The Great Outdoors
Boasting a treasure trove of outdoor activities, Morris County’s options for fresh-air adventures include trails, parks, golf courses, lakes and horseback riding. It even has its own Central Park.
Morris County’s Central Park is a 420-acre multi-faceted sports complex filled with an assortment of activities. Its amenities includes two regulation-size in-line hockey rinks, a fully accessible Challenger League ball field, two sand volleyball courts, softball field, four multi-use artificial turf fields with sports lighting, a 5K cross-country course, a 5-acre dog park, an all-access play area, natural amphitheater, a disc golf course, and 11.1 miles of paved and natural trails. Digital park/trail maps are available online.
For those who use hiking to connect with the great outdoors, the Pyramid National Historic Area is a local favorite drawing hikers from around the state. The 1,675-acre park includes rugged trails, fields, forests and wetlands, providing a unique outdoor experience. One of the park’s highlights includes Tripod Rock, a 180-ton boulder, balanced on three smaller boulders deposited by the Wisconsin Glacier more than 18,000 years ago.
Water lovers won’t be disappointed visiting Morris County, which is home to Lake Hopatcong, the largest lake in New Jersey. Visitors can take historic tours on the lake during a lunch or dinner time cruise. It’s also one of the state’s only lakes that boasts lakefront restaurants allowing boaters to dock, grab a bite to eat and then return to the water.
If golf is your game, Morris County is the home of many golf courses, each providing a day of fun and leisure and maybe some friendly competition.
The Frelinghuysen Arboretum – a 127-acre regional center for all types of horticultural activities – is the perfect place to stroll among the meadows, rose gardens and trees. There’s even a “get to know us” stroll available, for those who want to meander the various paths to get a taste of the facility.
Morris County is also home to Willowwood Arboretum, a 131-acre wonderland that showcases more than 3,500 native, exotic and rare plants. The property also boasts a forest filled with wildflowers.
For those desiring a jaunt atop a horse, Seaton Hackney Stables features both an indoor and outdoor barn, stalls for rent and private and group equestrian lessons in one of the two riding rings.
Additional information about the county’s outdoor offerings may be found at www.morrisparks.net.
Outdoor Activities
Bamboo Brook Outdoor Education Center
170 Longview Road, Chester Township
973-326-7600 | www.morrisparks.net
Bridge Marina
89 Brady Road, Lake Hopatcong
973-663-1976 | www.bridgemarina.com
Central Park of Morris County
1 Governor Chris Christie Drive, Parsippany-Troy Hills
973-326-7616 | www.morrisparks.net
Cooper Gristmill
66 Route 24, Chester Township
908-879-5463 | www.morrisparks.net
Cross Estate Gardens
61 Jockey Hollow Road, Bernardsville
201-240-5898 | www.crossestategardens.org
Elizabeth D. Kay Environmental Center
200 Pottersville Road, Chester
973-326-7600 | www.morrisparks.net
Frelinghuysen Arboretum
353 E. Hanover Ave., Morris Township
973-326-7601 | www.morrisparks.net
Garden State Fondo
www.granfondonj.com
Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center
247 Southern Blvd., Chatham
973-635-6629 | www.morrisparks.net
Hedden Park
124 Reservoir Road, Randolph
973-326-7600 | www.morrisparks.net
Historic Speedwell
333 Speedwell Ave., Morristown
973-285-6550 | www.morrisparks.net
Lake Hopatcong Adventure Company
37 Nolans Point Park, Lake Hopatcong
973-663-1944 | www.lhadventureco.com
Lee’s County Park Marina
433 Howard Blvd., Mount Arlington
973-398-5199 | www.morrisparks.net
Lewis Morris County Park
270 Mendham Road, Morris Township
973-326-7600 | www.morrisparks.net
Loantaka Brook Reservation
468 South St., Morristown
973-326-7600 | www.morrisparks.net
Mahlon Dickerson Reservation
955 Weldon Road, Jefferson
973-697-3140 | www.morrisparks.net
Morristown National Historical Park
30 Washington Place, Morristown
973-539-2016, ext. 210 | www.nps.gov/morr/
Mount Hope Historical County Park
75 Teabo Road, Rockaway
973-326-7600 | www.morrisparks.net
New Jersey Audubon Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary
11 Hardscrabble Road, Bernardsville
908-396-6386 | www.njaudubon.org/
Patriots’ Path
270 Mendham Road, Morristown
973-326-7600 | www.morrisparks.net
Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area
472 Boonton Ave., Montville Township
973-334-3130 | www.morrisparks.net
Savor and Stroll Culinary Tours
973-452-2094
www.savorandstrollculinarytours.com
Schiff Nature Preserve
339 Pleasant Valley Road, Mendham
973-543-6004 | www.Schiffnaturepreserve.org
Schooley’s Mountain County Park
91 East Springtown Road,
Washington Township
973-326-7600 | www.morrisparks.net
Seaton Hackney Stables
440 South St. Morris Township
973-644-3355 | www.seatonhackney.com
Silas Condict County Park
100 Kinnelon Road, Kinnelon
973-326-7600 | www.morrisparks.net
Tourne County Park
McCaffrey Lane & Old Boonton Road, Denville
973-326-7600 | www.morrisparks.net
Willowwood Arboretum
300 Longview Road, Far Hills
973-326-7600
www.willowwoodarboretum.org