The park covers. The name "Sourland" may derive from the soil, described as "sorrel-land" or reddish brown land. Seen in the park are red fox, gray fox, deer, even coyote. Birds include tanagers, wrens, and chickadees. For anyone who hikes and lives in central Jersey, Sourland provides quick access to a hiking experience that can rival some of the trails in the Ridge and Valley section and the Highlands section of northern New Jersey. Several biology courses at Hillsborough High School take field trips to the preserve to encourage students to visit and appreciate it.
Trails
;Ridge Trail The main feature of the preserve is the Ridge Trail , suitable for hiking and off-road biking. There are two shorter routes and "connector" trails . The trails have been well blazed by the Somerset County Park Commission. The Park Commission supplies with trail maps, in the map box just off the parking lot. A complete circuit of the Ridge Trail for an experienced hiker can take about two and one-half hours. While located in a suburban section of central New Jersey, Sourland Mountain is a heavily wooded and rocky place. The Ridge Trail can be quite difficult and technical in spots. At the top of the ridge, there are some very large and beautiful exposed boulders. Roaring Brook passes through the southern edge of the preserve. While not officially a part of the preserve, hikers often visit the brook to see one of the finest boulder fields in New Jersey. ;New trails Opened in 2007, a new extension to the Ridge Trail takes hikers to Roaring Brook and one of the finer boulder fields of the Northeast. The trail's extension is the result of work by the Somerset County Park Commission, with support from the 3M Company. In 2009, a newly blazed trail system runs north from Roaring Brook before turning east and back into the preserve. The blazes for this trail system are red squares. The trail connects back to the Ridge Trail . Another trail, with red circular blazes, goes north and ends at the natural gas line route. These trails are excellent for hiking, and are laid out for off-road biking, with many twists and turns taking advantage of the topography. It is a short hike or ride down the gas line to get back to the original Ridge Trail. .
