Use caution when crossing public streets or walking to the trail-head on Washington Blvd.

There are many old, unmarked trails. For your safety—please stay on the marked trails.

Jamesburg Park Conservation Area was some of the first lands that Middlesex County acquired using Green Acres funding for open space protection in the early 1970’s. It protects both the underground resources of the Old Bridge Sands aquifer, and a unique pine barrens habitat in Middlesex County.

Jamesburg Park Conservation Area lies within the Spotswood Outlier—the northernmost area of New Jersey Pine Barrens habitat. Along the several miles of trails you can find typical Pine Barrens species—pitch pine trees, blueberries, huckleberries and post oaks. The wetlands protect Atlantic white cedar trees and carnivorous pitcher plants. Several endangered and threatened species of plants and animals have been observed in this preserved open space

Jamesburg Park would have been very different if the proposed development had come to fruition. In the early 20th century , visitors were brought by train from New York to enjoy Saturday night dances and purchase land in the countryside of New Jersey. While the development never came to be, you can still find sidewalks in the woods showing where the streets were meant to run. Cranberry bogs covered some of the wetland areas, and the waters from Jamesburg Park Conservation Area were used by the nearby Helme Snuff mill.

Parking, portable restrooms, picnic tables and a playground can be found at Helme Mill Park on Maple Street in Helmetta.

Size: 1436 Acres

Helmetta Pond Paddling Trail

View more information on the new self-guided interpretive Paddling Trail!

Map of Jamesburg Park Conservation Area's Trails

Driving Directions and GPS Coordinates

Driving Directions, Crossroads, and GPS Coordinates

• East Brunswick, Helmetta, Spotswood, and Monroe Township
  
  • Parking Area: Locust Avenue, East Brunswick
  • GPS Coordinates: N 40° 22' 43.1", W 74° 26' 12.4"
  • Parking Area: Helme Mill Park, Maple Street, Helmetta
  • GPS Coordinates: N 40° 22' 41.6892", W 74° 25' 34.8348"
  • Parking Area: Miller Avenue, Spotswood GPS Coordinates: N 40° 23' 28.0", W 74° 24' 12.6"

Driving Directions to Helme Mill Park Parking Lot:

From Route 130:

• Turn East onto Davidsons Mill Rd.
• Turn left onto Cranbury/South River Road (County Rd.)
• Turn right at the traffic light onto Helmetta Blvd.
• Slow your speed as you enter the town of Helmetta
• Turn right onto Maple Ave.
• Park will be on your right hand side

From Route 18:

• Take the exit for County Route 615 South
• Turn right onto Main St. (CR 615)
• Continue onto Manalapan Rd. (CR 615)
• Continue onto Main St. (CR 615)
• Turn right onto Maple St.
• Park will be on your left

From the NJ Turnpike:

• Take Exit 9 for Route 18(New Brunswick/East Brunswick)
• Keep left at the fork, follow signs for NJ-18 S
• Follow directions from Route 18 above From 287
• Take exit 1B for US 1 South towards Trenton
• Take exit for Route 18 South
• Follow directions from Route 18 above

Driving Directions to Locust Avenue Parking Area/Trailhead from Helme Mill Park:

• Turn right onto Maple St.
• Turn right onto John St.
• Turn right onto Washington Ave.
• Turn left onto Locust Ave.
• Parking will be in the gravel lot on the right side of theSt.