I never mean to gatekeep this place but it's nice that photoshoots aren't allowed because this is just not the place for that. There is beauty in leaving nature be while still protecting the wildlife. I love that it's free for the public with reservations just for Saturdays and bikes for two hours rentals at a reasonable price. We even saw a red tailed hawk up close this timewhich was really cool! We will continue to visit for years to come. Lots of people stroll through but it's great for runs too! Lots of variation between slight hills and flats. Just watch out for ticks and snake in grass in the summer. read more

Duke Farms - Hiking Near Me - Hillsborough, New Jersey

I was a little disappointed about the parking situation to visit the area some of the other garden areas. Grass was kept very nice but, because I've seen the wonderful gardens of Sarah P Duke Gardens (Durham NC), I was somewhat disappointed that that it wasn't mor similar to the garden in NC. Sad that all the water features we came across were not in any type of working order. Overall a nice tranquil garden with several beautiful spaces throughout. Oh, in case you were like me and read the review about the tram... be informed that they no longer have the tram (not for 8 years now). read more

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Beautiful place to go for a stroll or a long walk There's fountains,statues and plenty of trails and wildlife to explore. They do have a little cafe in the orientation center put that place is never open when I visit. But from other people I do hear it's a good place. Just in general this is a great place to spend a morning or an afternoon read more

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This is a hidden gem. The food quality is very high. They cook food for the best way for us to eat. We love healthy choices in the menu. We always come here after walk at the park. read more

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Drove 55 mins to visit only to be told saturday you have to reserve parking and they didnt have anymore spots left. Turned around through parking lot and half the lot was empty... not cool read more

First time visit to Duke Farms, Hillsborough,NJ Close to I78 in western side on NJ and a true hidden treasure! Whether to walk, job or bicycle there is soooo much to take in. There is an Orientation Center (check for hours open) which was closed the Tuesday we explored but, no worries, we picked up a brochure and started walking. Bring water and snack and have a great day! read more

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Just enough time for a brief walk. Needed to cross street from parking lot and fear not, you shall be extremely safe due to the thoughtful and comprehensive system they have which includes people in booths with stop signs, as well as audible warning signs!! The path was beautiful (late October) with statues in the open aired building read more

A beautiful park and gardens to wander! The grounds are extensive so you can take different paths each time you go and have a different experience. The orchid green house is a real highlight and so incredibly beautiful! They also have a cafe which serves breakfast and lunch. The menu is creative and food is very tasty. read more

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My friend and I had a wonderful day at Duke Farms . The place is absolutely magnificent and we spent hours exploring the grounds. My only complaint is that there could be more signs. Even through the map was helpful, we were constantly confused as to where we were, what things were, and how to get to the next site. read more

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What a beautiful place, different scene for each season. It's wonderful just to walk around. They also have bike rental. They have nice classes too, just check online. Just wish they're open on Sunday read more

Such a beautiful and picturesque place. Went for the first time today and I was in awe at how large the place was. I didn't have a map but decided to just follow along the signs and it was pretty self explanatory to follow to the main areas. If you're looking for somewhere to just get a way to go for a walk, ride your bike or read then this is the perfect place. It's so large that you can easily feel like you're there by yourself. It was a bit hard to find the meditation garden as there wasn't a direct path leading up to it but the landmark is the red bridge. All in all I all I will definitely be back in the spring to explore more of the grounds. Bonus points for this place being Free and there's parking !!! read more

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The words "hidden gem" must have been invented to describe the incredibleness of Duke Farms. Literally nestled and tucked away off of a highway, down a very long path and entirely out of the way. There is so much insane beauty here... and it is free to the public?! It just doesn't make sense in the best way. My tips for visiting Duke Farms: -Go during the week (if you can, of course) to avoid the crowds. And have hassle free parking. -Rent a bike unless you want a very leisurely experience and don't care about not seeing everything. -Don't worry about not seeing everything! It's a huge space and you'll want to just make a relaxing day of it. -Don't have all day? I recommend the orchid room. It's a magnificent greenhouse filled with so many different types of orchids (so many plants I never realized were categorized as orchids) as well as other beautiful plants. It's incredible and I could have spent all day there. -Get a map or download the app! It became crucial to finding my way in and out. -Wear comfy shoes because this is A BIG space and walk or bike you'll be moving quite a bit. They have a cafe if you need a bite or drink but I recommend bringing food for a little picnic somewhere on the grounds. It's 100% worth the trip if you aren't from the are. Definitely one of Jersey's hidden gems. read more

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LOTS of level, paved walking. Enjoyed the Orchid Building. So many different, beautiful varieties. This is my second time here and I STILL haven't made it to the meditation garden. Next time, I'll probably rent one of your bikes to make it there. Well manicured grounds. Just beautiful place to take in. read more

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VERY Beautiful grounds .. I suggest renting bikes so you really can see it all but you can walk it. We took our own and it's FREE to go in. If you go over to the the Great Falls check the times it only flows every 2 hours. The greenhouse with all the orchids was so pretty. We loved it !! They also do have a cafe if you want to grab a bite to eat. Go and enjoy the day read more

Duke Farms - Hiking Near Me - Hillsborough, New Jersey

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My wife and I had an amazing time at Duke Farms! We rented bikes for the day and had a great time riding around the grounds. Beforehand we use the restrooms and they were super clean. We used Google maps and their app to look at attractions which made data driven expiration possible and allowed us to make great use of the rental time. We would definitely go back again and check it out in a different season. We can definitely vouch for the summer! read more

I was finally off on a Saturday, so we went to Duke farms for a morning walk. This is still considered off-season, so there is no bike rental and you don't need a parking permit until April 1. We were two of a handful of people there at 8:30 am so we enjoyed the calm and quiet surroundings, only the sounds of birds as we took various trails off the paved path. We didn't do the whole place, maybe we'll come back and see the arboretum later in the season when everything is blooming. The orchid range is a real highlight-better than longwood gardens' orchid display imo. read more

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Duke Farms is a sprawling site that I wanted to love, but I didn't. If you're looking for a place to accrue 10,000+ steps on your pedometer, come here. If you don't want to walk, and prefer to rent a bike, you can do that. There is no entrance fee and they have large maps, in order to guide you through the 1,000 acres.  Duke Farms does have a nice eatery, which you will see as soon as you enter the property. I ordered melon slices, and an Iced Cafe Latte, and they were good starters before trekking out into the wild. The farm has a nice structure called, the Hay Barn. It is nicely adorned with beautiful statues and landscaping. As you work your way through the farm, you'll come upon the Orchid Range. There, you will walk inside a green house that is full of orchids. It is very nice and a welcomed moment out of the sun. The Arboretum section of the farm is very nice, as well. You'll see a tranquil Meditation Garden, which you will traverse a beautiful Japanese bridge, in order to reach. Overall, Duke Farms is a nice place to check off your list and enjoy the long stroll through the many acres. read more

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One of my favorite places to bike around and enjoy the various gardens and sights. There's a nice greenhouse, a bunch of statues, and multiple places to hang out at. In the summers they have a farmers market! There is also a cafe inside the main building, where the food is delicious and healthy. read more

After a busy morning I realized at 230pm I had not eaten lunch. I was driving by and stopped into the cafe as I knew they had healthy items. I selected the Quinoa Veggie Chili and I want to give it all the stars! The chili is hearty, thick, great taste that makes me think it's a meaty chili. So healthy and so filling, it did more than hit the spot! read more

A beautiful and expensive property. Duke Farms is a wonderful place to walk, bike, hike or stroll. I'd love to return with my bike to cover more ground. The highlight of my last visit was definitely the greenhouse which had a ton of amazing plants and hanging greenery. Another highlight was the on-site cafe which had really high quality farm to table food. I enjoyed a BLT with fresh mozzarella. The sandwich had heirloom tomatoes which were so sweet. My dad had a cobb salad that also had a ton of fresh veggies and looked fantastic. There are lots of wide pathways so it was really easy to walk my baby around in her stroller. It was a bit buggy, so if you are doing the same definitely bring a bug net! A short review for a short and pleasant visit to Duke Farms. A great place for some fresh air and beautiful flowers, and especially to bike ride so you can see lots of the sites. read more

Duke Farms - Hiking Near Me - Hillsborough, New Jersey

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There is no place like it ! A beautiful way to spend a day. What a great hidden gem right in New Jersey! It makes me feel like I am in The Great Gatsby! We chose to stroll through but you can rent bikes . There is no entrance fee. The orchid house alone is worth the drive! read more

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Great place to visit and walk around. It was an extremely hot day the day that we were here, but we still enjoyed ourselves. Not really sure why the bike rental place is not next to the main area, so that was the only reason why I did not give it five stars. read more

Perfect place for a nice walk along beautiful landscape and gardens. Crowded in the weekend. Better from Tuesday to Friday.

If you're from the central Jersey area, this is a must visit! There are so many different trails to explore and during spring/summer, you can see the falls. If you have a bike, also a great place to go for the day. Checkout the orchid range if you can, it's my favorite spot! read more

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Excellent bike paths... Went on a Sat so get a parking pass ahead of time. We biked leisurely for about 3 hours stopping along the way. We did a total of 16 miles and enjoyed every minute of it. Paths are easy to moderate. Paved paths also gravel trails. We biked around town as well. It was a beautiful fall Oct day. We will be back. read more

We went during one hot summer It was relentless,the heat My sunblock melt ,my shirt wet But we were happy, walking from one point to another Fountains,foundations Stone walls,stone bridge,tombstones Lonely statues stood under scorching sun It was neat but too quiet Wish we could see when ms. Dorris still alive! read more

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PROS: - free - open to the general public 6 days a week (closed on Mondays) - expansive/massive with many different paths - paths/roads are flat and easy to walk for anyone - lovely trees, gardens, and landscaping - they have their own app so you can see the paths and landmarks! (App is pretty decent!) - good for kids and families - can bring your own bike - affordable 2hr bike rental (adults and kids) - decent size parking lots - crossing guard during visiting hrs - quiet in the colder months, but still people/workers around and on the grounds so you are not completely alone CONS: - can be a long walk before you see anything really interesting - probably better in spring/summer season when in bloom - building are closed during Covid surges/spikes This place is pretty expansive. We only walked around for two hours, so didn't get to see much, but we are looking forward to making regular visits. We came later in the day at around 3pm and it was pretty cold outside, so it wasn't crowded or anything, but there were enough visitors there that it didn't seem deserted. It seems like a lot of locals use this for their regular walking exercise, as we saw a vast majority of walkers using it for their daily cardio as opposed to those visiting like us. It is pretty much all flat easy walking but very long paths before you see anything really interesting. I could see this place being super lovely in the spring and summertimes when everything is in bloom, but it was kind of quiet and sleepy in the winter. This place is decent and I will come back again to experience it in different seasons. read more

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This is a beautiful farm. Huge area for a walk, biking, and picnic. I went on a weekday and was not crowded. You can rent a bike there for $8 per day. For the weekend you have to reserve entry in advance. Restroom: very clean and well maintained. Visitors Center: helpful, lot of other options for different activities inside the building. Parking: different places available. Very peaceful, clean and I love it. Must visit. read more

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A nice place to visit when in New Jersey. Free parking and entrance. This place is well maintained. NO PETS allowed. Great hiking spot. They have a beautiful orchid garden. They also have a good biking trail. read more

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Like the Duke's farmer's market, because they carry my favorite popcorn stand, local flower stand, popsicle, wine, vegetable... and more. It's easy to get to, especially you just want to pick up what you need and go on with your Sunday. The only star I take away is the lack of shade. In a hot summer day, it's very difficult to stand in line with the sun beaming on you. Other time you wish to spend some time pick n choose what you would purchase, while the sun is burning you down. After you get what you need, there are shades on the other side where you can lay a blanket. He Duke's farm trailer is also amazing to just walk or bike through. They have very friendly staffs to guide and sometime educational booth for all. read more

Amazing and worth a visit. Great place to walk or bike and plenty of paved and gravel trails. Do not miss the Orchid Greenhouse which was huge and incredible with some many varieties. Be sure to check out their website for hours and reserve your spot in advanced if you plan on coming on a Saturday. If you visit during the week, you can just drop by without reservation. read more

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I started writing reviews on Yelp 10 years ago in NYC and this review marks my 1000th review. I am proud to give non-profit community park Duke Farms my #1000. It's quite a phenomenal place that everyone if you are reasonably close or passing by should spend some time at. My time there on June 23rd, 2019 with members of my family will be a day of lasting memories until my last day. Duke Farms is a property that was previously owned by James Duke, one of the wealthiest men in the world and whose family Duke University is named after. Duke Farms, a choice beautiful large piece of land was donated to New Jersey by the Duke Family for public use. Duke Farms has miles of paved bike paths and walking paths. Many people I saw bring their bicycles here or if you don't have one, they rent them for $7.00 flat for 2 hours. The bikes you rent are high quality well maintained Electra models for men and women. They require a bike helmet and will give you one if you don't own one. We rented their bikes and went all over the park. Parking and entrance are free. They sell bottled water and light food at the main building and water at the bike rental. Property maps are free. They are open in all weather. They have waterfalls, grassy knolls for a picnic, some hiking trails, miles of paved bike paths, walking paths, meditation ponds, solariums, and museum buildings with artifacts and videos about Duke history I found very interesting. I spent about 5 hours here. I would not bother coming here unless you have at least 2.5 hours because it takes 30 minutes to park and walk to the entrance. You will feel comfortable coming here alone or with others--it's a great place to get away from it all and meditate and be one with nature in a safe surrounding. You will want to have insect repellent on, especially if you are walking in the grass near the ponds, and make sure to apply it all over. I had it on, but the mosquitos were so vicious they took a few bites out of me through my thick sock where I did not apply it. If I lived in this area, Duke Farms would be on my regular recreational schedule. I am glad that I had this experience. read more

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Just visited for the first time and wow, what a great park! Fantastic that it is free to enter, but you do need an advance reservation. Great walking and bike paths, and there is an onsite bike rental company that rents adult bikes for 2 hours / $7 but you do need to bring your own helmet. I walked around for about two hours and saw a lot of the grounds. We just missed the great falls which run for a couple of minutes at 12pm, 2 pm, and 4pm. The orchid greenhouse was a hit, I would love to know how many varieties are in there, is it just hundreds or thousands?! read more

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They booted our class field trip at the last minute. Elementary school children were heartbroken. Boooo

The Duke Farms estate, which has some of the nicest crossing guards you will ever meet, is less of a farm than it is an upscale admission-free park. Expect a family-friendly crowd on weekends and holidays, along with cyclists. Tour de France hopefuls frustrated with all the strollers and wandering toddlers clogging the paved walkways (which are shared by pedestrians, cyclists, and motor vehicles alike) near the South Gate Entrance will find less congestion on Oak Way, West Way, and Railroad Way. Overview: The 300+ acre section of Duke Farms that is open to the public actually has very little in the way of farm animals, crops, or anything agricultural. In fact, the reclaimed Coach Barn, located at the northernmost border of the visitor map, resembles a barn less than it does an empty museum with a clock tower and heavily varnished hardwood interior. Visitors may not even notice that the Orientation Center was a former barn. But unless you're a barn aficionado or a history buff, you'd probably be more interested in Duke Farms' walkable meadows, horticultural displays, and scenic scum-filled lakes. Parking: Not a fan of parking on gravel. If you come on a late weekend afternoon, you'll probably be forced to park at one of the overflow lots. The farmer's market seems to have a good turnout. Orientation: The Orientation Center has a small cafeteria (additional seating outside), restrooms, benches, and a visitor desk that provides full-sized paper maps. Google Maps has also catalogued Duke Farms' main points of interest, so feel free to use your smartphone to navigate instead. Between these and various path markers, you'd have to really try in order to get totally lost. Points of Interest: The Orchid Range, which is a glass greenhouse with a small collection of orchids and other flora, is probably the only attraction here truly worth visiting. The Coach Barn has some very empty stables (not in use), and the fan-shaped Great Falls are marred by the same algae growth that plagues all of the other bodies of water here. While the less adventurous throngs will stick to the beaten path, particularly where the tram stops, the woodchip paths that run through the meadows are considerably quieter. (I walked by Heron Lake for 20 minutes without seeing a soul--only butterflies, a turtle, and an actual heron.) Wildlife: Also expect to see dragonflies, wildflowers, and a lot of huge wild mushrooms. The meadow trails are well-blazed, but you should still watch where you're going: while walking through the woods, I walked face-first through at least half a dozen spider webs, and even managed to snag a large black one that I'm sure I shook off but probably hitchhiked home with me in my car, Arachnophobia-style. Mosquitoes aren't much of a problem here, though if you decide to have an idyllic picnic in a bikini by one of the lakes you're probably asking for it. Bike Rentals: -Bicycles can be rented from the rental tent on Hay Barn Way near the Athena Statue, with rates starting at $5 for 2 hours. The neighboring tent also sells bottled water. -Since the fleet only has 75 bicycles (including tricycles), demand usually outpaces supply on weekends. -Save yourself some time by signing a waiver online, otherwise you'll have to do so in-person the first time you rent. -Credit/debit card serves as both payment and collateral for rentals. Apple Pay also seems to be accepted. -To minimize liability, helmets are required for all cyclists, even those who bring their own bikes (though not strictly enforced). Shared public helmets are provided with rentals if you don't bring your own. Other amenities: If you need a break or have an accident while running or cycling, benches and wheelchair-friendly outhouses with first-aid kids are scattered across the estate. Some of the regular restrooms with plumbing are surprisingly clean. read more

Duke Farms - No wading or swimming - Hiking Near Me - Hillsborough, New Jersey

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Total beautiful most nice scenery. We rented bikes, no great bike ride ride to the falls. They come on at certain times definitely a day you can bring lunch. You can bring water. They do have a café. I am so glad we found this place today we get out about that and do some beautiful scenic tours in your home state of New Jersey same thing with Joe enjoy life and smile you roll read more

One of the best parks in central jersey! Somehow Duke Farms is both off and on the beaten path. Despite its popularity, the park has a relaxing and enjoyable vibe that makes it a pleasure to visit, even during the busiest days. The drive down to the park is very charming, as you swoop down winding streets surrounded by trees and shrubs. Parking is easy, but I believe that during the summer you need to reserve parking for Saturday's. Be sure to check when you go if it still applies. I didn't know when I went, but the staff was nice and let me park anyway. The park itself is beautifully maintained and offers a variety of different sights and things to do. There's a Japanese garden, an old abandoned estate (where the Duke used to live), other ruins/archives, a treehouse, a greenhouse with exotic plants and a wide array of orchids (super nice!), and many other statues and picnic areas. You can rent bikes here during the summer and bike across the entire park! There's a food court here too - but I haven't tried the food. I recommend getting a bike or bringing your own and exploring! This place is awesome read more

Duke Farms was the perfect way to spend our Saturday morning. Entry was free as long as we reserved entry passes through Eventbrite ahead of time. We showed up around 10am, parked, and walked into the Farm Barn, a renovated horse and dairy barn that's been certified LEED Platinum, to ask for directions to the Bike Tent. The interior of the Farm Barn was beautiful and had clean restrooms, water stations, and a cafe offering some goods from the farm. It was a short walk to the bike tent, and after signing a couple of waivers, and paying $8 per bike (for 2 hours), we were off! We rode throughout the grounds on our cruisers, making stops at The Orchid Range, Coach Barn, Old Foundation, and The Great Falls. My favorite stop was The Orchid Range, a greenhouse stuffed with dozens of varieties of tropical and subtropical orchids. We also made sure to time our ride so that we'd arrive at The Great Falls in time for one of its four displays. By the end of it all, we'd sweated through our sunscreen, but we were glad we made the decision to bike. The grounds are massive, well-paved, and well-marked, but walking would not have been ideal in the summer heat. read more

Great outdoor for some friendly family walk, picnic. They have wonderful Tram service which is pretty much free for anyone who visits the location. Biggest let down for me is that you are not allowed to take an photographs i.e., if they think you are pro photographer then it's a no to shoot.. So don't bother trying even to photographer your own family with pro cameras read more

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Very well maintained park with beautiful landscape and LOTS of ground to cover. We weren't able to check out the entire park like the meditation garden and arboretum so we will definitely be back. There's both paved and unpaved paths (gravel and grass) which makes biking and walking around for anyone very easy. People can bring their own bike but the bike rentals are very easy to get and good quality. The most scenic areas were on the nature paths along the lakes and grassy areas. One heads up though about ticks like any nature ground. We found several dog ticks on us afterwards. read more

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