Federal, State and County Parks in Northwest New Jersey Skylands:

    Hunterdon County

  • Hunterdon County Park System

    • 7,400 acres, trail networks, gardens, sponsors of summer music series.

    1020 Highway 31, Lebanon 08833, 908/782-1158

  • Round Valley Recreation Area

    • 3,669 acres, 106 campsites, bath houses, concession stands, prize lake trout. Entrance fee Memorial - Labor Day.

    Lebanon Stanton Road, Lebanon 08833, 908/236-6355

  • Spruce Run Recreation Area

    • 2,012 acres, 70 campsites. Beach, bath and shower house, boating and fishing. Entrance fee Memorial - Labor Day.

    Van Syckels Road, Clinton 08809,

  • Vorhees State Park

    • 1,036 acres, 50 campsites, features a 26-inch Newtonian reflector telescope for night skywatching programs.

    251 Route 513, Glen Gardner 08826, 908-638-6969

    Morris County

  • Cooper Mill

    • Visit this restored mill and witness the power of the Black River harnessed to grind grain into flour by massive 2,000 pound mill stones.

    Route 513, Chester , 908/879-5463

  • Fosterfields Farm

    • A working farm since 1760, and New Jersey's first living, historical farm, features regular events illustrating rural life in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

    73 Kahdena Rd, Morristown 07962-1295, 973/326-7645

  • Frelinghuysen Arboretum

    • Gardens, historical mansion, Morris County Park headquarters.

    53 East Hanover Avenue, Morristown 07962 -1295, 973/326-7600

  • Hacklebarney State Park

    • 890 acres, no camping. Hiking trails, excellent fishing in theBlack River and occasional tours of historic mine area.

    119 Hacklebarney Road, Long Valley 07853, 908-879-5677

  • Morris County Park Commission

    • Operates over 10,000 acres of recreational parklands including 2 arboreta, 3 golf courses, a sports arena, a living historical farm, and a turn-of-the-century operating gristmill.

    53 East Hanover Ave., Morristown 07962 -1295, 973/326-7600

  • Morristown National Historical Park

    • Includes WashingtonÕs Headquarters Museum & Ford Mansion and Jockey Hollow encampment site, Visitor Center and The Wick House.

    30 Washington Pl, Morristown 07960, 973/539-2016

    Somerset County

  • Delaware & Raritan State Park

    • The canal's route provides a 67 mile, 4,476 acre corridor of recreation and wildlife that invites your pleasure by foot, bike or canoe.

    RD 1, Box 8, Belle Mead 08502, 908-873-3050

  • Environmental Education Center

    • One of three facilities at which the public may access the Great Swamp, the center is host to numerous events during the year and is historically significant as the former residence of Lord Stirling.

    190 Lord Stirling Road, Basking Ridge 07920, 908/766-2489

  • Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge

    • The 7454 acre National Wildlife Refuge and first ever Refuge Wilderness Area contains a multitude of ecological systems; woodland, hardwood ridges, cattail marsh, grasslands, ponds and meandering streams that support a multitude of wildlife.

    241 Pleasant Plains Rd, Basking Ridge 07920, 973/734-0389

  • Leonard J. Buck Garden

    • Once part of the estate of geologist Leonard J. Buck, who created the garden in the late 1930s with landscape architect Zenon Schreiber, the gardens were donated to the Somerset County Park Commission in 1974.

    11 Layton Rd, Far Hills 07931, 908-234-2677

  • Somerset County Park Commission

    • Home to 8,500 acres of open space including gardens, golf courses, a riding stable, an environmental education center, tennis facilities, a swim club, paddle boating, and general use facilities. Summer special events include the Free Summer Concert Series and the Fourth of July Family Festival.

    PO Box 5327, North Branch 08876, 908/722-1200

    Sussex County

  • High Point State Park

    • 15,413 acres, 50 campsites. The monument marks highest elevation in New Jersey. Beach at Lake Marcia. Cross country ski center. Entrance fee Memorial - Labor Day.

    1480 State Rt 23, High Point , 973/875-4800

  • Kittatinny Valley State Park

    • The 1200 acre linear park includes the Paulinskill Valley and Sussex Branch trails established on abandoned rail beds through Warren and Sussex counties.

    PO Box 621, Andover 07821, 973/786-6445

  • Lake Hopatcong State Park

    • Public access to NJÕs largest lake features a large beach area and historical museum at the park. Entrance fee Memorial - Labor Day

    323 Lakeside Blvd, Hopatcong 07843, 973-398-7010

  • Stokes State Forest

    • 15,482 acres, 77 campsites (some with furnished cabins with fireplace and a long waiting list), miles of trails, ravines, and streams, and theNJ School of Conservation. Entrance fee Memorial - Labor Day.

    One Coursen Road, Branchville 07826, 973/948-3820

  • Swartswood State Park

    • New Jersey's first state park, built around a 600 acre glacial lake, includes 77 campsites, a beach, and scheduled nature programs. Entrance fee Memorial - Labor Day.

    County Route 619, Swartswood 07877,

  • Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge

    • A large 7,500 acre waterfowl habitat along a 9 mile section of the Walkill River. Hiking, birding, fishing, canoeing.

    1547 Route 565, Sussex 07461, 973/702-7266

  • Wawayanda State Park

    • 18,235 acres include a 225 acre lake, boat rentals, fishing. 60 miles of hiking trails including a section of the Appalachian Trail and iron mining era remnants. Fee Memorial - Labor Day.

    885 Warwick Tpk, Hewitt 07421, 973/853-4462

    Warren County

  • Allamuchy Mountain Park

    • The 8,461 acre park includes the 2500-acre Deer Lake Park, Waterloo Village, mountain bike and horseback trails.

    , Hackettstown 07840, 908/852-3790

  • Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

    • , Columbia , 570/588-2435

  • Jenny Jump State Forest

    • 4,244 acres, 23 campsites, some with shelters. Extensive hiking trails, cartop boat launch on Ghost Lake, and an astronomical observatory with regular programs.

    PO Box 150, Hope 07844, 908/459-4366

  • Merrill Creek Rerservoir

    • 650-acre reservoir with 2,000 acre preserve with hiking trails, birding, fishing and boating.

    116G Montana Rd, Washington 07882, 908-454-3339 8831 454-1213

  • Pequest Trout Hatchery and Natural Resource Education Center

    • Operated by the New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife, the center is located within the 4,000-acre Pequest Wildlife Management Area. There are programs about natural resources, fishing education, and self-guided tours of the trout hatchery.

    605 Pequest Rd., Oxford 07863 -9748, 908/637-4125

  • Stephens State Park

    • 805 acres, 40 campsites., Six miles of marked foot, horse and mountain biking trails; some along sections of the historic Morris Canal. Interpretive nature programs.

    800 Willow Grove Rd, Hackettstown 07840, 908/852-3790

  • Worthington State Forest

    • 6421 acres, 69 campsites along Delaware River. Extensive hiking trails through Delaware Water Gap and contiguous with National Recreation Area. Includes Dunnfied Creek and Sunfish Pond.

    Old Mine Road, Columbia 07832, 908/841-9575

Parks and Outdoor Recreation Map

    This Week in the New Jersey Skylands.

    MAYDAY ALERT! MAYDAY ALERT! May Day invokes a certain emotional and sensual liberty, summoning waves of Spring Fever and the happy feeling that this most stirring season lies largely before us. Time to dig your self back into Mother Earth. And what finer place than the New Jersey’s Great Northwest Skylands?

  • 04/07/2008 11:12 AM

    • Reel Love!

  • Spring in the Skylands means falling in love- Reel Love. The enchantment of fishing, that is. Start with our general guide to fishing and see how to find 'em, catch ‘em and cook 'em.
  • 03/24/2008 03:42 PM

    • Wonder Walks

  • Some of the history in Northwest New Jersey is best explored on your own. A walk in the woods at this time of year can reveal more than you can imagine. Its warm, there’s little foliage to block your view, and you can watch, hear and smell the forest come alive. The rigorous climb to the Coppermines in the Kittatinny Mountains is well worth it.
  • 03/24/2008 03:49 PM

    • Click and Pick

  • For a quick guide to many of the region's parks and outdoor resources take a peek at our outdoor destinations map. Click here and there and plan your day!
  • 04/29/2008 03:56 PM

    • Greatest Show In Earth

  • Flowers generally bloom first in the forest where leafless trees allow the sun to the ground while breaking the wind chill. Tree trunks radiate the day's heat to the ground to protect bursting seeds from frost. Each flower has its own way of doing business. The first to pop above the layer of wet, dead leaves is always skunk cabbage, able to spontaneously generate enough heat to propel it through the frozen ground. Above ground, the plant emits a stink that mimics that of a freshly thawed carcass. The flies that respond will pollinate the hosts a full month before the sweet fragrances of other species bring on the butterflies and bees.