Garret Mountain Reservation
Encyclopedia
Garret Mountain Reservation is 568 acre (2.3 km2) park located in southern Passaic County
, New Jersey
, United States
and one of several National Natural Landmarks in New Jersey. Most of it is located within the Borough of Woodland Park (formerly West Paterson), although it also extends into the cities of Paterson
and Clifton
.
The reservation covers the northernmost part of the First Watchung Mountain
and reaches over 500 feet (152 m) above sea level.
The Passaic County Parks Department operates the park while the Passaic County Sheriff is responsible for law enforcement in the reservation.
It is easily accessible from both Interstate 80
and the Garden State Parkway
(via Route 19
) as well as the local roads.
Garret Mountain Reservation is the county's major recreational area, providing the visitors with grass fields, several miles of walking/running trails, basketball courts, picnic areas, Barbour's Pond is state stocked with fish for anglers, as well as an Equestrian Center with horseback riding lessons. Since the park is an oasis of woodland surrounded by urbanity, Garret Mountain is a migrant trap for migrating song birds, including 35 species of Warblers, numerous Vireos, Orioles, Sparrows and Thrushes. Birdwatchers from the Tri-state areas flock to this hotspot for great views of 150+ species per year along the easily accessible trails.
Lambert Castle
, located on the eastern slope of the mountain, just off Route 19, is a 19th century castle which has been recently renovated and now hosts the Passaic County Museum (open to the public). The Morris Canal
once ran at the site of Lambert Castle.
For the past several decades, the reservation has been the site of hundreds of high school and college cross country
meets in the fall, including the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association
(NJSIAA) High School State Sectional Championships at the end of every October.
Passaic County, New Jersey
Passaic County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 501,226. Its county seat is Paterson...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and one of several National Natural Landmarks in New Jersey. Most of it is located within the Borough of Woodland Park (formerly West Paterson), although it also extends into the cities of Paterson
Paterson, New Jersey
Paterson is a city serving as the county seat of Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 146,199, rendering it New Jersey's third largest city and one of the largest cities in the New York City Metropolitan Area, despite a decrease of 3,023...
and Clifton
Clifton, New Jersey
Clifton is a city in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 84,136. The 2010 population represented an increase of 5,464 residents from its population of 78,672 in the 2000 Census, making it the state's 11th largest...
.
The reservation covers the northernmost part of the First Watchung Mountain
Watchung Mountains
The Watchung Mountains are a group of three long low ridges of volcanic origin, between 400 ft. and 500 ft. high, lying parallel to each other in northern New Jersey in the United States...
and reaches over 500 feet (152 m) above sea level.
The Passaic County Parks Department operates the park while the Passaic County Sheriff is responsible for law enforcement in the reservation.
It is easily accessible from both Interstate 80
Interstate 80
Interstate 80 is the second-longest Interstate Highway in the United States, following Interstate 90. It is a transcontinental artery running from downtown San Francisco, California to Teaneck, New Jersey in the New York City Metropolitan Area...
and the Garden State Parkway
Garden State Parkway
The Garden State Parkway is a 172.4-mile limited-access toll parkway that stretches the length of New Jersey from the New York line at Montvale, New Jersey, to Cape May at New Jersey's southernmost tip. Its name refers to New Jersey's nickname, the "Garden State." Most New Jersey residents refer...
(via Route 19
Route 19 (New Jersey)
Route 19 is a state highway in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. Also referred to as the Paterson Peripheral, it runs from an intersection with County Route 509 and County Route 609 in Clifton north to another intersection with County Route 509 in downtown Paterson. Berween U.S...
) as well as the local roads.
Garret Mountain Reservation is the county's major recreational area, providing the visitors with grass fields, several miles of walking/running trails, basketball courts, picnic areas, Barbour's Pond is state stocked with fish for anglers, as well as an Equestrian Center with horseback riding lessons. Since the park is an oasis of woodland surrounded by urbanity, Garret Mountain is a migrant trap for migrating song birds, including 35 species of Warblers, numerous Vireos, Orioles, Sparrows and Thrushes. Birdwatchers from the Tri-state areas flock to this hotspot for great views of 150+ species per year along the easily accessible trails.
Lambert Castle
Belle Vista (Paterson, New Jersey)
Lambert Castle, originally called Belle Vista, is located within the Garret Mountain Reservation in Paterson, New Jersey. The building was built in 1892 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 3, 1976.-History:...
, located on the eastern slope of the mountain, just off Route 19, is a 19th century castle which has been recently renovated and now hosts the Passaic County Museum (open to the public). The Morris Canal
Morris Canal
The Morris Canal was an anthracite-carrying canal that incorporated a series of water-driven inclined planes in its course across northern New Jersey in the United States. It was in use for about a century — from the late 1820s to the 1920s....
once ran at the site of Lambert Castle.
For the past several decades, the reservation has been the site of hundreds of high school and college cross country
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
meets in the fall, including the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association
New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association
The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association is an association of hundreds of New Jersey high schools that regulates high school athletics and holds tournaments and crowns champions in high school sports.-State championships:...
(NJSIAA) High School State Sectional Championships at the end of every October.