New Jersey State Parks, Forests & Historic Sites

New Jersey State Parks, Forests & Historic Sites The official page for New Jersey State Parks. No matter what your interest is, there is something for everyone!
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The New Jersey State Park Service administers over 438,000 acres of land comprising parks, forests, historic sites and other recreation areas. We strive to provide our visitors with a variety of recreational opportunities including hiking, biking, camping, swimming, boating and picnicking. Our historic sites offer the visitor the opportunity to journey back through time to experience life of a foregone era. We invite you to take advantage of all our recreational, natural and historical resources and Open your Doorway to Adventure!

09/14/2026

Where does the water go? The Newark segment of New Jersey’s newest state park is being built with stormwater management in mind, including the use of pervious concrete and pavement throughout the park.  

So, what makes the use of pervious pavement different? Traditional pavement causes rainwater to pool on the surface or run off into the surrounding area. Pervious pavement works like a sponge, letting rainwater pass through and soak into the ground below instead of running off. 

Watch as five gallons of water disappears through a section of pervious concrete at the future Tiffany Manor Community Space.  

Pervious pavement is just one piece of the park’s larger stormwater strategy. Learn more here: youtube.com/watch?v=uC2kFKWWI58

🔗 Learn more about New Jersey’s newest state park: dep.nj.gov/greenway/

Visit Fort Mott State Park Sept. 26 and 27 for the annual Historic Soldiers Weekend. More than 100 reenactors will be en...
09/14/2026

Visit Fort Mott State Park Sept. 26 and 27 for the annual Historic Soldiers Weekend. More than 100 reenactors will be encamped along Fort Mott’s Willow and Battery Lane, representing military personnel throughout time and across the globe, ranging from Ancient Greece to the Cold War.

Activities include weapon demonstrations by the river, a World War II United Service Organizations (USO) show on the porch of the Guard House, guest speakers and more. If you have never been inside Fort Mott’s buildings before, be sure not to miss the chance to climb to the top of the observation tower, walk through Post Headquarters or see the displays in the museum.

🗓️Saturday, Sept. 19 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
🗓️Sunday, Sept. 20 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This family-friendly, living history event at Fort Mott State Park is free. Come prepared for the weather and lots of walking. The event is rain or shine, but the schedule of events may be adjusted if there is inclement weather.

🔗Learn more about Historic Soldiers Weekend: https://www.facebook.com/share/1DSbYVhpHd/

The New Jersey State Park Police will never forget Sept. 11, 2001. On Sept. 10, 2026, 25-years after the attacks, the Ne...
09/11/2026

The New Jersey State Park Police will never forget Sept. 11, 2001. On Sept. 10, 2026, 25-years after the attacks, the New Jersey State Park Police retired Badge No. 911 during a commemoration at the Empty Sky Memorial at Liberty State Park alongside Governor Mikie Sherrill.

Badge No. 911 will never be issued to an officer. Instead, it will be displayed at Liberty State Park as a permanent symbol of remembrance and a reminder of the role the park and its staff played on Sept. 11, 2001.

As the evacuation of Lower Manhattan by boat began following the attacks, thousands arrived at Liberty State Park seeking refuge. State Park Rangers, the predecessors of today’s State Park Police, along with maintenance workers, superintendents, naturalists, historians and seasonal employees, stepped forward to help. They assisted evacuees as they came off boats, helped wash the ash from their bodies, and provided comfort and support for those beginning to process what they had experienced.

In the weeks and months that followed, the historic Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal in the park served as a family assistance center for people seeking information and support while searching for loved ones.

Badge No. 911 now stands at Liberty State Park so this history is never forgotten.

Liberty State Park is the host site of the Empty Sky Memorial, the official State of New Jersey memorial honoring the 750 people who lived in or had ties to New Jersey and lost their lives at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, on Sept. 11, 2001. Learn more about the Empty Sky Memorial: https://dep.nj.gov/parksandforests/get-outside/empty-sky-memorial/

While lakefront swim areas at New Jersey State Parks, Forests and Historic Sites closed for the season on Labor Day, lif...
09/11/2026

While lakefront swim areas at New Jersey State Parks, Forests and Historic Sites closed for the season on Labor Day, lifeguarded swimming continues at Island Beach State Park on Saturdays and Sundays through September, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:
⚠️Check the operating status Island beach State Park before visiting to see whether it has reached capacity: https://dep.nj.gov/parksandforests/get-outside/parkstatus/
🏊🏻‍♂️Swimming is only permitted when lifeguards are on duty.
🦺Any lifejackets used in state park swimming areas must be US Coast Guard approved.
🏊🏻‍♂️If you are interested in becoming a New Jersey State Parks lifeguard, visit: nj.gov/dep/workinparks

Looking for some plans this weekend? New Jersey State Parks, Forests & Historic Sites have a variety of programs for you...
09/11/2026

Looking for some plans this weekend? New Jersey State Parks, Forests & Historic Sites have a variety of programs for you to enjoy! 👇🏻

Plan Your New Pollinator Garden - Forest Resource Education Center
⏰When: Saturday, Sept. 12 at 11 a.m.
✍Learn more: https://www.facebook.com/share/1GYtghFRJ4/

Signal at the Shore – Twin Lights Historic Site
⏰When: Saturday, Sept. 12 from 10 a.m.- 1 p.m.
✍Learn more: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Br5Ft6MW3/

Pop-Up Seining – Leonardo State Marina
⏰When: Saturday, Sept. 12 from 2 pm. - 3 p.m.
✍Learn more: https://www.facebook.com/share/19SqeJjcyN/

Kayak Eco- Tour - Cheesequake State Park
⏰When: Saturday, Sept. 12 from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
✍Learn more: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Dvurrad1N/

Lake Macia Nature and History Walk - High Point State Park and New Jersey Veterans' Memorial
⏰When: Saturday, Sept. 12 from 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
✍Learn more: https://www.facebook.com/share/1FGK6rWy6L/

Pollinator Festival – Washington Crossing State Park
⏰When: Saturday, Sept. 12 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
✍Learn more: https://www.facebook.com/share/181FiNQeMQ/

Naturalist Bootcamp: Parasites of the Pines - Brendan T Byrne State Forest
⏰When: Saturday, Sept. 12 from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
✍Learn more: https://www.facebook.com/share/1FVey86nVe/

History of Parvin Hike - Parvin State Park
⏰When: Saturday, Sept. 12 at 2 p.m.
✍Learn more: https://www.facebook.com/share/19UQrEE6jy/

Cryptid Crafting: Stuffed Animal Taxidermy - Whitesbog Preservation Trust
⏰When: Saturday, Sept. 12 at 1 p.m.
✍Learn more: https://www.facebook.com/share/14qE8GMCZvo/

Tai Chi by the Delaware – Washington Crossing Park Association, Inc.
⏰When: Saturday, Sept. 12 from 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
✍Learn more: https://www.facebook.com/share/19TuqZrZQ3/

Falling for Birds: A Migratory Experience – Washington Crossing State Park
⏰When: Sunday, Sept. 13 from 8 a.m.
✍Learn more: https://www.facebook.com/share/19XpvpLQ61/

D&R Canal Pop Up Hike - Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park
⏰When: Sunday, Sept. 13 from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
✍Learn more: https://www.facebook.com/share/14wrbwvP1j5/

Beach Cleanup - Leonardo State Marina
⏰When: Sunday, Sept. 13 from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
✍Learn more: https://www.facebook.com/share/14xNmbzNcxz/

Sunday Serenity Stroll – Double Trouble State Park
⏰When: Sunday, Sept. 13 from 8 a.m. - 10 a.m.
✍Learn more: https://www.facebook.com/share/1DeVvAFV38/

Poe-Tree in the Park: Harvest of Words - Double Trouble State Park
⏰When: Sunday, Sept. 13 from 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
✍Learn more: https://www.facebook.com/share/1DPRnhKDwh/

Nature Journaling: Garden Studies - Washington Crossing State Park
⏰When: Sunday, Sept. 13 at 11 a.m.
✍Learn more: https://www.facebook.com/share/18vAP8RfVX/

Craig House Tours – Friends of Monmouth Battlefield
⏰When: Sunday, Sept. 13 from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
✍Learn more: https://www.facebook.com/share/1K1YRhQ9vt/

- Seaside Goldenrod Solidago sempervirens, commonly known as seaside goldenrod, is a wildflower found growing on dunes...
09/10/2026

- Seaside Goldenrod
Solidago sempervirens, commonly known as seaside goldenrod, is a wildflower found growing on dunes along coasts and beaches in New Jersey. It is a very hardy plant, capable of tolerating saltwater and sandy soil, which allows it to flourish in shore habitats.

Seaside goldenrod plants are made up of wide, green base leaves and long stalks which can reach heights between two and six feet. Its flowers, bright yellow petals which grow in narrow clumps on the branches, bloom between late summer and early fall.

The timing of the seaside goldenrod’s flower bloom coincides with the migration of monarch butterflies (stay tuned). The generation of monarchs born in late summer will eventually undertake a journey to Mexico to spend the winter season there. Blooming goldenrod is a readily available food sources for the monarch butterflies, providing nectar to sustain them during their long migration.

Goldenrod is a useful plant species to other pollinators, such as other species of butterflies and honeybees, which feed on the nectar in its flowers, and to shorebirds as a nesting habitat. It also helps prevent beach erosion.

Seaside and other species in the goldenrod family are often unfairly blamed as the cause of seasonal allergies. A similar looking species which blooms around the same time as goldenrod, an invasive plant called ragweed, is the true culprit. Large amounts of ragweed pollen can be scattered by the wind, causing the reaction many allergy sufferers have.

Photos courtesy of US Fish and Wildlife Services Digital Library.

Don’t get crabby about summer coming to an end! 🦀 There are still plenty of signs of summer along the coast at Corson’s ...
09/09/2026

Don’t get crabby about summer coming to an end! 🦀

There are still plenty of signs of summer along the coast at Corson’s Inlet State Park in Cape May County. Take a walk along the beach, go fishing, watch the waves roll in and keep an eye out for some of the wildlife that calls the area home. You might just spot fiddler crabs, ghost crabs, shorebirds, ospreys and even dolphins swimming offshore. 🌊

🔗 Learn more about Corson’s Inlet State Park: https://dep.nj.gov/parksandforests/state-park/corsons-inlet-state-park/

Honor the lives of those who were lost in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, by joining the New Jersey Department ...
09/09/2026

Honor the lives of those who were lost in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, by joining the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for a commemoration at the Empty Sky Memorial in Liberty State Park on Thursday, Sept. 10. The Empty Sky Memorial is New Jersey's official 9/11 memorial.

📍 Location: Empty Sky Memorial – Liberty State Park
🗽 Address: 1 Audrey Zapp Drive, Jersey City
📆 Date: Thursday, Sept. 10
⏰ Time: 3 p.m.

Remarks honoring those lost will be delivered by Environmental Protection Commissioner Ed Potosnak, State Senator Raj Mukherji, Jersey City Mayor James Solomon, Jillian Crane of the First Responders Children's Foundation, Jim Shubert of the Gary Sinise Foundation, Kevin Beyrouty of the New Jersey Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association, and Faith Miller of the former New Jersey 9/11 Memorial Foundation, among other guests. The ceremony will be emceed by 1010 WINS reporter Glenn Schuck.

The ceremony also will include musical performances by the Ramsey High School Band, a presentation of colors by the Newark Honor Guard, and the retirement of New Jersey State Park Police badge No. 911.

Free parking will be available to attendees in Parking Lot 8, also known as the Ferry Parking Lot.

🔗 Event link: https://www.facebook.com/events/924380267402623

Help shape the future of Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park! Join us tomorrow, Tuesday, Sept. 8, from 6 to 8 p.m., for ...
09/07/2026

Help shape the future of Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park! Join us tomorrow, Tuesday, Sept. 8, from 6 to 8 p.m., for the fifth in a series of public engagement sessions to share your ideas on protecting and enhancing the park's historic, natural and recreational resources for future generations.

Upcoming engagement session:
📅 Sept. 8: Lawrence Township Library HQ Branch, 2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrence Township

Can't attend? Submit your comments online at: nj.gov/dep/drcc/master-plan-updates.shtml

The master plan will guide the park’s development and informs the implementation of the Commission’s land-use regulatory program to protect the canal park’s historic, environmental and water supply resources.

Happy Labor Day from New Jersey State Parks, Forests & Historic Sites! Labor Day is a perfect day to join the New Jersey...
09/07/2026

Happy Labor Day from New Jersey State Parks, Forests & Historic Sites! Labor Day is a perfect day to join the New Jersey State Parks Celebrate 250 Challenge. This yearlong initiative encourages New Jerseyans to explore the outdoors, stay active and celebrate the United States’ 250th anniversary throughout 2026.

Since January, nearly 300 participants have joined the challenge logging a combined 10,543.95 miles.

The top five participants by miles traveled in July were:
1️⃣ Richard M. – 411 miles
2️⃣ Rich B. - 106 miles
3️⃣ Lynne W. - 68.06 miles
4️⃣ Stewart W. - 41.87 miles
5️⃣ Karen B. - 40 miles

Visitors of all ages and abilities are invited to join the challenge, build healthy habits and celebrate this milestone year while exploring New Jersey’s 41 state parks, 11 state forests, five recreation areas, and more than 50 historic sites and districts.

Complete one of five challenge options to earn a Certificate of Achievement and the opportunity to be recognized on New Jersey State Parks’ social media platforms.

Participants can choose from the following challenge options:
⭐ 250 Miles in a Year
⭐ 25 Miles in a Year
⭐ 25 Different Trails in a Year
⭐ 2.5 Miles per Week
⭐ 25 Minutes per Week Outdoors

In order to participate, all progress must be recorded through an online form.

🔗 Learn more at: dep.nj.gov/parksandforests/get-outside/celebrate-250-challenge/

Address

Mail Code: 501-04, 501 E State Street, PO Box 420
Trenton, NJ
08608

Telephone

+18008436420

Website

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