

It’s worth walking from here to Mary Ellen Kramer Park, a ¼-mile trip along wheelchair-accessible paths and sidewalks. Begin your visit at the parking area and main overlook of Passaic Falls, then walk to the Paterson Museum or Great Falls Cultural Center (where the title track from famed Broadway musical “Hamilton” plays on a loop). Today, Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park comprises shuttered factory buildings, a high suspension bridge, and a set of excellent overlooks of Passaic Falls. In the next century, industry in Paterson took off, and the city came to be known as the “Silk City,” named for its predominant textile, made possible by Hamilton’s hydropower project. Two years later, engineers completed the construction of a “raceway” system that channeled the racing waters above the falls to power a bevy of local factories. The protagonist in this story is none other than Alexander Hamilton, the distinguished founding father and America’s first Treasury Secretary, who founded Paterson in 1792 on the idea of using the water power of the Passaic River to fuel industrial development. Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, inaugurated as a Park Service site in 2011, centers around Passaic Falls, a 77-foot chute that is both naturally beautiful and essential to the city’s origin story.
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Since the 1960s, the city, New Jersey’s third-largest, has suffered from high unemployment and white flight-as well as a series of terrible floods and fires-leaving a sagging economy now held together in large part by a recent influx of immigrants.Įnter the National Park Service, which, while far from reversing Paterson’s economic fortunes, has worked to preserve an important slice of the city’s natural and human history. Once a booming hub for manufacturing-in fact, it was the first planned industrial city in the US-Paterson has never quite rebounded from a cascade of factory closures in the latter half of the 20 th century. The dilapidated storefronts and crumbling edifices of downtown Paterson, New Jersey tell the story of a town battered by the winds of change. In Essex County, South Mountain Reservation is a hiking family’s paradise.Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, October 2016 With fun-filled playgrounds, idyllic picnic areas, paddle boats, mini-golf courses, and easy trails, there is something for everyone to enjoy. In Somerset, kids and parents alike will love the attractions at Colonial Park.

Boardwalks and easy trails guide visitors through 530 acres of beautiful shore scenery with plenty of opportunities for birdwatching and wildlife viewing. Spend an unforgettable day with the family on Cattus Island on the Toms River.

New Jersey is home to some of the best nature trails in the country, and they're suited for hikers of all experience levels. What are the best family-friendly hikes in New Jersey? Home to one of the country's highest-rated mountain bike parks, their 50 miles of trails offer something for everyone, from kids to beginners, all the way up to Armstrong-level advanced. (You don’t have to be an experienced equestrian, they offer riding lessons for newbies, too!) Mountain Creek Resort in Northwestern New Jersey’s Kittatinny Mountains is another thrill-seekers paradise. Or go on an unforgettable nighttime horseback ride at Echo Lake Stables in Newfoundland, where the trails follow ancient Native American paths through the surrounding mountainsides and streams.
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Zip line courses range in difficulty and guide visitors through lush, exciting paths over wobbly bridges and tightropes. Take the family to spend a day playing in the treetops at Tree to Tree in Cape May. What are the best outdoor adventures in New Jersey?īoasting 36 beautiful state parks, 11 pristine state forests, and almost 1,000 lakes and ponds, New Jersey’s outdoor enthusiasts are spoiled with a multitude of thrilling activities. This trail affords hikers 360° views of the surrounding landscape from its Wyanokie High Point. Passaic County is also home to Chikahoki Falls in the Norvin Green State Forest. This scenic hike offers adventurers Jersey Highlands and Butler reservoir views. Along Apshawa Brook, discover the grand cascades of Apshawa Preserve Falls in Passaic County.

Climb the trail stairs to gain various views of these majestic falls. Our recommendations? Head out to Sussex County to marvel at the highest waterfall in the state, Buttermilk Falls. Happily, New Jersey’s nature lovers have no shortage of stunning hikes from which to choose. When taking in The Garden State’s natural beauty, it’s difficult to compete with the experience of a waterfall trail. What are the best waterfall hikes in New Jersey?
