Mill

Grace Lord Park

Historic: 
Complete: 
Yes
NYNJTC maintained: 
0

Located adjacent to downtown Boonton, this park features spectacular waterfalls along the Rockaway River, as well as historic stone ruins.

Hiking
1 miles
Lat/Lon: 
40.906869, -74.415022
Boonton
Morris
NJ
Cluster/Park: 
Park

Located along the cascading Rockaway River, Grace Lord Park provides a variety of recreational activities, including hiking, birding, and fishing. The park also offers a fountain, playground, swings, and a landmark gazebo. Boonton Falls is perhaps its most unique attraction which, according to the town's web site, is rivaled only by the Great Falls of Paterson. As was the case with Paterson, the fall line generated water power and attracted industry.

The fall line has had an unfortunate consequence. Hurricane Irene in August 2011 caused severe erosion along the Rockaway River in Grace Lord Park. Engineering estimates to stabilize the slope were in the millions of dollar, requiring funds out of reach for the Town. Modest efforts were underway in early 2017 to shore up a segment of the eroded banks along the ravine, principally to protect residential structures.

The park is open to the public. From a trailhead near Essex Ave/West Main Street the Boonton Falls Trail of roughly one-half mile goes as far as the arch bridge and a view of the falls.  Another trailhead is off Main Street, where parking is available.  See Directions to Trailhead on this site.

A section of the Morris Canal, Plane 7E, touches the northwestern side of the park.

Additional hiking trails can be found in Tourne County Park, a short drive from Grace Lord Park.

Traveling south on I-287, take Exit 45 turn left onto Myrtle Street [Rt 202]. In roughly a mile, turn right onto Main Street, just as Rt 202 crosses I-287. In about 500 feet turn left onto Morris Avenue [the names change at this intersection; to the right of Main Street is “Division Street.”] In less than 0.3 mile on the right is a small gravel parking area -- be aware, no street sign marks its location.  GPS Coordinates: 40.906869, -74.415022

Trailhead at Essex Avenue and West Main, GPS Coordinates:  40.907464, -74.419882.  Park where safe and legal.

 

 

Fees: 
None
Last Update: 
02/15/2017
Modified By: 
Phil McLewin
Landowner: 
Municipality

Blydenburgh County Park

Historic: 
Complete: 
Yes
Blydenburgh County Park with Lake view
NYNJTC maintained: 
0

Hike five miles around Long Island’s second largest lake, with plenty of other attractions, including a historical mill district

 

Hiking
Bridle path
Dogs on leash
5 miles
627 acres
Lat/Lon: 
40.824707, -73.221348
Smithtown
Suffolk
NY
Cluster/Park: 
Park

Blydenburgh County Park

Around 1800, the Blydenburgh family dammed the headwaters of the Nissequogue River just north of the union of three streams to create an early industrial/commercial center. The dam flooded the river's original banks to form a pond. Blydenburgh County Park now surrounds this body of water, known primarily by the name “Stump Pond.” By some historical accounts, the name derives from the tree stumps left remaining after the land was flooded. It is Long Island’s second largest lake and also one of its least developed and most picturesque. 

Viewed on a map, Stump Pond (sometimes identified as New Millpond or Weld’s Pond) can be imagined as a human arm reaching upward from south to north, bent 90 degrees at the elbow, with the upper arm extending in an eastward direction. A 5.4-mile loop trail circles the pond, traversing forested hills, flat lands, undulating terrain, a boardwalk and occasional wetlands. 

The Long Island Greenbelt Trail (white blaze) runs along the north end of Stump Pond. The Stump Pond Trail (blue blaze), which starts and ends at the Greenbelt Trail, makes a loop around the west and east sides of the pond, with short side trails leading to viewpoints over the pond. Occasionally, the blue-blazed trail is co-aligned with a bridle path segment. The trail along the east side of the pond is nearly flat, while the trail along the west side features varied and more interesting terrain. 

The Long Island Greenbelt Trail Conference, with headquarters located in one of the historic district houses, regularly schedules organized hikes through Blydenburgh. Contact the Greenbelt office at (631) 360-0753 for details.

 

North End: Take the Long Island Expressway east to Exit 42 (Northern State Parkway east). Proceed east on the Northern State Parkway for 16 miles to its terminus, where it merges into NY Routes 347/454 east. In 1.8 miles, where the two routes diverge, bear left to stay on NY 347. Follow NY 347 for 0.4 mile and turn left onto Brooksite Drive. Follow Brooksite Drive for 1.7 miles to a parking area on the left for Blydenburgh County Park.

South End: Entrance to the park is on the north side of Veterans Memorial Highway, opposite the H. Lee Dennison County Center in Smithtown. GPS Coordinates: 40.824707, -73.221348

 

Fees: 
None
Last Update: 
07/04/2017
Modified By: 
Phil McLewin
Landowner: 
County
Region - Maintenance: 

Ward Pound Ridge Reservation

Historic: 
Complete: 
Yes
Raven Rocks at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation - Westchester County
Dancing on Dancing Rock at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation - Photo: Jane Daniels
By a pond at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation - Photo: Jane Daniels
Hiking through laurel at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation - Photo: Jane Daniels
NYNJTC maintained: 
1

Hilly terrain in Ward Pound Ridge Reservation offers a mix of second-growth hardwood forest, hemlock, laurel, bold rock outcroppings, steep ravines, wetlands, and open meadows.

Hiking
X-C skiing
Accessible
Dogs on leash
42 miles
4700 acres
Lat/Lon: 
41.258383, -73.602232
Lewisboro,Bedford
Westchester
NY
Cluster/Park: 
Park

Ward Pound Ridge Reservation

The largest park in Westchester County, Ward Pound Ridge has areas with lots of people and places where few are encountered. Picnic areas, Trailside Museum and the park office are along Reservation Road, which crosses the park east-west and parallels the Cross River.  The southern part of the park offers a more secluded atmosphere. It is reached most easily from the Michigan Road parking and picnic area, which also serves as the center for winter ski touring. Camping in CCC era lean-tos is available.

Hikers have lots of choices in the 41.9 miles of trails in the park:

  • Blazed by volunteers in 2010, the 4.5-mile Rocks Trail follows footpaths for most of its route and traverses some of most beautiful areas of the park. It is named for six special features that it passes along the way, each of which includes the word "Rock" in their names: Dancing Rock, Bear Rock, Spy Rock, Castle Rock, Raven Rocks and Indian Rock Shelter.
  • North of Reservation Road, the Brown Trail offers a pleasant 3.8-mile walk along the Cross River. It is accessible from the picnic areas along Reservation Road.   
  • The Blue Trail extends south from the Kimberly Bridge picnic area through the eastern side of the park. One side of this 3.8-mile loop rises through open forest to the highest point in the park (860 feet). Laurel is in bloom in June along this trail. 
  • From the Michigan Road picnic area, the Red Trail offers access to a variety of scenery along its 5.6-mile loop.
  • Side trails lead to Leatherman's Cave, a former CCC camp, and a view over the Cross River Reservoir.

Cross-country ski traffic on the red, green and yellow trails is one way: counterclockwise.  Hikers may choose to hike the loops in either direction.

Take I-684 North to Exit 6 (Cross River), which briefly joins the Saw Mill River Parkway, then exits to N.Y. Route 35. Turn right and follow Route 35 east for 3.7 miles to N.Y. Route 121. Turn right onto Route 121, cross a bridge over the Cross River, then immediately turn left and enter Ward Pound Ridge Reservation. Continue for 0.7 mile to the tollbooth (a $10 parking fee is charged on weekends, daily in the summer). To reach the trailhead for most of the park's trails, make the first right beyond the tollbooth onto Michigan Road and continue for 0.7 mile to a parking area just before a turnaround circle at the end of the road.
Fees: 
Some times and places; check with park
Nearby Parks: 
Last Update: 
11/05/2016
Landowner: 
County
Manager: 
Westchester County Parks

Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park

Historic: 
Complete: 
Yes
NYNJTC maintained: 
0

The park commemorates “The Cradle of American Industry."

Hiking
Accessible
Dogs on leash
35 acres
Lat/Lon: 
40.9144289, -74.1802668
Paterson
Passaic
NJ
Cluster/Park: 
Park

The Great Falls of the Passaic River, located in Paterson, N.J., is the site of an early, successful initiative to establish a “national manufactory” in post-revolutionary America.  As part of the Mercantilist vision of Alexander Hamilton, the country’s first Secretary of the Treasury, Paterson become America’s earliest planned industrial city with the incorporation of the Society for Establishing Useful Manufactures (S.U.M.) in 1791.

Great Falls in Winter (NPS photo)The National Park Service offers Guided Introductory Tours seasonally -- it takes roughly one hour and covers one mile.  See the Park's website link in Contact Information on this site for a schedule, follow the "Plan a Visit" tab. 

“Trails” largely consist of city sidewalks with uneven surfaces.  A pictorial map of the park (use Web Map link on this site)  identifies such major features as the Great Falls, mills (both standing and in ruins), the S.U.M. Hydroelectric Station, the upper, middle and lower raceways, street names (for navigation), smaller local parks, cultural centers, several public parking areas, and (important in an urban setting) public restrooms. 

The self-guided Mill Mile tour starts introduces visitors to the remarkable history, geology, social and cultural importance of the area. 

An on-line brochure describing the 10-stop tour – which includes a map -- is available, as is a free downloadable audio tour app (from I-Tunes and Google Play Store) and a number to call using a cell phone along the way.   The Tour is an educational project of the Hamilton Partnership for Paterson.  

To complement a visit with a more woodsy hiking experience, Rifle Camp Park and Garret Mountain Reservation, two interconnected Passaic County parks just a short drive from the mill district, have a combined trail network of 13 miles on roughly 800 acres of parkland. 

 

From I-80 West, take Exit 57 B-A. Follow the Downtown Paterson signs. Turn left at second light onto Cianci Street, and left at first light onto Market Street for 1/4 mile. Turn right onto Spruce. Go one block and turn right onto McBride Avenue Extension, then immediately left into Great Falls Overlook parking area.

From I-80 East, take Exit 57 B, circle onto Grand Street exit. At end of exit ramp turn left onto Grand. At second light on Grand turn right onto Spruce Street. At second light on Spruce bear right onto McBride Avenue Extension, then turn immediately left into the Great Falls Overlook parking area.

NJ Transit Bus Route 161 connects the 42nd Street Port Authority Bus Terminal with Paterson, stopping near the NJ Transit train station.

 

Fees: 
None
Last Update: 
06/26/2017
Modified By: 
Phil McLewin
Landowner: 
NPS
Manager: 
973.523.5295; [email protected]