Rest and relaxation are key to recovering and enjoying a day outdoors.
Montclair, New Jersey, is a tiny (6.32 square mile) town with a lot to offer for sports and nature enthusiasts of all ages and abilities. You can experience everything from 34-mile-long hiking trails and geologic terrains, to a day at the dog park, or a stroll through a rose garden in this Essex County township. Check the four destinations we recommend below to make an adventure of it.
1. Eagle Rock Reservation
For an all-ages/all-abilities hiking and horseback riding experience, visit this 400+ acre park between West Orange, Montclair, and Verona, New Jersey. Eagle Rock Reservation runs along the ridgeline of the Watchung Mountains and contains a portion of the 40-mile long Lenape Trail through woodlands and bogs, a large green near the main entrance, and a scenic overlook with views of the New York City skyline. The Lenape Trail is the fifth longest in the state of New Jersey, beginning in Newark and ending at the Passaic River in Roseland.
2. Mills Reservation County Park
This 157-acre park located on the First Watchung Mountain in Cedar Grove and Montclair, New Jersey, has several trails for hiking, running, and walking with a scenic overlook of the New York City skyline at Quarry Point. Preserved by the Essex County Park Commission in its natural state, the park’s minimalist design has no buildings and is an excellent area for birders to observe migratory species such as warblers and hawks in all seasons.
3. Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area
One of the largest natural areas near Montclair, the Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area’s 1,540+ acres are abundant with geological rock formations and ecological scenery. The noteworthy Tripod Rock and Bear Rock are two of many glacial deposits left behind over 18,000 years ago by the Wisconsin Glacier that can be viewed while hiking the Loop Trail. The remainder of the park contains ecologically preserved areas. Experience it all: trails, wetlands, forests, fields, boulders, and a view of the New York City Skyline at Pyramid Mountain.
4. Brookdale Park
Bring Fido and the family to explore more than just the trail at this scenic 121-acre park in the northernmost part of Essex County. Brookdale park offers playgrounds, several sports fields (soccer, football, tennis, field hockey, cricket, lacrosse, basketball, base/softball), track facilities, and an archery range for sports enthusiasts. It also has hiking trails, a dog park, lush groves, a rose garden, and extensive lawns for both nature and dog lovers.
Montclair, New Jersey, is a perfect travel destination for experiencing the outdoors with the entire family. The area’s parks and nature preserves offer a wide range of experiences including walking paths, dog parks, and sports facilities to hiking trails with unique scenic views of cityscapes and geologic features.
