I recently found out about this park from my good friend Lisa G., so I wanted to say a big thank…read moreyou to her! I have been traveling near this park for years and never knew about this nice little escape located off Harlingen Road. The kid's playground looks good and they even got a zipline for them, so I'm sure kids really enjoy it because it looks like fun. The Veterans and 911 Memorial is a great addition because it reminds us of the many innocent people who lost their lives fighting for this country or those who were just in the city working on that unforgettable day on September 11, 2001. I love being in nature and the Arboretum is the perfect place to just relax and explore while listening to the birds sing to you! I added this info below from park's website: "Upper and lower park entrances on Harlingen Road passed Devon Rd. Playground, pathways, restroom, picnic/pavilion area (2),grills, fire pit, lighted basketball courts (2), lacrosse fields, softball fields, sand volleyball. Paved loop path and cross-country trails. It includes: The Montgomery Veterans Memorial and the 9-11 Memorial  A short paved pathway away from the upper parking area. The Montgomery Arboretum A natural area which can be accessed from the lower parking area, where there is signage."

The park has basketball and volleyball courts, a small playground and asphalt walking/riding paths…read more They ask the you park in every other spot (due to the pandemic) but we saw many cars all parked side by side, otherwise people were respecting social distancing guidelines. We rode the paths (2x around) for about a 3.5 mile distance. In the more wooded sections we saw a family of deer from no more than 15 feet away, they watched us as we watched them crossing the path. People all had their dogs on leashes and everyone was polite/friendly. A nice scenic place to ride/walk if you want to get out of your neighborhood these days.

As a student at Rutgers, this is probably my favorite part of campus. Located on the Livingston…read morecampus, the ecological preserve is footsteps away from the business school and has several miles worth of trails to travel. I tend to do this trail pretty often for running and to make things interesting I'll change up the trails. A lot of the trails are interconnected which can be confusing, but the trails are marked with some signs and trees which are marked with the color of their respective trail. The trail also extends from Livingston Campus all the way to Johnson Park and everything in between. My favorite trail is the blue trail which runs alongside one of the creeks and heads towards Johnson Park. Having run it in different seasons, I'd say the best time to do the trails is in spring/fall where the weather isn't too hot or cold and there's plenty of foliage. In the summer, it can get really hot and humid along with the many bugs that live there. (Be on the lookout for the many spider webs that you may encounter on the trail!) The trail is not paved, so be prepared for mud after the rain. Also, if running, be on the lookout for the many tree roots and changes in terrain that can trip you up (as I've done plenty of times). There are plenty of deer, squirrel, raccoon encounters so definitely be on the lookout. On one occasion the preserve was closed due to an "aggressive" coyote, but I have never made such an encounter. Overall, the Rutgers Ecological Preserve makes for a fun and interesting trip whether its hiking, running, biking or anything in between. I'd definitely recommend it, especially if you're a student.

This preserve is tucked away North of the Rutgers main campus. It offers a collection of hiking…read moretrails which are mostly well-marked, flat, and very clean. The small parking lot is easy to miss and don't be fooled by a chain halfway across the entrance to it, it is open for parking with no parking pass needed. The trails can be muddy in certain areas after a good rain, so hiking shoes are recommended over sneakers.

It's right next to the D&R canals and walkways. Right across the street from the canoe and kayak…read morerental. It's a large clearing with trees and a covered picnic table area. There's nothing else. No walking path. In the back right of the field, there's a very faded sign that says trail but it's so overgrown and not maintained you can't really go anywhere. A good spot for a picnic maybe or a rest between walking on the canals. There's two portable restrooms but no actual bathrooms. The portapotties were particularly filthy but it's also a holiday weekend day.

Turning Basin Park is a convenient spot along Alexander Road with easy access to the walking trail…read morealong the Delaware & Raritan canal. The entrance is somewhat hidden from the road, but it's directly across from Princeton Canoe Rental. The entrance to the park has spaces for about 15-20 vehicles and provides easy access to the canal trail for walkers, bicyclists, or kayakers One nice feature is that the canopy of trees provides shade in the summer if you take a stroll in the late afternoon or early evening. Be careful on the path as you're likely to encounter bicycles, joggers, and walkers. When it's not crowded, the trail is peaceful and the canal is calm. This is a great spot for easy access to the canal trail!

Fun twists and turns, ups and downs--a terrific path. Worth a visit even if it's briefread more

I came here recently as we were looking for a new area to hike around. Entered via Jacques Lane and…read morethe white trail, though in reverse order (clockwise). It's pretty fun and scenic. Very easy to get lost in the nature of things, staring at the river and canal. It's actually a pretty long hike if you do the red trail or even the orange one. It's not too cumbersome of a hike. Paths can get a bit narrow, so it's a bit annoying if you're walking and you encounter some bikers. Also wish there were a bit more signs, but that's probably intentional.

The Peters Brook Greenway is a paved trail that winds through Somerville, following the course of…read moreits namesake creek. The Greenway provides pockets of greenery throughout the borough, offering a welcome respite from the bustling streets and sidewalks. When I go for strolls I enjoy being able to walk between both the Greenway and Somerville's picturesque streets, since it is integrated nicely within the street grid. The 7.1-mile trail is bounded by the Raritan River Greenway on one end, and Clarks Woods, a small nature preserve with a parking lot, on the other. Via the two greenways, you can walk or bike directly from Somerville to the nice trails and parks at Duke Farms in neighboring Hillsborough. Overall, the Peters Brook Greenway is a wonderful amenity for both residents and visitors, contributing to what makes Somerville such a unique and special place.

These are beautiful woods, with easily walkable trails. If you stay on the wooded paths, it will…read morebe shady on the brightest of days. Wear light, waterproof hikers if you venture into the Rogers Refuge after a rain. The woods are filled with numerous varieties of trees and shrubs that provide a haven for a wide variety of birds, so bring your field guide! The trails are popular, but you'll encounter fewer humans the closer you get to the Delaware Canal. Parking is also limited, but you can park at the Rogers Refuge entrance, rather than the Battlefield Park lot. That said, here are a couple of notes: Beware of poison ivy if you step off of the actual trail, as it is everywhere. Also, during Autumn and early Winter, be sure to prep your shoes/pants for ticks, as they may be found in the leaf litter that blankets the trails. This is a good idea anytime and anywhere you hike. It's not a huge area, but the trail markings may as well be nonexistent. If you're unfamiliar with the trails, bring a map of the refuge and the institute grounds. They're both easily found and/or printed here: https://rogersrefuge.org/guides/

Lovely spot for a stroll, I find it very relaxing. Trails…read moreare level but tend to get muddy. They are pretty connected so even if you do loops and walk them all, it's not a long hike. If you're lucky, you'll see frogs and deer! If you're not, it's still fun to id trees and any mushrooms you stumble upon. There's a fun swinging bridge by the river's edge trail. I recommend: old sneakers or hiking shoes (for the mud), bug spray (mosquitoes), and a map (you can find one online or just use your phone). Note: I have never found a tick on me and I visit at least once a week, weather permitting! But you should still check for them.

Found this park when looking for tracks - this is one of the most quiet parks I've been to. Great…read moreoption if you want a park with plenty of space and not crowded with people. There are tennis courts, fields for baseball, softball & soccer. Just know geese like to chill here and thus there's a lot of geese poop!

Not to be confused with the museum in West Orange, this 171-acre county park is adjacent to both…read moreMiddlesex County College & Raritan Center. Thomas Edison Park has its own parking lot (which has a lot of potholes), but if you're here to use one of the 16 tennis courts, parking in one of the MCC lots and walking through the chain-link fence gate is quicker. From dawn to dusk on weekdays, the gate leading to Rartian Center is open, which allows office employees to take walks in the park during lunchtime. The baseball, softball, and soccer fields are popular with locals on the weekends, as evidenced by the contents of nearby trash cans. The asphalt walkways are popular with the cheeky Canadian geese, who seem to enjoy deliberately defecating where people walk rather than on the grass. Metal benches and bleachers are strewn throughout the park, along with some wooden picnic tables by the parking lot. Interestingly, this park is the only one in Middlesex County designated as a "Model Airplane Field". Since the wide, open, unobstructed fields here lend themselves to being very windy, this park is also a good place to fly kites.

I really like this place, which is a site preserved by the folks at D&R Greenway. There is plenty…read moreof parking on either side of the preserve. The paths are relatively smooth on the trails that edge the fields, but I'd recommend poles for folks with balance issues. The park itself is over 400 acres in size, so while it's great for walking, if you're looking for long, challenging trails and altitude gains, you'll need to look elsewhere. The preserve is a great location for bird watching, and you can often see folks with binoculars on the paths. It's peaceful with no freeways nearby, while at the same time adjacent to Hopewell if you need to get some food or drink after your walk. Watch your step for roots on paths in wooded areas on the Southern portion of the preserve on the blue and yellow trails. This is especially important during Fall, as the path is mostly obscured by the leaf litter, and barely be seen in some stretches. Also, parts of those two trails have fallen tree obstacles, so if you can't clamber over or crouch low to pass through, you may want to stick to the main trail along the fields.