PROS: Many nice trails and abandoned structures along some of the trails. The visitor center is…read morebeautiful, the lake is huge, and the paths are clear CONS: It's hard to find parking on the main road in order to start hiking on the trailhead OVERALL: As long as you know where to go for parking, I highly recommend coming here

We've hiked in Sterling Forest several times and have enjoyed the experience! Typically less…read morecrowded than Harriman State Park and others in the area, Sterling has a very nice visitor center with clean bathrooms, a helpful light up model of the forest, a store, and friendly staff to help with any questions. The parking lot is decent sized too. They have some varied hikes but most aren't too difficult. Whether you want lakes, forests or views you can get them here. Many of the trails also connect if you want to make them longer or shorter. Some of the hikes like Mckeags in the summer can be very tick ridden so do all the usual precautions. There's spotty reception in this area so if you're using All Trails or other app, you'll want offline view.

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!

This is a great park for hiking and walking. Lots of scenic views and very relaxing. Very…read morebeautiful fall colors with all of the trees and foliage changing now. We have seen bears here so just be careful. The bears usually keep to themselves but don't bring any food as food is an attractant.

I visited Ringwood State Park for a hike with a hiking group I'm apart of. This park has a lot of…read morecool sights to see as you go along the trail. When you first arrive, you arrive at a big house/mansion. I didn't get to read much on the history of this house, but the grounds were beautiful. They also gave a bit of a creepy vibe at times. The trail was fairly easy to hike. However, there was a part where you have to walk across a river. You have to be careful because some of rocks are slippery. I think this would be a good place to hike in the fall around Halloween just because of the creepy vibes.

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.

Any hike with ruins pretty much gets an automatic five stars from me, but I thought Ramapo's ruins…read morewere especially beautiful (with a bit of a sad and short history behind them, if you care to look into it). Fairly well preserved and easy to climb, perfect for photo shoots and adventurous kids alike. Trails are moderate, well maintained, and good for all levels. Besides the ruins, there are also some nice views.

A nice area for hiking with castle ruins and a lake and changing elevations. There are some paved…read moreroads but also trails off that path. You can hear the sound of cars on the highway both at the end and beginning of the hikes. Lots of dogs off leash even though there are signs that say to leash all dogs. The parking lot can get crowded later in the afternoon especially in the spring and summer, but there were plenty of spots on a Sunday morning at 9:30.

I think this place is a hidden gem. There's not a lot of natural lakes that you can swim in. Of…read morecourse when I went, they were closed for swimming and they even have a dock with boat rentals, which was also closed. I'll be sure to come back to swim in the lake and maybe take a boat around. I don't think the boat is quite big ending for a boat ride that will get my adrenaline flowing, but a canoe or paddle board would be cool. But even closed, this is a great place to go for picnicking or hiking with free parking. There's picnic tables, a jungle gym, bathrooms and I'm sorry I didn't check to see if the showers were working if you wanted to use them. Now, this is important. I started walking around the lake, around the lake wound be going to the left, but the trail went right. I went left, there was a rock wall and I figured I'd follow it and it would bring me back to around the lake. It didn't, I ended up crossing into New York and wandering around Sterling Forest until I eventually found my self on the main road. After walking about 3 more miles, I was actually able to find a trail that lead back to the lake, of course when that trail reached the road for the lake, I walked a mile in the wrong direction, my point is FOLLOW THE TRAIL! The lake is in Ringwood state park and right by the NJ Botanical Gardens and also Skyland Manor.

The lake itself was beautiful and the kayak, row boat and peddle boat rentals were reasonably…read morepriced. It was a nice excursion on the water except for the constant gun shots from skeet shooting taking place nearby. If you can drown out the noise from that it is a very serene experience. The staff at the boathouse was friendly and helpful.

Reasonably priced, readily stocked and friendly staff. They offer kayaks both signed and double,…read morepaddle boards, peddle boats and row boats. Easy to access, staff assists you into the water and out. Life vest are provided. They also operate on beautiful lakes.

Poor Equipments. Staff are terrible. We went there as two couples. we rented a paddle boat. as soon…read moreas we started we called them advised that the equipment is not working, it's just not paddling as it's supposed to be. they said we will be right with you, after waiting for more than 30 minutes not moving in the water, the staff came and he started pushing us back toward the dock. And he goes like nothing wrong with the equipment it's moving. I requested to call the manager to look at the camera to actually see that the equipment was not even working, then Zack replied and I requested to replace the equipment only he's like oh ok just send us an email and we will see what we can do. This is the worst paddling I have ever been to.

Wow .. fantastic park . I was in Pomona area and was looking for a good bird watching area. Googled…read moreand found this place .. lots of parking outside also rest area, which is clean and usable.. good location . How was able to spot a lot of good birds.. right when you enter this small pond and lots of birds there. Make sure you get your tripod and zoom lens... you can also walk inside for small trail. Took some good shots . Must visit park for bird lovers...

My entire experience was wonderful. I woke up early and decided to take walk yesterday morning. I…read moredon't live far from the park. 10min walk.. it was beautiful. I will go there again. It was also my first time walking the park.. My husband had surprised me with an amazing picnic there once, I enjoyed that spot by the water. I say my walk was enjoyable. Both experiences were incredible. I'll always go to Kakiat County Park.

The starting point for quite a few hikes in Harriman with bathrooms (soap if you get there at the…read moreright time!) There's also a little store and vending machines. The parking lot fills up but cars can park on the side of the road. On a nice sunny Sunday afternoon in summer, a lot of people seemed to be headed toward Pine Meadow Lake. It's nice but there was a lot of garbage near there and people swimming (even though there were signs that said no swimming and to take out any garbage you bring in). Very disappointing! If you go counterclockwise you will usually end with Pine Meadow. I prefer to go when there are less people which means cold enough that there are no people with bathing suits.

I've said it before and I'll say it again - parks get stars even when they're not up to snuff. It's…read morefreedom, it's greenery it's blue skies, singing birds, no traffic rumble - and it's all there just waiting for you to come get some. How can I whip out my thick red marker and wrist X's with wreck less disregard of what has been set aside for us, by those that came before us --all in the hopes that we don't totally F it up. I tend to believe and it's not easy to concede that we (as in They) will one day as corporate america blows the tops off mountains for a little slice of yellow cake - dirty swines. The welcome center was closed up tight, paddocks and bolts, metal shutters and such -- what a sight for me to see and to feeling that feeling as I have daily in my NYC life. Gates, electric fence, cameras, deadbolts, dogs, attack birds -- ya know, just the home security essentials -- and I live in a semi affluent area - well, that's why I've got all those terrible things - minus the dogs and birds. So around and around I went -- looking the one floor 60 foot structure up and down - imagining it without the metal, sure is a pretty structure with such stones that you'll step upon on your way up the trail. I do hope to see the visitors center open some day, talk with the parks mounties and rangers -: to ask questions, to learn more about the lay of the land and what flies, glides, walks and slithers within.

Excellent and quaint waterfront area open to residents of Greenwood Lake & surrounding towns. It…read morewas very peaceful when I visited on a weekday with barely anybody in sight other than a few employees and lifeguards. The parking lot has plenty of spaces. There is a small stage set up for special events and music performances. There is a pathway to the left that leads up to a gazebo and offers incredible views of Greenwood Lake & the shoreline. There is a modestly small sized beach area manned with 2 lifeguards on duty. There's plenty of picnic tables to have some food while taking in lake views or the surrounding mountains. There's also a swing set available in the open green area adjacent to the parking lot. It's definitely a cute and peaceful spot worth visiting in Greenwood Lake and excellent for some photo opportunities.