7 Bergen Locales That Photogs Love
Whether you’re looking for landscapes, waterfalls or puppies, these Bergen County landmarks are camera ready.
There’s a breed that bends over backward to take the perfect photo for the ’Gram, and then there are others who will fill up a memory card without ever looking at a single shot. Whichever category you fall into, your pics likely capture a moment, remind you what’s important, share art and appreciate beauty.
Bergen serves as the perfect backdrop for professional shutterbugs and casual shooters alike, with a wide range of subjects waiting for their closeups just outside of our doors. On National Camera Day, June 29, bring your DSLR, mirrorless, Polaroid or smartphone to some of our favorite locations below and capture a few Insta-worthy images.
If you’re a history buff, you’ll appreciate the Gothic Revival architecture of The Hermitage mansion and museum in Ho-Ho-Kus. The grounds are filled with more than 250 years of American history, with figures like George Washington, Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr passing through the historic home.
If you love landscapes, follow the yellow blazes of the vista loop at Ramapo Valley County Reservation in Mahwah. There are moderate but short inclines, but lugging camera equipment to the top is worth it when you see the view. For an easier trek, try Fort Lee Historic Park, where the woods give way to unobstructed views of the NYC skyline. And no trip here is complete without a shot of the GWB from the northeast corner of the park.
If you chase waterfalls, a short hike through the aforementioned Ramapo Valley Reservation or Palisades Interstate Park in Englewood Cliffs will lead you to areas of cascading water. Pro tip: Consider going a day or two after a significant rainfall to catch the falls at their fullest.
If you prefer photos of pets, the dog parks at Westvale Park in Westwood and the Ridgewood section of Saddle River County Park are always filled with pooches. Capture the pups pouncing, chasing tennis balls, lapping up water and just wagging their tails any day of the week.
If you like action, the ballfields at Overpeck Park in Ridgefield Park are usually filled with folks playing all sorts of sports, from soccer and baseball to tennis and pickleball. There’s also a good chance to see cyclists, kite flyers, kayakers and even a group that flies radio-controlled airplanes.
When you’re done shooting, remember to tag @bergenmagnj in your Instagram photos!
