantly, please carry in and out all waste, refrain from littering, and always keep pets on leashes. We encourage visitors to contact us with pictures and/or reports of unsafe conditions or concerning observations and/or commendations for positive experiences.
Schiff maintains the 12 miles of trails, buildings, and infrastructure with the time and talent of its volunteer Board, part time staff, and community volunteers. Schiff is an independently owned and operated nature preserve whose funding comes primarily from our membership dues, donations, grants, fundraising events, and the educational and recreational programs we offer. Our operating budget is lean, and our management practices are frugal as we strive to accomplish the goals and strategies of our Strategic Plan and our Land Management Plan. Schiff often partners with local municipalities and civic and environmental organizations that also seek to protect our beautiful natural areas and preserve open space for generations to come.
Please consider supporting Schiff Natural Lands Trust, Inc as you hike the trails, and enjoy this vast array of wildlife habitats and terrain. We welcome new volunteers, donations, and membership to continue to maintain this land, these trails, and provide the programs consistent with our mission.
Our flagship preserve is home to our Nature Center, our Native Plant Garden, and most of our programming. This preserve comprises 502 acres and a variety of terrains and points of special interest, including our Great Meadow, Look Out Point, the Lean To, The Amphitheatre, Critter Cove and Elevation 711. The one way windy access road to this preserve is via Pleasant Valley Road in Mendham Township. Parking is limited to 20 cars in front of the Nature Center. Click here for a trail map.
This 107-acre parcel is co-managed with Mendham Borough, and is adjacent to Schiff Nature Preserve. Located at 239 Pleasant Valley Road in Mendham Borough or via Thomas Road in Mendham Borough. Please enjoy the newly developed offshoot trail from the Franklin Parker Trail to the Farrelly "rest stop". This location has been cleared to allow for a bench and a view of the oak tree and commemorates the original land donation from the Farrelly family. Parking is limited at both entrances.
This is a 112-acre parcel that Schiff co-owns and co-manages with Mendham Township and the NJ Water Supply Authority in a successful partnership to preserve open space and provide additional recreational sports fields. Access to this preserve is via Carriage Hill Road (at the end of Hunters Glen Road) in Mendham Township. There are several large parking areas on this parcel.
This 46 acre parcel was added to the Schiff Natural Lands Trust in 2012 through a partnership with Mendham Township and Chester Township. The site of an old shale quarry, this site includes an actively managed wetland habitat and unique geological outcroppings. The Mt. Paul Preserve is located on Mt. Paul Rd off of Rt. 24 in Chester, NJ. adjacent to the Mendham Township Burnett Brook Preserve. Parking is limited.
"I wanted to reach out and send you a letter of thanks. These days, I try to get in a walk whenever possible, hiking through all the back trails of Mt Paul Park. I even go through the woods to the old Shale Pits area once in a while. It's a great hike and quite unique. When I go, I make my way down the mountain and arrive at a point which overlooks the valley below. I always pause for a while right there... It's such a beautiful spot, breathtaking in fact. I remember what it used to look like back 'in the day' with all kinds of excavating equipment and can really appreciate how it is now. Amazing!! You can only imagine my surprise when this past Oct, on an absolutely gorgeous fall day, I discovered that Schiff had also discovered the beauty and serenity of this same viewpoint. As I came down to the shale pits through the woods, there it was, in the clearing... the Bench!!! AWESOME!! What a terrific and pleasant surprise!! Well done Schiff!!! I hope others will discover 'The Bench' as I have. It's such a beautiful area and a fantastic place to stop and listen, observing all of nature in its finest. Thank you so much." - Schiff member and resident of Chester, P. Bennett
Schiff welcomes members and visitors to enjoy the trails of the preserve from dawn to dusk 365 days a year. We do ask that our visitors abide by the Visitor Use Policy to ensure the prestige of the land and the safety of others so that all may have a positive visitor experience.
"We continue to enjoy hiking at Schiff and are happy to have Schiff as our neighbor." - S. Keegan, neighbor
Schiff Natural Lands Trust, Inc offers our unique indoor and outdoor building/spaces as rental spaces as a benefit of Schiff membership. Schiff buildings/space use rentals are available for passive recreational activities, meetings, filming and photography, and events; such as Scout celebrations, private meetings, private parties, or casual get togethers. Schiff's main preserve located at 339 Schiff Drive in Mendham, NJ has four unique locations available; Wood Badge Lodge, Lean-To, Amphitheatre, and the Nature Center.
