Hidden gem fir sure. Lived in the area most my life and never knew…read more So convenient saves me a trip to Harriman when I want or need to get my full of nature.

Be aware: Locals Only. Beautiful local park, very well kept and pretty walking trail.read more

Fresh water wetland this place is small and intimate but large on the eyes. Since it's a nature…read morepreserve dogs are not allowed. The species of birds you will find here are ridiculous. My oldest daughter and I try to come here twice a month during nicer weather. For her the trail is nice and flat so doable for her younger growing legs. The birds we see there are off the charts cool. I should start keeping a journal to identify them but red and black, striped ones, herrings and more. They have several look out points which allows you to see across the lake and I often see people with binoculars taking in the picturesque scenery and spot one of the rare species. While walking around the lake we have come across turtles, deer, toads/frogs, turkeys and more turtles. One can be a bit intimidated by a large snapping turtle but we just pass them off to the side leaving them alone and they leave us alone. Such a neat sight to see. We come here during the winter from time to time and although you won't find much in terms of natural life the beauty of the frozen lake is a looker. I've seen people step out and "ice skate" with their sneakers on which is fun. You can do the whole thing in 20 min (it takes us 1 hour) so definitely recommend as a nice quick peaceful getaway to decompress and enjoy seeing some stunning wildlife.

No celery is being grown, it's actually a nature preserve. There's no dogs or bikes allowed…read more Sections are fenced off to keep you on the trail. The trail is about a mile and goes around the lake. Some of it is boarded and much of it is in the shade. If it rained recently, than it may be muddy, otherwise sneakers or shoes are fine. It stays level and is good for elderly or kids. There's a lot of benches and a few lookouts as you go around. The preserve is exceptionally clean. I saw one plastic bottle, so I picked it up.

Nice park for the beginner or more experienced hiker or just someone who wants to have some peace…read moreand quiet outdoors for a couple of hours. The parking lot is big and there is a bathroom, which is appreciated. I took a look at the trail map before I left to find one of a decent length, so check out options, but the trails are well-marked. Once you get past the main train next to the lake, you can find yourself pretty alone except for another occasional hiker, but you can vibe with nature, see a waterfall, and just breathe in the fresh air. Some of the trails are long, but I paced one that was only a couple of miles and still got some nice scenery and a lot of steps in. It's great this park isn't too far from the urban areas of Northern NJ and there are many trail options so you can visit again and experience something new. There's also a sign for trout fishing if that's your thing. Check it out if you want to get away for the day.

It's a great place for me to run. It's flatter than most areas around here. It's also very…read moretranquil, and beautiful to watch as you run along the path.The path around the large pond is wide, which is great for the amount of people that are coming through there and many of the areas around the paths have shade, which makes it great for running as well. There's a large parking area with lots of parking space which is a convenient. When you come into the reserve it's off of the highway. The an entrance which is one way in and then the exit on the opposite end of the lot which is one way out. The only drawback from me was that there were a number of people in the park with their dogs unleashed and the dog should be leashed . Which makes it difficult and unnerving for a runner to see a dog come out and not see the owner close by.

The most amazing hidden gem in Bergen County, NJ. Family…read morefriendly, easy trails and so beautiful. One of our most favorite places .

This is a wonderful place to bring the whole family. They have about 12 different trails, all…read moreseparated in different levels of difficulty. The trails are free to enter but they do request for volunteer donation for non members. Different tiers of annul membership available to purchase at main office that comes with some wonderful perks, such as free access to trails and special events. The main office also has some of the exhibition items like insect box and turtle box. Outside the office there's also bird and butterfly cages. We went to the center for our daughter to participate in butterfly feeding event. Upon arrival we found out we had to buy the tickets for one of the two scheduled events. Luckily there were slots available to the second event on the day. The ticket was reasonably cheap, only $8. It also came with an additional bird's exhibition that took place right in front of office deck. All the stuff members were very friendly, informative and interactive. We spent wonderful couple of hours here on beautiful warm summer day.

This is a true hidden treasure! Rockleigh Woods Sanctuary is one of those places that surprises you…read morein the best way. The trails are beautiful and run alongside a peaceful, flowing river, making the whole hike feel calm and scenic from start to finish. Everything is well marked, so it's easy to navigate without having to second-guess where you're going. It's also a very welcoming spot--lots of families out enjoying the trails and plenty of dogs, which adds to the friendly, relaxed atmosphere. The hike itself is easy, but still really enjoyable and refreshing. Parking is plentiful and convenient, which makes the whole experience even smoother. Definitely a spot worth coming back to again and again.

Beautiful place, but far too many off leash dogs and pack walkers . I abide to leash laws, and…read morereally do not appreciate when someone's dog approaches my dog on a trail of any sort. It is dangerous, and to say "don't worry, he's friendly" does not justify it being okay for anyone's dog to approach someone else and/or their leashed dog on a wooded trail. Folks, abide to the law and use your own backyards for unleashed exercise, not a public, densely wooded trail.

Great views and accessibility…read more Picked a relatively easy walk around the Hessiman Lake trail. Beautiful views and many spots for picnic / grilling

I really love this state park. Parking is $10. There is an area to bbq, an area to rent pedal…read moreboats, a hotel, a pool, area to purchase food and hiking trails. I usually go just to hike and enjoy the views. What I like is that the trail is always clean with clear signs on where to walk up which creates a safe hike. There are different levels of difficulty of trails so you can either select a moderate trail or challenging one. There is a large grass area where you can sit and enjoy a picnic or take a walk around the lake.

Lovely visit to Raymondskill Falls in mid-October on a Saturday morning…read more Was skepitcal about parking on a Saturday near peak fall season, but arrived at around 9am and the parking (the main lot) was pratically empty with only two other cars there. The lot has two port-a-potties there. I made my way down the short trail (5-10 minute walk) to the waterfall base and I was the ONLY one there until about 9:30am when a few groups started to show up. I believe I may have missed peak by about a week or so in talking to the other visitors. The path is mostly dirt and rocks...but the viewing areas, on the top and bottom are wooden-planked areas. Lots of space for people to take in the views. Path and lot were well-maintained. Path to the waterfalls is pretty short...so you may not be able to make an entire day of it...unless you include other nearby trails (ie Waterfall and Cliff Trails) No fees to park or enter the trails. Short drive into Milford's Main Street which has lots of shops...be sure to work that into your visit.

Easy to moderate short hike down to a beautiful set of falls. Well worth the less-than half-hour…read morehike. Spotty cell-service and dogs prohibited on the trail--but we were the only ones in the parking lot!

If you ever need a timeout and take a break, this is one of the best drives in the state of New…read moreYork. The drive takes you past lakes, the beautiful green scenery etc. If you plan to drive here at night, it is pitch dark, I don't recall seeing a light post. There is a boating dock along the drive. It is close to the Woodbury outlets and bear mountain, so you can make a full day of activities. Restrooms may be hard to come by.

This is a great drive, especially in the fall. In fact, I came here twice in the last 2 weeks (and…read morethis is over an hour away from my place). Fun roads, with minimal traffic (at least early). Lots of great scenery. There are a few cool small roads that intersect it that are really fun. Many hiking options. We did one that was fairly nice, and a little challenging in fact (some minor climbing). I can't remember the name, but the entrance is right by the visitor center. Tip: Storm King Hwy is not far, and is a REALLY fun drive!

I love nature. Anytime we get to enjoy a walk outside in such a natural outdoor setting is a true…read morejoy and a privilege, and this was no different at Closter Nature Centre. It's kinda odd that the park essentially is divided by the one-lane road, so crossing the road was a bit of a hazard but once we were on the other side of the park across the road from the pond, the actual trails began. I believe we walked through the red, white, and orange trails which ended up taking about 30 minutes at most. There was good boardwalk coverage in many of the muckier areas, and although it wasn't exactly lush, the enjoyment of nature was such that I finished the walk feeling an overwhelming sense of gratitude. I hope the nature preserve will be around for many decades.

This was a much bigger nature center than I thought. Several lakes, not just the one in the front…read more Parking, two log cabins, many trails, several bridges, clean paths. Nice place to kayak and fish, too. Free Parking and paper maps available