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    Ross Dock Picnic Area

    4.0 (19 reviews)

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    A must do!
    Jose P.

    Started the year off by visiting this great site and it was enjoyable. The area has great views of NYC, the majestic George Washington Bridge, and the Palisades. Adjacent to the picnic area, you'll find a hiking trail that hugs the Hudson River. As I was doing research on this site, I came across an Internet review that was posted back in 2012, by an 85 year old man. The history of the area is amazing. Here is the post: S. Charles Melidosian on December 5, 2012: I'm now 85, and remember what was called Ross Camp, on the Hudson, in the '30s. We summered there for three months, every year, first living in tents, that were erected over wooden floors. Later, the Park District erected log cabins for rentals. If you lived in your tent the rental was $3.00/month. If you could afford the log cabin, it was $8.00/month. There is still, a large log constructed building on that property, that was our general store, for non perishable canned food, candy, etc... All the log cabins, the shower cabins, the male and female toilets (log cabins), are gone. No electricity or gas. All cooking was done in the rough. We all swam in the Hudson River, got sunburned, picked crab apples, wild peaches, and rasberries to our heart's content. The site also had tomato gardens. At night, we could hear the beautiful music that floated down from the top of the cliffs...from Ben Marden's Riviera Night Club and Casino. The Dykeman Street Ferry boat took us from Dykeman street, New York to the Jersey side. The ride cost a nickle, each way. Autos were also ferried at a cost of 25 cents. World War 2 put an end to the availability of that campsite, due to war time shipping using the Huson River as access to the Atlantic. We were not permitted access to our cabins or personal goods. The campgrounds were off limits to civilians. I revisited the grounds, but there is no remainder of all the structures built there, except the building that was our general store. Ben Martins Casino is also long gone. I asked people in the area, young and old, if they remembered it, but none did. Don't hesitate to stop by the Ross Dock Picnic Area. You'll enjoy your stay, have opportunities for great pictures, and take in breath taking views.

    Breathtakingly colorful view on the trail of Ross Dock (11/4/2022)
    Angela YJ B.

    A perfect place for barbecue, trail, jogging along the Hudson River at Palisades Interstate Park - Ross Dock. With the playground here, parents & kids flock around, while we head for the trail that leads up the Hudson River towards Alpine. Fall foliage this year is just so beautiful, and some scenes were breathtakingly perfect Kodak moments.

    Beautiful view
    Tata G.

    Love this park! Just across the bridge from Nyc. Gorgeous view of the bridge, tables for picnic & benches, playground for small kids & hiking trails along the river. The park is quiet & clean. Lots of families & dog owners frequent the park. Parking is free on the colder months but i heard they charge parking fee on weekends during the warmer months. Theres a rest room in the area & a few porta potties. Worth visiting if you crave out door time while in Fort Lee, Nj.

    John C.

    Just a gorgeous spot to hang out, relax, and have a picnic. You have the river, gorgeous views of the GWB, and the towering cliffs right behind you. Watch the traffic on the bridge disappear into the trees on the NJ side. It's almost like they're driving into a tunnel in the forest. Pretty cool. We also had fun watching a flock of geese eating and resting on the lawn. Watch out for their poop though. It's hard to believe something like this is free. And within a few miles, you have tons of hiking trails to work off the food.

    Eloy Y.

    On this gorgeous summer-like Saturday, my partner came to this hidden gem to soak in some rays with a view. Stretching for 12 miles from Fort Lee, NJ to the state line in Alpine, Palisades Interstate Park is one of the most popular destinations for hikers, bicyclists and those looking to enjoy its panoramic views of the Hudson River and George Washington Bridge (GWB). Signs were posted that visitors must wear mask coverings while in the park and maintain social distancing of at least six feet between people. We walked from the parking lot at Ross Dock to the DuPont dock where one can launch their boat just after the GWB. The view of NYC was simply a sight to see. The grounds are open year-round during the day and feature picnic tables, some grils, a large children's playground and restrooms. If you are in the area, this is a great place to send several hours.

    Owen_the_hipster enjoying the sites.
    Tina C.

    How did I end up here? I was on a road trip to Philly and the first stop on that trip was a food stop at nearby Mitsuwa market. By then, Philly wasn't in the picture time wise so we had to settle for this Ross Dock Picnic area. I hadn't even heard of it until we were randomly by the GW bridge and were looking for views to enjoy our afternoon. Our GPS took us the very scenic route through the neighborhood houses by the water which were gorgeous. We found the actual trail for the park eventually, leading us to Ross Dock. It's a simple place. You can park and walk around or sit on a bench and enjoy the sights. There were people doing the same: some had drones, some had dogs, and some just showed up bewildered for the views. We stayed from evening to sunset. It was pretty nice to see the sun go down and the bridge light up. There are plenty of fireflies in the area so the darkness really makes them dazzle. But after the sun sets, the dark is really dark. There aren't many lights except by the immediate parking lot. It feels kind of creepy so be careful. Also leaving the park is not as simple as it sounds. There are no lights on the road leading out. It's pitch black and makes it feel like you are upstate all alone when you are just in NJ! We found our way out eventually. If you like taking romantic photos of the bridge, this would be a nice spot to do so. Being here makes you forgot you are from the city. Next time we may bring actual food for the picnic experience. I think there are biking trails and other hiking trails but due to time constraints we were not able to check those out. We observed many cars with their own bikes hitched to the back.

    Kids playground
    Kimberly T.

    Been here a couple of times as this place is one of the spots me and my husband would like to bring visitors for sight seeing in Jersey. It may not always be the perfect area, being that at times when it rains, there'd be certain parts that'd be muddy or puddled, or that when there'd be too many people the bathroom cleanliness may be overlooked etc. These are things that we dont really have control over though. However, the park may need a little make over or extra hands to keep the place clean and well-maintained. I still appreciate the place despite the touch-ups needed as it has never disappointed any of the guests we brought here so far - or us for that matter. The view of the George Washington Bridge is something you dont easily get tired looking at as well. Seeing the infrastructure itself while at the picnic dock just makes it look so amazing and magestic especially when you have perfect weather with you. The place is also great for picture takings! Ross picnic dock is suitable for families, friends, hikers, joggers, photo enthusiasts and even pets. There is ample picnic tables and Barbeque areas, they also offer a playground for the kids. Just be careful with bird droppings though as wild geese usually stop by before or after their flights.

    Sanjna S.

    Great spot for a stroll. Amazing views of the george washington bridge. Nice easy walking path for all ages. A small playground for kids and several grilling stations as well. This park connects to some other local palisades trails. There's plentiful parking and makes for a lovely destination for a picnic or outdoor party! Love this area - the vistas are incredible at all times of the day.

    Rachel L.

    Beautiful picnic spot that is great for families and barbecues. It offers great views of the river, GWB, NYC, and the Palisades Park. It gets crowded on the weekends. Also, they tend to close early - 8:30 p.m. on weekdays during the summer. I'm not sure of their closing time on weekends.

    This place is falling apart. Its filthy, very unkept, and part of the parking lot its always flooded. There is animal crap all over the park. The worst is the kid's playground. Really? $5 entrance during the week for this crap?

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    Review Highlights - Ross Dock Picnic Area

    We decided to hike up the Palisades Mountains towards the George Washington Bridge.

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