Our wanderings recently took us to Clinton, New Jersey, to explore trails, waterfalls, historic sites, and a fine eatery.
Landsdown Trail
We begin our day at the north entrance to Landsdown Trail in Clinton, an out-and-back journey covering 3.7 miles. The entrance can be difficult to find, so plug this address into your GPS (21 West Main Street, Clinton, NJ 08809) and on arrival, park in the spacious Fox Lumber lot. (Alternatively, begin at the southern terminus on Landsdown Road and walk the entire length south-to-north, lunch in Clinton, and then walk back for a four-mile round trip.)
Level and covered with gravel, the trail makes for easy trekking, so we go halfway down and then return to the parking lot.
North entrance to Landsdown Trail
Landsdown Trail
Landsdown Trail runs along the South Branch of the Raritan River
Red Mill Museum Village
Just a short stroll from the parking lot, downtown Clinton rises as a cluster of historic landmarks, beginning with the 1810 Red Mill (open only on weekends). The associated museum and village comprise a 10-acre multibuilding complex that hosts art shows, music festivals, and historical reenactments.
Red Mill Museum Village entrance
Clinton Falls, Main Street Bridge & Hunterdon Art Museum
Next we cross the Main Street Bridge, impressed by its Italianate-style end posts and decorative guard rails. Painted the same cream color as when first built, the 1870 truss bridge is one of the few remaining American bridges constructed of cast and wrought iron. At the midway point, we take in the waterfall, which was manmade for the grist mill.
The Hunterdon Art Museum rises into our field of vision just across the bridge and to the left. Built in the 1700s, the three-story stone structure nearly kneels on the banks of the river, a stone’s throw from the low falls.
Main Street Bridge with Clinton Falls and the Hunterdon Art Museum in the background
Kilhaney’s Pickles
After visiting the museum, we continue into downtown Clinton to visit its numerous shops. One of them, Kilhaney’s Pickles, sells several flavors of briny cucumbers made from a New Jersey family recipe.
Juniper Hill Restaurant & Bar
Finally, we return to our car and drive one town over to Annandale for dinner at Juniper Hill, a true farm-to-table restaurant. While every dish we’ve sampled has been superlative, the banh mi burger and local trout have earned highest marks.
The bar at Juniper Hill Restaurant