No celery is being grown, it's actually a nature preserve. There's no dogs or bikes allowed…read more Sections are fenced off to keep you on the trail. The trail is about a mile and goes around the lake. Some of it is boarded and much of it is in the shade. If it rained recently, than it may be muddy, otherwise sneakers or shoes are fine. It stays level and is good for elderly or kids. There's a lot of benches and a few lookouts as you go around. The preserve is exceptionally clean. I saw one plastic bottle, so I picked it up.

Today it is called the Celery Farm mainly a result of the fact that in 1888 Swiss emigrant Henry J…read more Appert and his wife Ella bought the 107 acre-property and converted the land which was an excavated peat bog into a farm which grew mainly celery and onions. The land has a rich history has seen this parcel of land transition from a glacial land to a peat bog, to a farm and now a nature preserve. The Wolf Clan of the Lenni Lenape gather here to hunt the abundant game in the area. Later in colonial times Founding Father John Fell took possession of the. In the 1080's the borough of Allendale bought the track of land and converted it into a nature preserve. The Celery Farm is an important site for migratory birds and thus bird watchers. There are several areas where birds can be observed including a raised platform overlooking the small lake. There are trails which run about a mile through the preserve. The trails are very wet in spots after any kind of precipitation. Roots and rocks jut up along the path making hiking uncomfortable. When I visited there were numerous hikers who wore masks and observed social distancing. Dogs are not permitted on the trails.

Nice park for the beginner or more experienced hiker or just someone who wants to have some peace…read moreand quiet outdoors for a couple of hours. The parking lot is big and there is a bathroom, which is appreciated. I took a look at the trail map before I left to find one of a decent length, so check out options, but the trails are well-marked. Once you get past the main train next to the lake, you can find yourself pretty alone except for another occasional hiker, but you can vibe with nature, see a waterfall, and just breathe in the fresh air. Some of the trails are long, but I paced one that was only a couple of miles and still got some nice scenery and a lot of steps in. It's great this park isn't too far from the urban areas of Northern NJ and there are many trail options so you can visit again and experience something new. There's also a sign for trout fishing if that's your thing. Check it out if you want to get away for the day.

This was my first time and what a blast! What I love about…read morehiking is that there's so many cool and magical places that you can't get to by car. For decades I've driven up 287 and wondered what was in all the hills and mountains and today I finally got to see. I met up with my local plus size hiking group for our last hike of the year and Ramapo was a first for all of us despite being longtime New Jerseyans. We did the Macmillan trail and clocked about 3.5 miles total. We went the long trail around the reservoir and then dipped back down the waterfall trail. Very thankful we did it that way - I think all the stairs on the waterfall trail would have been treacherous given the conditions and a bit demoralizing. Getting the big hills out the way first and enjoying the lake made the waterfall that much sweeter. So many dogs and kind people on the trail. Trash was almost non-existent. Tons of rocks and logs to sit a spell - but at below freezing temps we kept it moving lol. Highlights: -ample parking (bc it was cold) -giant rocks -waterfalls -exposed slabs -gorgeous vistas -the swan!!

This place is huge!!!! Visit and buy a membership and go often! The staff is kind, dedicated and…read moreknowledgeable! Sign up for a program or hike today!

This is a wonderful place to bring the whole family. They have about 12 different trails, all…read moreseparated in different levels of difficulty. The trails are free to enter but they do request for volunteer donation for non members. Different tiers of annul membership available to purchase at main office that comes with some wonderful perks, such as free access to trails and special events. The main office also has some of the exhibition items like insect box and turtle box. Outside the office there's also bird and butterfly cages. We went to the center for our daughter to participate in butterfly feeding event. Upon arrival we found out we had to buy the tickets for one of the two scheduled events. Luckily there were slots available to the second event on the day. The ticket was reasonably cheap, only $8. It also came with an additional bird's exhibition that took place right in front of office deck. All the stuff members were very friendly, informative and interactive. We spent wonderful couple of hours here on beautiful warm summer day.

This is a true hidden treasure! Rockleigh Woods Sanctuary is one of those places that surprises you…read morein the best way. The trails are beautiful and run alongside a peaceful, flowing river, making the whole hike feel calm and scenic from start to finish. Everything is well marked, so it's easy to navigate without having to second-guess where you're going. It's also a very welcoming spot--lots of families out enjoying the trails and plenty of dogs, which adds to the friendly, relaxed atmosphere. The hike itself is easy, but still really enjoyable and refreshing. Parking is plentiful and convenient, which makes the whole experience even smoother. Definitely a spot worth coming back to again and again.

Beautiful place, but far too many off leash dogs and pack walkers . I abide to leash laws, and…read morereally do not appreciate when someone's dog approaches my dog on a trail of any sort. It is dangerous, and to say "don't worry, he's friendly" does not justify it being okay for anyone's dog to approach someone else and/or their leashed dog on a wooded trail. Folks, abide to the law and use your own backyards for unleashed exercise, not a public, densely wooded trail.

I really love this state park. Parking is $10. There is an area to bbq, an area to rent pedal…read moreboats, a hotel, a pool, area to purchase food and hiking trails. I usually go just to hike and enjoy the views. What I like is that the trail is always clean with clear signs on where to walk up which creates a safe hike. There are different levels of difficulty of trails so you can either select a moderate trail or challenging one. There is a large grass area where you can sit and enjoy a picnic or take a walk around the lake.

Avoid at all costs while they are doing construction. It's impossible to actually get to a trail…read morehead. And there is no one in any of the offices to actually offer help. They should have warned us many trails closed or detours when we paid the parking fee. While not much I would have skipped the $10 feet since we actually didn't do anything during our trip as all the trail heads were too far

I have been coming here for years and it has always been so beautiful. I love morning hikes…read more Seeing the water falls and hiking through the trails is so picturesque. It's a great cardio workout. We climb up trail stairs and down. We go up some hills and down. It really depends on the direction you decide to take. Fall is my favorite time of year to come here when the weather is a bit cooler and there is not as much people around. The trails in this this park is very clearly marked and you can see trails that were created by the parks department plus some that were created by people who wanted to adventure off the regular trails. There are some very very small caves if you look around hard enough. I see them take a quick peek and I am on my way. I am not that adventurous, lol. This is definitely a fantastic place to visit if you are in the area. Just a couple of things to remember. Bug spray is your friend. Spray yourself, ticks are not fun and also be careful when running your hands on the wooden handrails because there may be splinters. I now take tweezers with me just in case splinters or ticks but this park is still a fantastic place to visit.

Really beautiful site, but it was hard to find. The address in the tour book took us to a closed,…read moreprivate road, and it's a windy two lane road with no shoulder, so it was also hard to find a place to turn around. There is a bit of a pull off area, and there is a restroom, but when I went off season (warm but not declared in season) it was locked. So mileage may vary on its usefulness. Luckily, if your eagle eyes spot the pullover parking lot, the falls are a pretty short walk. I recommend taking the path to the right to the top of the falls so you can then move down the steep incline instead of going up. The view from the bottom is very pretty. It's a good view and only needs like 20 minutes tops of your time. It was quite doable for my senior mother, but some parts were very slow moving. She enjoyed it, so it does still work for beginners as long as it's not been raining. Would recommend stopping by if you like seeing waterfalls. It's the tallest in the state and very scenic.

If you ever need a timeout and take a break, this is one of the best drives in the state of New…read moreYork. The drive takes you past lakes, the beautiful green scenery etc. If you plan to drive here at night, it is pitch dark, I don't recall seeing a light post. There is a boating dock along the drive. It is close to the Woodbury outlets and bear mountain, so you can make a full day of activities. Restrooms may be hard to come by.

This is a great drive, especially in the fall. In fact, I came here twice in the last 2 weeks (and…read morethis is over an hour away from my place). Fun roads, with minimal traffic (at least early). Lots of great scenery. There are a few cool small roads that intersect it that are really fun. Many hiking options. We did one that was fairly nice, and a little challenging in fact (some minor climbing). I can't remember the name, but the entrance is right by the visitor center. Tip: Storm King Hwy is not far, and is a REALLY fun drive!