Get Outside!
Discover the rivers, lakes and ponds in Bergen County
With staycations still the rage, this summer is the perfect time to explore places to fish, canoe, take a dip or spy a whole range of species—all without leaving the county. It’ll do your mind and body good too: Being outdoors in sunlight, even for just 10 minutes, helps your body produce vitamin D, a nutrient that aids bone health and enhances immunity. It also lowers your level of stress hormones, so you feel calmer and more in control. Plus, a University of Essex study found that just five minutes of fresh air gives your self-esteem a boost. So get out there and enjoy the sunshine!
RIVERS
Take in the Hudson from the Ross Dock Picnic Area.
Henry Hudson Dr. in Fort Lee
Located in the Fort Lee area of the Palisades Interstate Park, this riverside escape offers access to Hazard Beach and a breathtaking view of the George Washington Bridge. There are water sports too: For a one-time fee ($10) or season pass ($100), you can launch your canoe or kayak from the Hazards ramp into the Hudson and even get your jet-ski groove on. Rather stay on shore? Fish or crab (no license needed), and feel free to feast on your catch of the day, says Nicholas Vos-Wein, sales associate at Ramsey Outdoor in Paramus: “You can catch some pretty big game fish in the Hudson—striped bass, bluefish, weakfish.” The park has picnic areas, grills and a snack shack on site.
Keep an eye out for: hawks, falcons, osprey and turkey vultures
Hiker bonus! Access the Palisades Interstate Park’s trail system if you like— did you know there are two south-to-north trails (one on top of the cliff, the other near the bottom) that wind the length of the park’s 13 miles? For more information, visit njpalisades.org or call 201.768.1360.
Commune with nature at the Hackensack River County Park.
Park behind the Riverside Square Mall on Route 4
To reach this 30-acre sanctuary, find a spot on the lowest level of the mall’s parking deck near the river and set off down one of the boardwalk trails. The deeper you go, the farther you’ll be from commerce and the closer to herons, mockingbirds, cardinals, bald eagles and snapping turtles. Watch for monarch, painted lady and tiger swallowtail butterflies. Cast a fishing line from a dock for catch-and-release fun: Carp, whitefish, striped bass and blueback herring abound.
Do what you love at Saddle River County Park.
Dunkerhook area: Dunkerhook Rd. in Paramus.
Fair Lawn area: Saddle River Rd. in Fair Lawn.
Glen Rock area: Alan Ave. in Glen Rock.
Otto C. Pehle area: 1417 Saddle River Road in Saddle Brook.
Rochelle Park area: 40 Railroad Ave. in Rochelle Park.
Wild Duck Pond area: 1133 E. Ridgewood Ave. in Ridgewood
Spanning six miles, from Rochelle Park to Ridgewood, and connecting five parks, a paved path meanders along Saddle River and its brooks. And along the way, you can have many kinds of fun: Bike, jog or stroll. Play tennis, basketball or soccer. Fly model planes and gliders. Circle one of three ponds, including Saddle Brook’s Otto Pehle Pond (fish for largemouth bass and carp, or get a permit to sail your model boat here) and Ridgewood’s Wild Duck Pond. Toss a football on one of the park’s fields of green. Pack a picnic lunch and dig in at a shady table. And don’t forget to check out the water fall in Paramus’s Dunkerhook Park.
Must-see: Easton Tower, located along the path near Route 4. Built in 1899, it belonged to the sprawling estate of businessman Edward D. Easton and was part of the water system that kept his vast garden green.
Explore the Passaic River at Riverside County Park.
779 Riverside Ave. in Lyndhurst
You can learn how to row through the Passaic River Rowing Association (prra. org), which maintains a boathouse here near the park entrance and operates rowing programs for beginners and advanced competitors. If you have the strength and the skills, you can row as far south as Newark to as far north as Garfield—a stretch of about 12 miles! Head to the Joseph A. Carucci Jr. Area of this park, which is on Riverside Avenue in Lyndhurst, for a park space with a friendly neighborhood feel. Play bocce beside the river, sit at a picnic table under a shade tree or let your four-footed friend enjoy the dog run. You’ll need a permit to use the softball and baseball fields.
Have a Ramapo River adventure.
156 Ramapo Valley Rd. in Ramapo
Access the river behind the New York/ New Jersey Trail Conference offices for an 11-mile canoeing, kayaking or rafting trip that takes you past striking natural scenery, through suburban backyards, under the historic 1888 Cleveland Bridge and through some class I rapids (small areas of rough water). For more information, call the conference at 201.512.9348 or visit online at nynjtc.org.
Go to the next page for lakes, ponds, reservoirs and brooks.
LAKES, PONDS and RESERVOIRS
Do it all at Darlington County Park.
600 Darlington Ave. in Mahwah
Darlington’s three lakes are edged with white sand; two are for swimming (one’s super shallow, so it’s great for the very little ones), and a third is for fishing (you’ll need a permit, and catchand- release rules apply). Bring your own grill and have an alfresco feast in the wooded picnic area. Spread out on the open lawns, or let your kids have a blast on the new state-of-the-art playground. You’ll also find tennis and handball courts. And fishermen-in-training will love it: “It has a lot of shore access,” says Cliffside Park resident and year-round fishing fanatic Brandon Gregurovic. “With not many trees blocking the water, you can really walk around freely.” The lake is stocked with largemouth bass, blue gill, perch and more. For more information, call 201.327.3500.
Great amenities! Changing rooms, restaurants and bathrooms on premises.
Catch a big one at Overpeck Lake in Overpeck County Park.
Ridgefield Park area: 199 Challenger Rd. in Ridgefield Park.
Henry Hoebel area: Fort Lee Rd. in Leonia
This is Bergen’s hidden gem, says fisherman Gregurovic. Overpeck Lake features “some of the bigger fish in Bergen County— and the bigger the fish, the more fun the fight,” he explains. It’s a popular spot for remote-controlled boats too (by permit only). And that’s not all: The new Ridgefield Park area has a boat-launching ramp for a small power boat, kayak or canoe. Concession stands plus soccer, baseball, Little League and football fields, track and field areas, an eight-lane running track, tennis courts, horseback riding and a dog park make it a surefire destination for family fun. And the fields are state-of-the- art, featuring night lighting, electronic scoreboards, public address systems and press boxes. For more information about using the facilities, call 201.944.3249.
Hit the heights at Ramapo Mountain Reservation’s MacMill an Reservoir.
584 Ramapo Valley Rd. in Mahwah
Combine a hike with fishing by climbing the reservation’s silver trail past Scarlet Oak Pond near the base of the hill to the scenic reservoir on top. The milelong uphill hike takes about 20 minutes, depending on your stamina, and while somewhat steep, the trail is easy to navigate. You can sunbathe on the rocks or cast your line for bass and other catch-and-release fish. (Permit required.) Swimming isn’t allowed, but you may spot some scofflaws! There are campsites around Scarlet Oak Pond for camping (by permit) from April through November. For more information, call 201.825.1388.
Note: There are no facilities once you hit the trails, so be sure to take provisions.
Take your pick of ponds at Closter Nature Center.
45 Ruckman Rd. in Closter
This sanctuary in the middle of civilization boasts 136 acres of pond-studded forests and meadows. Walk its trails to spot everything from wading herons and great egrets to wood ducks, from white-tailed deer to water snakes. Catch-and-release fishing is permitted (no license required, but barbless hooks must be used). The center also offers lectures, nature walks and classes for kids from pre-K through sixth grade. To learn more, call 201.750.2778 or visit closternaturecenter.com.
Must see! The shallow shaded pond near the cabin—its plant-dotted waters attract frogs, turtles and dragonflies.
BROOKS
Hear the babbling at Flat Rock Brook Nature Center.
443 Van Nostrand Ave. in Englewood
The center’s 3.6 miles of gentle trails provide a glimpse of one of the last remnants of the Palisades Forest. As you walk along the brook, take in wildflower meadows, quarry cliffs and woodland; look for bullfrogs and sunbathing turtles around Quarry and MacFadden ponds; and enjoy lunch or snacks at the picnic areas. Flat Rock Brook trails and picnic area are open free to the public every day from dawn to dusk. The center also has many programs and classes on topics such as gardening, bird-watching and crafting with things found in nature. For more information, call 201.567.1265 or visit flatrockbrook.org.
Bonus! Check out the butterfly, herb and children’s gardens.
Paddle away at Pascack Brook County Park.
150 Emerson Rd. in Westwood
You and a pal can carry your canoe or kayak right to the water at this 76- acre park. And don’t forget your fishing gear—the brook is teeming with fish! Cast your line for rainbow, brook and brown trout; bluegill sunfish, yellow perch, large- and smallmouth bass, carp and more. If you prefer, sail your model boat. (New Jersey license required for fishing; permit for sailing models.) Landlubbers can stroll or cycle the 6-mile-plus path through the streamside habitat for a look at the flora and fauna that make this ecosystem unique.
Things to spot: Eastern screech owls, red-bellied woodpeckers, great blue herons, green herons and great egrets; garter snakes and snapping turtles.
Related Article: Your Outdoor Survival Guide
