Mansion
Thompson Park (Monmouth County)
| Park Overview: | An unusually wide variety of activities are available at this park including hiking, birding, cross country sking, crafts, historic visitors center, playground, an off-leash dog area, fishing, athletics and summer theatre. |
| Trail Uses: | Hiking, Mountain biking, Bridle path, X-C skiing, Handicapped |
| Dogs: | See park description |
| Trail Miles: | 13.2 miles |
| Park Acreage: | 667 acres |
| City/County/ State: | Lincroft/Monmouth/NJ |
| Web Map: | Trail map and park brochure |
| Park Description: | This park was established in 1968 with a 215 acre bequest from Geraldine Livingston Thompson (1872-1967), a social welfare reformer and philanthropist, | Trails Overview: | Five trails offer over 12 miles of easy hiking with circuits viewing Marlu Lake and the Swimming River Reservoir. Note that the park brochure map is reported not to be entirely accurate and that trails are not always reliably marked. |
| Directions: | Take the Garden State Parkway South to Exit 109 (Red Bank/Lincroft). Turn left at the end of the ramp onto County Route 520 West and continue for 2.3 miles to the entrance to Thompson Park (the entrance is 0.3 mile beyond the traffic circle at the entrance to Brookdale Community College). Turn left into the park, continue past the first parking lot, and turn left into the Old Orchard parking lot. | ||
| Contact Information: | Thompson Park 732-842-4000 x4312 | ||
| Region: | Jersey Shore | ||
| Fees: | Some times and places; check with park |
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Welwyn Preserve County Park
Map
View Walwyn Preserve in a larger map
| Park Overview: | Located in Glen Cove on the famous "Gold Coast" of Long Island's North Shore, this lovely piece of land, at one time an estate, now offers a fine example of the tall moist hardwood forests that used to dominate the area. |
| Trail Uses: | Hiking |
| Dogs: | |
| Trail Miles: | |
| Park Acreage: | 247 acres |
| City/County/ State: | Glen Cove/Nassau/NY |
| Buy Book: | Hiking Long Island - Guide Book |
| Park Description: | What is now Welwyn Preserve once belonged to Harold Irving Pratt, son of oil magnate and philanthropist Charles Pratt of the late 1800s. |
| Trails Overview: | The Preserve features four blazed trails that are easy to walk. Approaching from the parking area, the path to the left of the mansion is a direct walk down hill to the beach where one can hike along the shore with views across the Long Island Sound. Trails to the right and back of the mansion are more rugged. Trail maps are available on site. Share your favorite hike(s) with Trail Conference web site visitors. We are especially interested in hikes from The Long Island Region where this park is located. Click for further information and a submission form. |
| Directions: | From NYC take the Belt (Cross Island) Parkway to exit 30. From there go east abut 8 miles on the Long Island Expressway (Route 495) to exit 39. Go north on Glen Cove Road 6.2 miles, bearing left at a major fork near the end. Turn north (right) onto Brewster; go 0.5 mile. Turn north (left) onto Dosoris Lane; go 0.7 mile. Go left for 0.4 mile on New Woods Road. At Crescent Beach Road, proceed for about 0.1 mile to the Welwyn gate on the right. Park at the left of the main house. GPS |
| Contact Information: | Nassau County Department of Parks, Recreation and Museums 516-572-0200 |
| Region: | Long Island |
| Fees: |
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Mount Defiance/Skylands Manor Loop from Shepherd Lake
Overview
This loop hike climbs to panoramic viewpoints on Mount Defiance and traverses the historic Skylands Manor area.
Details
Time:
3 hours
Difficulty:
Moderate
Length:
5 miles
Route Type:
Circuit
Dogs:
Allowed on leash
Features:
Views, Swimming, Fees, Historic feature
Maps/Books
Publication
First Published:
01/28/2010
Submitter:
Daniel Chazin
See also
Trailhead GPS
Coordinates
41.136617,-74.232903 Coordinates Driving Directions
Take Skyline Drive to its northwestern terminus at Greenwood Lake Turnpike (County Route 511). Turn right, continue for 1.5 miles, and turn right onto Sloatsburg Road. Continue for 2.1 miles and turn right onto Morris Road. In 1.3 miles, just before the entrance to the Skylands section of Ringwood State Park, turn left onto Shepherd Lake Road and proceed for 0.8 mile to Shepherd Lake. Past the entrance booth, bear left and park in the designated parking area (a parking fee is charged from Memorial Day to Labor Day). NOTE: Shepherd Lake is a popular destination on summer weekends, and the parking area can fill up early in the day. (Note: Google map may show this as Sheppard Pond.)
Description
From the parking area, follow the paved path down to the beach on Shepherd Lake. Continue through the boat launch parking area and past the boat house, with the lake to your left.
Rockwood Hall at Sleepy Hollow
Overview
This loop hike follows carriage roads around this park, formerly the home of William Rockefeller, with gentle grades and panoramic views over the Hudson River.
Details
Time:
1.5 hours
Difficulty:
Easy
Length:
2.1 miles
Route Type:
Circuit
Dogs:
Allowed on leash
Features:
Views, Historic feature
Location
Park:
Region:
County:
Westchester
State:
NY
Maps/Books
Map:
Rockefeller State Park Preserve map
Buy Book:
Publication
First Published:
03/14/2008
Submitter:
Daniel Chazin
See also
Trailhead GPS Coordinates
Coordinates Driving Directions
Take the New York State Thruway over the Tappan Zee Bridge, and get off at the first exit, Exit 9. Turn right at the top of the ramp onto US 9 (South Broadway), and continue north on US 9 through the Village of Tarrytown. After 1.7 miles, you'll come to a complex intersection where you should bear left to continue on US 9. In another 1.8 miles (3.5 miles from the Thruway exit), immediately after crossing under NY 117, turn right at a sign for "Rockwood Road," and follow the ramp onto NY 117. After reaching a stop sign, continue ahead through an intersection, following the sign to "Kendal on Hudson," pass an exit from a parking area on the left, then turn left at the entrance to the parking area.
Description
Rockwood Hall is the site of the former summer home of William Rockefeller (1841-1922), brother of John D. Rockefeller.
Batona Trail
| Park Overview: | A 50 mile trail that connects three state forests in the heart of the Pinelands. |
| Trail Uses: | Hiking |
| Dogs: | |
| Trail Miles: | 49.5 miles |
| Park Acreage: | |
| City/County/ State: | Hammonton/Atlantic/NJ |
| Web Map: | Batona Trail Brochure |
| Park Description: | Extending 49.5 miles through the heart of the Pinelands, the Batona Trail [pink] is the longest blazed hiking trail in southern New Jersey. |
| Trails Overview: | To pierce the genuine wilderness of the area, the Batona Trail avoids the sand roads as much as possible. Still, about 20% of the treadway is soft sand, which makes for slower-than-expected progress in parts of this mostly level trail. Good starting points for the trips on the trail are the Brendan T. Byrne State Forest headquarters and the Batsto Visitor Center. Trail maps and information may be obtained there, as well as at the Atsion Ranger Station and the Bass River Forest Office. A permit is required to camp along the trail in state forests.
For more information about the trail, contact Wharton State Forest, Batsto Village, 4110 Nesco Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037 [phone number below].
|
| Directions: | The southern terminus of the Batona Trail is near the junction of French Coal Road and Stage Road, near Lake Absegami, in the Bass River State Forest. Its northern terminus is at Ong’s Hat on Magnolia Road in the Brendan T. Byrne State Forest [1.5 miles northwest of Four Mile Circle]. Click on the map tab at the top of this page for directions to these points. |
| Contact Information: | NJ DEP, Division of Parks and Forestry 609-561-0024 |
| Region: | Pinelands |
| Fees: | None |
Locust Grove
| Park Overview: | Historic estate of Samuel Morse along the Hudson has mansion, grounds and trails open to the public. |
| Trail Uses: | Hiking |
| Dogs: | No dogs |
| Trail Miles: | 3.2 miles |
| Park Acreage: | 180 acres |
| City/County/ State: | Poughkeepsie/Dutchess/NY |
| Park Description: | Locust Grove was the home of Samuel Morse, the inventor of the commercial telegraph. |
| Trails Overview: | Trails wind through fields, woods and gardens around the mansion. Some of the trails are steep and many offer Hudson River views. |
| Directions: | On the west side of US 9 just south of Poughkeepsie. |
| Contact Information: | Locust Grove, The Samuel Morse Historic Site 845-454-4500 |
| Region: | Dutchess County |
| Fees: | Some times and places; check with park |
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Ringwood State Park
| Park Overview: | The Park features both wild lands and landscaped gardens. It consists of four distinct areas separated by several miles [but all are encompassed within the park boundary]: Ringwood Manor, Skylands Manor/NJ State Botanical Garden, Shepherd Lake, and Bear Swamp Lake. |
| Trail Uses: | Hiking, Mountain biking, Bridle path, Handicapped |
| Dogs: | See park description |
| Trail Miles: | 50 miles |
| Park Acreage: | 4044 acres |
| City/County/ State: | Ringwood/Passaic/NJ |
| Buy Trail Map: | North Jersey Trails Map |
| Buy Book: |
| Park Description: | Ringwood State Park features both wild lands and landscaped gardens. |
| Trails Overview: | There are seven trails, most beginning around Ringwood Manor going on either side of Sloatsburg Road. Individual trails range from 1.0 to 7.3 miles.
Ringwood Manor: Aside from enjoying the grounds and buildings, the Manor Trail is a relatively easy loop through the woods west of Ringwood Manor [3.0 miles; blue blaze]. The Crossover Trail [white blaze] connects Ringwood Manor to Skylands Manor and then proceeds to Bear Swamp Lake thus gaining access to Ramapo Valley County Reservation in Mahwah further east [5.6 miles to the lake]. Skylands Manor: With perennials, annual plantings, and unusual plant species the Skylands is a place of beauty in any season. One can stroll amid the elegance of formal gardens, or along gentle paths winding through the woods. Only the Crossover Trail passes through Skylands. The Halifax Trail [green blaze] begins on the far side of the big lawn of the gardens. Shepherd Lake: An informal trail goes around part of the lake, and the Ringwood-Ramapo Trail [red blaze] passes by the parking lot. A new orange-blazed trail starts at the dock and stays in the area. |
| Directions: |
|
| Contact Information: | NJ DEP, Division of Parks and Forestry 973-962-7031 |
| Region: | Ramapo Mountains |
| Fees: | Some times and places; check with park |
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Manor Trail from Ringwood Manor
Overview
This loop hike passes a scenic pond and several features of historical interest.
Details
Time:
2 hours
Difficulty:
Easy to Moderate
Length:
3 miles
Route Type:
Circuit
Dogs:
Allowed on leash
Features:
Views, Fees, Historic feature
Maps/Books
Publication
First Published:
03/07/2002
Updated/Verified:
07/24/2012
Submitter:
Daniel Chazin
Trailhead GPS Coordinates
41.139332,-74.253416 Coordinates Driving Directions
Take Skyline Drive to its northwestern end at Greenwood Lake Turnpike (County Route 511). Turn right and proceed north for 1.5 miles to Sloatsburg Road. Turn right onto Sloatsburg Road and continue for 2.4 miles to the entrance to Ringwood Manor, on the left side of the road. Park in the parking area adjacent to the manor house. A parking fee is charged on weekends from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Description
From the parking area, follow the footpath that leads along the rear of the manor house. Near the end of house, turn right and climb the stone steps.
Tenafly Nature Center Loop #1
Overview
This loop hike circles this nature preserve, passing a glacial erratic and an interesting pond.
Details
Time:
2.5 hours
Difficulty:
Easy
Length:
4 miles
Route Type:
Circuit
Dogs:
No Dogs
Features:
Woods, Historic feature
Location
Park:
Region:
County:
Bergen
State:
NJ
Maps/Books
Publication
First Published:
10/17/2002
Updated/Verified:
02/21/2013
Submitter:
Daniel Chazin
See also
Trailhead GPS Coordinates
Coordinates Driving Directions
Take U.S. Route 9W to the traffic light at East Clinton Avenue in Tenafly. Proceed west on East Clinton Avenue for 1.7 miles and turn right onto Engle Street . Continue on Engle Street until it ends at a T intersection with Hudson Avenue . Turn right and follow Hudson Avenue to its end at the nature center, where parking is available
Description
Stop at the visitor center to obtain a trail map, then proceed ahead on the Main Trail, a wide dirt road which is the continuation of Hudson Avenue.
Ringwood-Ramapo/Hoeferlin /Pierson Ridge Trails Loop from Skylands Manor
Overview
This loop hike traverses remote, less-visited areas of Ringwood State Park, passing a number of scenic viewpoints.
Details
Time:
6.5 hours
Difficulty:
Moderate to Strenuous
Length:
10.6 miles
Route Type:
Circuit
Dogs:
Allowed on leash
Features:
Views, Fees
Maps/Books
Publication
First Published:
07/03/2003
Submitter:
Daniel Chazin
See also
Trailhead GPS Coordinates
41.127009,-74.240001 Coordinates Driving Directions
Take Interstate Route 287 to Exit 57 and proceed north on Skyline Drive. At the end of Skyline Drive, turn right and follow Greenwood Lake Turnpike north for 1.6 miles to Sloatsburg Road. Turn right and follow Sloatsburg Road for 2.1 miles to Morris Avenue, then turn right and follow Morris Avenue for 1.4 miles to its end at the Skylands Manor section of Ringwood State Park. Pass between two stone eagles and turn left into Parking Lot A. During the summer season, a parking fee ($5 weekdays, $10 weekends) may be charged.
Description
From the parking area, turn left onto a paved park road, the route of the white-blazed Crossover Trail.
