Yellow Warbler -Photo by Myke Malzone
Note: For directions to NJMC/BCAS partnership Field Trip locations – see bottom of page.
Barnegat Light State Park Barnegat Light, NJ
Garden State Parkway South to Exit 63
(Can also take NJ Turnpike South to Exit 11, then switch to the Garden State Parkway South)
RT 72 East to Long Beach Island ( about 7.5 miles)
Left onto S. Long Beach Blvd
Go approx. 8.5 miles
Left onto Broadway
Entrance to the State Park will come up on the Right near the end of Broadway
Bashakill WMA Wurtsboro, NY
Either RT 17 North or Garden State Parkway North to
I-87 North (New York State Thruway) to Exit 16 – Harriman
Merge onto RT 17 West (future I- 86)
Exit 113 – Wurtsboro/Ellenville
At end of ramp, Left onto Rt 209
Go approx. 2 miles, then Left onto Haven Rd
Go to almost the end of Haven Rd. and make left into parking area, prior to Stop sign.
Brigantine NWR Oceanville, NJ
Garden State Parkway south to Exit 48 – Port Republic/Smithville
(Can also take NJ Turnpike South to Exit 11, then switch to the Garden State Parkway South)
Route 9 South (for about 6 miles) to traffic light for Great Creek Rd.
Left onto Great Creek Road
Continue to end and entrance of refuge.
Celery Farm, The Allendale, NJ
RT 17 (North or South) to
Allendale Ave West exit (toward Allendale)
At first traffic light (1 mile), RIGHT onto Franklin Turnpike
Up Franklin Turnpike to 3rd side street on your RIGHT (Greenway Terrace)
Note: Greenway will come up quickly after the 2nd side street (Fox Run).
Right onto Greenway Terrace and go to the end for meet up location.
Doodletown – Bear Mountain State Park, NY
RT 17 North or Garden State Parkway North to I-87/287, New York Thruway.
Go east/south on I-87 to Exit 13N (Palisades Interstate Parkway North).
Take the Palisades Interstate Parkway to the Bear Mountain Bridge Circle.
At this circle, make the first right onto 9W South.
Go to the traffic light and Bear right
Go up the hill – past the Inn – to the parking lot. (Carousel & Ice Skating Rink).
Garret Mountain Reservation, Woodland Park (West Paterson), NJ
I- 80 West to Exit 56B – Squirrelwood Rd.
At bottom of exit ramp, Left onto Squirrelwood Rd.
Follow Squirrelwood to a “small triangle” with a “military tank” & reservoir to your left.
At “tank”, bear Left onto Mountain Ave.
Right from Mountain Ave into Garret Mountain Reservation.
First parking lot on your left is the “Three-tiered” lot.
George Washington School, Ridgewood, N J
From Route 17, follow Ridgewood Ave west toward Ridgewood (Approx. 2 miles), then turn right onto Maple Ave for 1/8 mile and then left onto Franklin Ave, follow Franklin under Railroad into Garber Square, then take Godwin Ave for 1/2 mile to Monroe Street. G. W. School on right.
Glenhurst Meadows, Warren Township, NJ
Garden State Parkway south to Exit 142 ( Interstate 78 West).
Reminder: Once on I-78, stay (bear) left to remain on I-78 West at a split down the road.
I-78 West to Exit 36.
At exit make a left (south) onto King George Road.
At third traffic light – Approx. ½ mile – left on Mountain Ave.
Follow Mountain Ave to silo on left (the road dips just past the silo).
At the bottom of the dip, make a left – there are no signs.
Follow road to parking area.
Halifax RoadMahwah, NJ
RT 17 North to exit for RT 202/ Ramapo College
Left at end of exit ramp onto RT 202 South/ Ramapo Valley Rd.
Go to 2nd traffic light
RIGHT into Continental Soldiers Park
Meet at the back of the parking lot
Hatfield Swamp, West Caldwell
Meet at Shop and Stop, near the junction of Bloomfield Ave and Passaic Ave, West Caldwell.
To reach meeting place, From Route 80 West, take exit 52, toward “Lincoln Park/The Caldwells”. On the exit ramp, bear right onto Lane Ave, and again bear right onto Two Bridges Road, which quickly becomes Passaic Ave. Proceed about 3 miles on Passaic Ave and turn right onto Bloomfield Ave. Go 0.2 miles to the meeting place at the southeast corner of the parking lot.
Liberty State Park, Jersey City, NJ
NJ Turnpike towards Exit 14A-14B-14C / Holland Tunnel
Take Exit 14B / Liberty State Park
After going through toll plaza, continue straight along Morris Pesin Dr.
Go to last parking lot on your right.
Lincoln Park Gravel Pits, Lincoln Park, NJ
RT 80 West to Exit 53 for RT 23 North/Butler
Merge onto RT 23 North/Butler
About 3.5 miles, slight RIGHT onto RT 23 North/US 202 North
Kohl’s parking lot will come up on RIGHT (less then ½ mile).
Meet in the parking lot. Carpool from there to the Gravel Pits.
Manasquan Inlet End of Broadway in Point Pleasant, NJ
Garden State Parkway South to Exit 98 – Point Pleasant
(Can also take NJ Turnpike South to Exit 11, then switch to the Garden State Parkway South)
Keep left at the fork in the exit ramp
Merge onto RT 34 South toward Point Pleasant
About 4 miles, RT 34 South become RT 35 South
Go about 1.9 miles on RT 35 South
Stay in left lane crossing the bridge
Bear Left onto Hawthorne Ave for RT 35 North
Then quickly bear Right onto Broadway (CR-635)
Follow Broadway down to its end (at least ½ mile) to meeting place.
Mehrhof Pond, Little Ferry, NJ
Bergen County Utilities Authority (FRONT GATE)
Foot of Mehrhof Road
Little Ferry, NJ 07643
From River Street in Hackensack - Go south on River Street to the Little Ferry Circle. Go one-half way around circle and follow signs for Bergen Turnpike. Stay on Bergen Turnpike to stop sign and blinking light. Road splits 3 ways. Take the center road (Washington Avenue) and follow to Mehrhof Rd. Make a left onto Mehrhof Road and continue to end. Once you enter the BCUA facility the security guard will assist you.
From Route 46 East – Pass Teterboro Airport. Take the first fork in the road on the right, which is Main Street. Continue to traffic light. Make a right at the light onto Liberty Street. Continue on Liberty Street approximately four blocks to Washington Ave. Make a left onto Washington Ave. and continue to Mehrhof Road. Make a right onto Mehrhof Road and continue to end. Once you enter the BCUA facility the security guard will assist you.
MT. Peter Hawk Watch, Bellvale, NY
Either Garden State Parkway North OR NJ RT 17 North to N.Y. Thruway (I-87/287)
Exit 15A – NY Route 17
LEFT at end of ramp onto NY-17 North
RT 17 North through Tuxedo, NY to RT 17A
LEFT at end of entrance ramp onto RT 17A.
Follow RT 17A up the mountain and into Greenwood Lake.
Keep RIGHT when you reach the lake and follow 17A up the mountain.
About 1.25 miles you will see a sign for Bellevale Creamery. (sign on your RIGHT)
Start looking for a RIGHT turn onto Kain Road (about ¼ mile after sign)
Then turn RIGHT again within 20yards, up the pot-holed dirt road to the lot to park.
The lookout is a short climb up the stairs from the lot.
New Jersey Botanical Gardens, Ringwood, NJ
From I-287 North or South
Exit 57 – Skyline Drive
Take Skyline Drive up the mountain and back down, about 4.8 miles.
First stop sign (Erskine Road) go straight.
RIGHT at second stop sign on to CR-511/ Greenwood Lake Turnpike.
Go about 1.5 miles and take the second RIGHT onto Sloatsburg Road.
Go about 2 miles (past Carletondale Rd. and Margaret King Drive).
RIGHT onto Morris Road.
Skylands is 1.5 miles up Morris Rd. at the top of the hill.
OR
From N.Y. Thruway (I-87/287) & Route 17
Either Garden State Parkway North OR NJ RT 17 North to N.Y. Thruway (I-87/287)
Exit 15A – NY Route 17
LEFT at end of ramp onto NY-17 North
RIGHT onto Rockland CR-72 West – Ringwood, Sterling Forest, West Milford.
(CR-72 becomes Sloatsburg Rd. in New Jersey.)
CR-72/ Sloatsburg Rd. past Ringwood Manor.
Next LEFT onto Morris Rd.
Skylands is 1.5 miles up Morris Rd. at the top of the hill.
Overpeck County Park, Ridgefield Park, NJ
From intersection of Route 4 and Teaneck Road, follow Teaneck Road south for approx. three miles through Teaneck and into Ridgefield Park. Shortly after passing Emerson St. (on left, at traffic light) proceed 800 ft and turn left onto Winant Ave (also observe directional sign for Overpeck Park). When on Winant Ave., be sure to observe directional signs to Overpeck Park. Winant Ave becomes Emerson St., then make left onto Challenger Road. Follow Challenger Road into the park. After entering Overpeck Park, park at first parking lot (on the right).
Overpeck Preserve, Leonia, NJ
Teaneck Rd. to DeGraw Ave.
Turn left onto DeGraw Ave. toward Leonia
Right into Overpeck Park – Stable area
Follow dirt road, past the stables to the trailer at the end
OR
Grand Ave. to Fort Lee Rd.
Turn onto Fort Lee Rd.
Left into Overpeck Park – Stable area
Follow dirt road, past the stables to the trailer at the end
Sandy Hook, Highlands, NJ
Garden State Parkway South to Exit 117- Keyport/Hazlet
(Can also take NJ Turnpike South to Exit 11, then switch to the Garden State Parkway South). Bear Left onto RT 36 East
Right exit from RT 36 East for Sandy Hook (after crossing bridge over Navesink River)
Continue thru park to Visitors Center parking lot (right/ocean side)
Teaneck Creek Conservancy Teaneck, NJ
From RT 4:
Teaneck Rd. South one mile to Puffin Way/E. Oakdene Ave. Turn left onto Puffin Way. (Puffin Way is located on left, one block prior to Fort Lee Rd.) .
OR
From the NJ Turnpike/ I- 95 North
Exit 70 B, Teaneck onto Fort Lee Rd.
At 2nd traffic light, right turn onto Teaneck Rd. Travel on Teaneck Road for one block and make right turn into Puffin Way.
Van Buskirk Island Oradell, NJ
From corner of Kinderkamack Road and Oradell Ave
Go east on Oradell Ave across Rail Road Tracks
At the third street past the tracks, turn right onto Elm St.
Follow Elm St. to Elm St. Bridge (meeting location)
Wallkill NWR Sussex, NJ
From RT 80 West:
Exit 53 onto RT-23 N toward BUTLER
RT- 23 North for 33.1 miles to
County Route 565 North (Glenwood Rd, Sussex).
Right onto CR 565 N. (local landmark: Sussex Queen Diner prior to light for CR 565)
Refuge headquarters is 1.5 miles on left.
OR
From Rt 17 North or Rt 208 North:
To RT 287 South
Exit 52B for RT 23 North
RT- 23 North for 25.6 miles to
County Route 565 North (Glenwood Rd, Sussex, NJ).
Right onto CR 565 N. (local landmark: Sussex Queen Diner prior to light for CR 565)
Refuge headquarters is 1.5 miles on left.
Weequahic Park (travel time is about 30 min from south Bergen County)
The park is located in the eastern section of Essex County within the City of Newark.
Take I-95 South from Bergen County
Exit 14 onto I-78W (towards US-1/US-9/US-22/Newark Airport)
Bear left onto I-78 Express Westbound, and go 1.9 miles
Exit onto W Runyon Street and proceed 0.8 mile
Turn right onto Elizabeth Avenue and proceed 0.5 mile
Turn left onto Meeker Ave and proceed 0.2 miles
Turn right onto Weequahic Park Drive (opposite Empire Blvd), and bear left around the lake
Follow the Park Drive until you reach a large parking lot on the left, near an open athletic field. We meet there to begin our walk. This is half way along the lake, well short of the golf course.
(If using a GPS device, follow directions to Weequahic Golf Course, which is a few hundred feet farther along the same Weequahic Park Drive). Caution, there is another entrance to Weequahic Park (from the NW side) that does not connect to this parking lot.
NJMC/BCAS Partnership Field Trip locations with directions.
See the Meadowlands Blog, http://meadowblog.typepad.com/, for directions to the following:
- DeKorte Park, Lyndhurst
- Harrier Meadow, North Arlington
- Kearny Fresh-water Marsh, Kearny
- Laurel Hill County Park, Secaucus
- Losen Slote Creek Park, Little Ferry
- Mill Creek Marsh, Secaucus
- Mill Creek Point & Secaucus High School Boardwalk, Secaucus
- Schmidt’s Woods, Secaucus
- Ridgefield Nature Center, Ridgefield
- River Barge Park & Marina, Carlstadt
