Starting to the right of the restroom building, we took the Grand Loop Trail (Yellow) to the Pink…read more(K) trail, jumped on White (W), Teal (H) and Pink (K) for a few minutes before ending up on the Falling Waters Trail (B). Saw the beautiful waterfalls during our 2+ mile hike. The trail is well marked and pretty easy however around the waterfalls it gets a fair bit rocky and more difficult. We did the hike with two kids, so it's overall not that hard.

A beautiful venue. One of my closest friends got married here this past weekend and it was…read moreabsolutely perfect! The staff were great in helping us with set-up and facilitating the events while the backdrop was everything a person could love for a fall setting. Something about the glowing golden leaves, the massive fireplace, and the all around good feelings made the place seem like Imladris, the House of Elrond from J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings." Highly recommend this place and the staff!

Great park with some beautiful trails! We went hiking here over Memorial Day weekend (in the rain)…read moreand had a great time. We did the river trail which was a nice hike for the whole family. I wish that there were paper maps, there were times when having one would have been very handy. That being said, there are plenty of trail markers. They show up just as you start wondering if you're going the right way or not. The trail could use some maintenance- there were lots of downed trees. There was one you have to completely climb over (we had to scoot over it, you can't step over it as it's too wide). It had been down long enough that people had found a few ways around it that were off trail (didn't look super safe though) and instead have you go over a thinner part of the trunk. The trail is extremely rocky, which we were expecting and found it to be very fun! But make sure you are wearing shoes with a good grip. Overall, we loved this even in the rain. There's some nice waterfalls along the way, and plenty of picnicking spots.

Long Valley, NJ - I love hiking in this park. It's a nice one to do with kids, and good for a…read morecasual and relaxing hike with some scenic features. You can do easy to moderate loops of various lengths. There are paved gravel roads as well as dirt trails with large rocks, and fun scrambly sections (not vertical) along the creek on the red trail, which takes you along the creek for half the loop. This is fun for our toddler who likes to figure out the way over and around obstacles. Great for exercise and physical coordination. Fishing is possible with a permit. A few picnic tables can be found here and there. There's even a small "secret" playground with a couple of picnic tables, located at the intersection of the white and yellow trails near the trailhead. The parking lot is spacious. There are bathrooms at the trailhead but they are only open during the warmer seasons. There's lots to do nearby as well: Hacklebarney Farms Cider Mill, Alstede Farms, Ort Farms, Cooper Gristmill, and Main Street Chester with some cute shops and eateries. You can really make a full day of it!

This is a really cute park! I do think that it's a great central location for the county and the…read morearea, because it's large enough to host many many events but also it's out of the way so it doesn't really get to a point where the streets are crowded or anything like that. I also really appreciate how much parking it has. It's well kept and a beautiful area. It is pretty hilly at certain points so I can't see it as a recommendation for like walking or running. But overall, I think it's a very nice area especially if you have kids. This is where I lost boarding events are held and a lot of community events as well.

Great place to bring the kids in a summer day. You have the park and splash pad all in one.read more

Love this place! The whole playground is gated with only 1 entrance so u can let your kid run free…read moreand guard the entrance as needed. The castle itself is huge but quite cramped inside so it was alot of work following my 2.5 yo kid inside. The castle is targetted for 5yo and up. My toddler enjoyed the spiral slides. The rest of the playground is nice and clean as well. There's free parking available and the castle is a short walk from there. I went there on a Friday afternoon/evening in late august and it wasn't too crowded. I would come back again if I was in the area

2 stars solely for greenspace. My opinion is based on driving an hour to meet friends here for a…read moreplay date. If you live locally it may be worthwhile but the drive for me was such a waste of my time for what this was. Ready? It's a: Big Wooden Castle Yep, that's it, folks. A gigantic version of that swingset-clubhouse combo you bought at Costco only to rot in your backyard because spiders and rain made it so unpleasant for kids that they refuse to use it. It's that creepy clubhouse times 30! It's pretty much a regular playground with most kids swarming the swings and other play features with a few venturing into the old wood play structure. They go in once and don't go back in again. My son was cursed at by older boys who appeared beyond the age guidelines (and I was surprised to see them still interested in a playground). In the myopic darkness of the castle, my son banged his head when inside the dank structure there was suddenly an unmarked (unlit) drastic change in ceiling height. Needless to say this experience was a turn off. Most kids really preferred being out in daylight because the castle felt more like a dungeon. It was fun to see friends and we enjoyed the togetherness of the play date but unless I'm in the area and desperate for a kid distraction, I won't be back.

The area we were directed to park made me initially think I had come to the wrong place (the…read moreinitial path went thru an overgrown but worn path thru the woods that looked like we were headed into more woods). Eventually the path ended to a grassy area with a sign pointing to the mansion where we found the water tower and garden area. The garden was quite nice. Loved seeing the water tower (and appreciated the signage explaining the history and inner workings). Pro tip for newbies like us: You can walk on the road or drive closer to the mansion instead of taking the woodsy path. Oh, also there are NO trashcans at this location (even for doggy doo bags, diapers, etc), so come prepared. No nearby restroom to the garden either.

Beautiful garden that is well maintained. Free admission. Keep place clean! Restroom is far, see…read moreflyer for instructions. Parking is limited. See images and video for reference

A great variety of hiking trails with pretty views. Trails for all types of hikers from easier to…read moremore difficult, whatever type you like this park will provide.

Beautiful hike along Dingmans creek with scenic overlooks and bridges, on a well maintained trail…read more There are three waterfalls along a 1.4 mile loop. It's easy to moderate (there are stairs) and well shaded by trees. There's also a historic ruin of what was once a wool mill. There was ample parking, and it was not crowded during a summer week day. I highly recommend. Having visited most of the falls in the area this is in my top few favorites.

This is an easy trail. The upper part is stroller friendly. Beautiful falls can be be observed…read moreboth from above and below. Many steps but, doable. The remains of an old stone building just added to the experience.

I thought our parks were nice in Somerset County but we may have some competition. Whew - this spot…read morewas beyond gorgeous! And we discovered it by accident. Wesley was amped up after his vaccines so I decided to look for a park where we could eat our lunch and enjoy the spring weather. I legit just looked up parks on Apple Maps and chose the closest place. Oh my god - there was a lake - accessible by walking or by car. So many lovely places to park right by the water. An ABUNDANCE of benches. So many beautiful cherry blossom canopies. And dog friendly to boot! We saw elderly couples, teenage friends, young lovers, new moms, athletes, dog dads, people fishing. There's also swimming and aquatics there once the summer rolls around. It was just so perfect. For history buffs, there was also a war memorial to departed soldiers from the area since The Revolutionary War(!!). What a sweet little afternoon break!

some thing for everyone it seems!…read more You'll find a playful area called Imagination Station, shady spots, a little "sprinkler park," fishing spots, and courts for basketball and volleyball. The park has a large 40 × 80-foot pavilion, a covered stage, and a gazebo on "the Island" with benches nearby--ideal for parties, ceremonies, or even just relaxing with family, That's where we had our picnic--enjoying lunch with a view of the lake. this ares also marked as Roxbury Rotary pavillon. Concert/big gathering, and Roxbury's Memorial Day Parade and ceremony spot. The grounds are tidy and well-maintained, with scenic views of the horseshoe-shaped lake that's especially beautiful at sunrise or sunset It is a relaxed and welcoming spot for families, friends, and big gatherings. From playgrounds to trails, sports fields to peaceful lake views, it offers a bit of everything.

This is a beautiful state park. Waterloo village is an historic village with some beautiful homes…read moreand original structures undergoing restoration. Plenty of parking in the dirt lot. Walk to the back of the lot, past the handicap parking spots, where you will find a map with information about the village buildings. A wheelchair ramp (aka a dirt road) goes around a staircase that leads down from the kiosk and buildings signed as the 'entrance'. A loop road makes a beautiful walk along the Morris Canal. There are some informational signs canal side. A picnic area is on the return side of the loop with a few seating areas over looking the canal. Check the website for days when docents are available if you want more information about the village. There is also a museum and a library - check the website for hours. Whether you come for the history, a beautiful walk, or fishing, Waterloo Village is a worthwhile stop.

It has been a while since I've visited Waterloo Village and was disappointed to see the lack of…read moreimprovement in any of the structures and in some cases, deterioration is winning. Sad

This is a somewhat unique rating for me, because I'm giving it 5 stars based on its objective…read moreexcellence. For me, personally? Not my favorite of the 3 parks that are in the immediate vicinity of where I live. That's a purely subjective evaluation. There's Mountain Park in Basking Ridge, heading in the direction of Martinsville. I've reviewed that 1. There's Harry Dunham Park in Basking Ridge, near Liberty Corner. I've reviewed that 1 too. I walk/run in both of these parks on a fairly regular basis. Pleasant Valley? Not so much. Pleasant Valley has a playground, 4 multipurpose fields, a softball field, a baseball field, 2 "youth" baseball fields, 6 tennis courts, 6 pickleball courts (I've asked this before, but I'll ask it again-- when did pickleball become a "thing?"), 4 "lighted platform" tennis courts, a basketball court, a sand volleyball court, a pond for fishing, an amphitheater, picnic shelters, indoor rooms available for rental, walking trails, and restrooms. Why would I subjectively give this less than 5 stars? Because the walking trails aren't my favorite, and walking trails are what I utilize these parks for. Anyone who has ever read anything I've ever written knows sports are, and always have been, anathema to me, but I do like doing exercises that hopefully will allow me to live a bit longer than I might without the exercise (funny story-- my oldest friend went to a high school reunion, and the others there said enviously, "You've aged very well!" My friend laughs when he tells me this and says, "Like it just happened! I work hard at it! I didn't just age well! I worked my ass off exercising and eating right, and they didn't. That's the difference. It's that simple."). I lift weights, and I walk/run, and walking/running the wooded trails has made me feel better physically (although it doesn't melt the fat off as easily as it once did) as well as put me in closer proximity, at least in my own mind, to the inchoate and unknowable nature of whatever "God" might be or the source of all creation and nature. It's in the sunlight filtering through the trees, it's in the cloud-filled or cloudless sky that I get glimpses of through the trees as I walk, it's in the sounds of birds and insects, the deer and other small animals crashing through the brush (not long ago, there was a bear sighting not too far away, and that would just be my bad luck-- all this exercise only to get mangled to death by a bear!), it's in the fragrant flowers sprouting up from the soil, the invigorating fresh air itself. There's a stretch of woods in the Dunham Park that's lovely. It's not a long walk, but it passes beneath the towering trees, and alongside a gurgling brook. If it's not the pristine beauty of the northwest CT countryside, it's pretty close. Mountain Park also has magnificent trails. At 1 point, I followed 1 down a hill to a river, but didn't go further, as I didn't know where it was leading to and I wasn't prepared for an extended hike through unknown wilderness. But you can walk the trails for a considerable distance and actually imagine you're far from any last vestiges of civilization (which might not be a positive, depending on your mood or disposition or anxiety level). All alone with nature! I found it exhilarating and spiritually restorative. Pleasant Valley? I occasionally ran the trails at Pleasant Valley with a running/drinking buddy of mine. At that time, we partied a lot (with a group of friends), but we exercised a lot too (just her and me); she ultimately married and moved to the Virgin Islands, and we sort of lost touch. But...hope she's doing well and... keep up the running, old friend! A few weeks ago, I returned to Pleasant Valley, to take a walk. The trails wind upward and certainly serve their purpose, but I prefer the trails of the other 2 parks. With them, at least you get the illusion that you're in the middle of nowhere, enjoying the mystery and majesty of God's green earth. With the Pleasant Valley trails, there's a uniform sameness to them, and when I deviated off the main trail onto a side offshoot, I ended up in a housing development. Again, maybe that's just my own personal quirk and won't mean anything to somebody else of a more "social" disposition. Me? I prefer to pretend I'm the pioneering hermit, the isolated "Stranger in a Strange Land," the searcher for solitude and tranquility, at least for an hour or so. So... objectively...this is a great park, with a lot of amenities and activities. Parking seems plentiful enough (although I have to agree with 1 previous reviewer who said that if the park gets crowded, parking could potentially prove a problem). I can't say I won't return on occasion to walk the trails. But...subjectively...it's not my 1st choice. Or 2nd.

Great park. Very well maintained. Pickleball courts redone (summer 2026) and there look and play…read moregreat.