Battlefield

Hart's Brook Preserve

Complete: 
Yes
Winter at Heart's Lake Photo: Jane Daniels
Flowering trees Photo:Jane Daniels
NYNJTC maintained: 
0

Picture perfect describes Hart’s Brook Park and Preserve, located in the heart of lower Westchester. The open lawn of the former Gaisman Estate greets visitors and hints at what is to come. A tranquil pond, stately woodlands, flowing streams, and open fields entice visitors back for frequent visits.

 

Hiking
X-C skiing
Dogs on leash
3 miles
123 acres
Lat/Lon: 
41.020399, -73.807902
Greenburgh County
Westchester
NY
Cluster/Park: 
Park

Henry Gaisman, founder of Gillette, purchased 135 acres in 1932 and passed the title to the Archdiocese of New York with the understanding that he and his wife, Catherine, would reside there as long as they lived. Currently the Town of Greenburgh does a great job of managing the park. The lush green trees at Hart's Brook Reserve give a quaint feel as you walk by the trails. Somehow they give the message: “relax and stroll, there’s no need to hurry.” 

 

For the most part, the wide woodland trails are gently graded and wide enough for walking two or three abreast. Conditions permitting, the trails are ideal for snowshoeing or cross-country skiing. There are geological features along the woodland trails and opportunities for studying a variety of wildlife. A stone building near the pond was a warming hut in winter. It silently attests to the opulence of a bygone era.

 

From the Sprain Brook Parkway, take Route 100B Exit and at the end of the ramp head east. At West Hartsdale Avenue (Route 100A), turn right and continue about 3 miles to Ridge Road. Turn right and follow the signs to the park entrance on the right.

 

Fees: 
None
Landowner: 
Partnership
Manager: 
Town of Greenburgh
Region - Maintenance: 

Appalachian National Scenic Trail

Complete: 
Yes
New Jersey Boardwalk on the Appalachian Trail - Photo Moe Lemire
Appalachian Trail near Bellevale, NY - Photo Marie-Pierre Castermans
NYNJTC maintained: 
1

A beautiful 162-mile segment of the Appalachian Trail passes through the New York-New Jersey region.

 

Hiking
X-C skiing
Accessible
Dogs on leash
162 miles
Lat/Lon: 
41.244185, -74.287035
Multiple locations /NY/NJ
Orange
US
Cluster/Park: 
Park

The Appalachian Trail is one of the longest continuously marked footpath in the world, measuring roughly 2,180 miles in length. The Trail goes through fourteen states along the crests and valleys of the Appalachian mountain range from the southern terminus at Springer Mountain, Georgia, to the Trail’s northern terminus at Katahdin, Maine. 

An overview map of the trail along its entire length is available from the National Park “Appalachian National Scenic Trail” web page. 

The AT is uniformly marked with a 2" x 6" white-painted, vertical blaze.

For detailed descriptions of hikes along the AT in NY and NJ click the "Choose another experience" button on this web site.  In the search field enter "Appalachian Trail."  The majority of these are loop hikes in conjunction with other trails.  For AT-only hikes click here. The database includes a few AT hikes in nearby sections of Pennsylvania and Connecticut. 

Two of the few wheelchair accessible sections from Georgia to Maine are in this region:

 

Driving:

Parking is available in all the parks listed on this site that host a segment of the AT.   One spot identified on this web page is where the AT crosses NY-17A  near Warwick, NY.  GPS Coordinates: 41.244185, -74.287035.

On the Appalachian Trail Region page look for the link “Parking along the AT.”  It features parking areas organized by state.

Public Transportation:

Hike descriptions that include the AT will indicate if public transportation (train or bus) is available to a particular trailhead. 

The AT crosses the Metro-North Railroad’s Harlem Line at the Appalachian Trail station (just off N.Y. Route 22, between Pawling and Wingdale) -- the only train station located directly at an AT crossing anywhere along the 2,180-mile-long trail!  Limited service is provided at the Appalachian Trail station, with trains stopping there only on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays (the station, which is little more than a low-level platform, is not wheelchair accessible).  At other times, hikers may board trains at Pawling (to the south) or Harlem Valley-Wingdale (to the north).  Trains run north to Wassaic and south to Grand Central Terminal in New York City.
 

 

 

Fees: 
Some times and places; check with park
Last Update: 
02/26/2017
Modified By: 
Phil McLewin

Morristown National Historical Park

Complete: 
Yes
Reconstructed Revolutionary War soldier huts - Photo credit: Daniela Wagstaff
NYNJTC maintained: 
1

Site of the nation’s first national historical park.  Morristown's winter of 1779-80 was the harshest winter encampment endured by General George Washington and the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.

 

Hiking
Dogs on leash
27 miles
Lat/Lon: 
40.761964, -74.542594
Morristown
Morris
NJ
Cluster/Park: 
Park

Jockey Hollow, Fort Nonsense, the New Jersey Brigade, and the Jacob Ford Mansion were of importance during the American Revolution.  Today they are part of the Morristown National Historical Park, created in 1933 as the nation's first national historical park. The 1,600-acre Jockey Hollow Encampment Area housed 10,000 soldiers of the Continental Army during the winter of 1779-80.

Most of the hiking trails, which follow gentle grades along woods roads, are situated in the Jockey Hollow section of the park.  There are five loop trails, of varying length [1.1 to 5.3 miles] and difficulty, marked with colored blazes.  The hiking-only Patriots' Path [white] connects the Scherman-Hoffman Sanctuaries and Lewis Morris County Park to the Jockey Hollow area.  One access point to the Patriots' Path is at Cross Estate Gardens.

Click for detailed descriptions of hikes in the park.

Use Web Map link on this site for a trail map.  

  • The Jockey Hollow Section is free; Washington's Headquarters/Jacob Ford Mansion at Morristown charges an entrance fee

 

The Jockey Hollow area is situated near  Exit 30B of I-287.  GPS Coordinates:  40.761964, -74.542594

Washington's Headquarters Museum is near Exit 36 of I-287.  GPS Coordinates: 40.797585, -74.467125

For map and written directions use the Contact Information link on this site.  

Public transportation: Take NJ Transit Morris and Essex rail line from Hoboken or Penn Station in NYC to Morristown.  A taxi can be taken to the Jockey Hollow area; Washington's Headquarters is about a half mile from the train station [see park's web page for walking directions]

Fees: 
Some times and places; check with park
Last Update: 
01/17/2017
Modified By: 
Phil McLewin
Landowner: 
NPS
Manager: 
NPS

Monmouth Battlefield State Park

Historic: 
Complete: 
Yes
NYNJTC maintained: 
0

One of the largest battles of the American Revolution took place in the fields and forests on this site. 

 

 

 

Hiking
Mountain biking
Bridle path
X-C skiing
4 miles
1818 acres
Lat/Lon: 
40.263290, -74.320628
Manalapan
Monmouth
NJ
Cluster/Park: 
Park

Monmouth Battlefield State Park is the site of one of the largest battles fought during the Revolutionary War. It took place on June 28, 1778, as a force of 5,000 Continental soldiers attempted to stop the British army retreat from Philadelphia to New York. It was during an artillery battle that Mary Hays, known as “Molly Pitcher,” carried water for the soldiers to quench their thirst and to cool the cannons. When her husband was fatally wounded by enemy fire, she took his position loading the cannon.

The park has four miles of marked paths and several miles of unmarked ones. Some of the trails are multi-use, open to hikers, bicyclists, and equestrians. Hikers can begin their exploration of the Battlefield landscape from the visitor center and along Monmouth County Route 522. The visitor center, open on weekend afternoons, contain battle displays, a gift shop, and hiking guides produced by the Friends of Monmouth Battlefield.

Use the Web Map link on this site to view a brochure and park map.

Take Garden State Parkway to Exit 123 and proceed south on US 9 for 15 miles to NJ Business 33. Turn right and follow NJ Business 33 West for 1.5 miles to the park entrance, on the right.  GPS Coordinates: 40.256136, -74.320718

Fees: 
None
Last Update: 
03/08/2017
Modified By: 
Phil McLewin
Landowner: 
NJ DEP