This is one in a series of geocaches that have been placed in each of Cranbury's six walking trails. Our intent is to use geocaching to create awareness of these trails and to use the "Cash In Trash Out" philosophy to help keep our trails clean. Finding this geocache should not be particularly difficult.
The Pin Oaks Loop Trail was created in May of 2016 and is a relatively easy short hike (approximately 1 mile) through flat terrain. One half of the loop traverses a wooded area along an unnamed tributary of the Millstone River. The other half of the loop is in a meadow that has been recently reforested. The trail loops around a tract of land that was deeded to Cranbury in 2005 by the developers of Four Seasons as part of a settlement of a lawsuit between the prior owner and the town. Over 2,400 trees were planted on this property in 2011 with reforestation funds provided by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority because of its removal of trees for the turnpike-widening project through Cranbury.
The loop trail links with another short trail that connects Pin Oaks Drive to Farmstead Way, providing hikers with multiple access points to this preserved Open Space in Cranbury. While parking is available at the Old Cranbury Road trailhead, many Cranbury residents -- particularly those in Shadow Oaks and Four Seasons -- can simply walk to this trail from their homes.
A full traversal of the Pin Oaks Loop Trail provides hikers with views of flora and fauna in three distinct biomes: streams/wetlands, woods, and meadows. On any given day, hikers may catch a glimpse of fish, frogs, beavers, turtles, deer, woodpeckers, chipmunks, red-tailed hawks, red-winged blackbirds, and a host of wildflowers in the meadow.
This trail is maintained by the Cranbury Department of Public Works and the Cranbury Environmental Commission.