 |
Palisades Park, NJ
Henry Hudson Drive ("River Drive") is closed for repairs to retaining walls from its intersection with Dyckman Hill Road (just north of Englewood Boat Basin) north to its intersection with Alpine Approach Road (at the circle just south of Alpine Boat Basin). The closure will be in effect for about two weeks. During this time the roadway is closed to all vehicles, including cycles. We regret any inconvenience these necessary repairs may cause.
Access to the two boat basins remains open, as does Henry Hudson Drive south to the southern park entrance from Englewood Boat Basin.
The Palisades Park, NJ is headquartered just off Exit 2 of the Palisades Interstate Parkway . Built in the 1920s as a private residence, the beautiful stone building houses our Administrative and Police Departments, as well as our Police Court.
Built by the Henry Herbert Oltman family ca. 1928, the former estate known as "Penlyn" was taken over by the Park Commission in 1939. In 1956, our administrative offices were moved here, our former Administration Building having been demolished to make way for the Parkway that connects the George Washgtinon Bridge and the New Jersey section of the park with the New York section.
The "New Deal for the Palisades" video is now available on DVD. Copies are $12. You can purchase at Fort Lee Historic Park, Park Headquarters, the Kearney House, and State Line Lookout. Instructions for purchasing by mail are here: http://www.njpalisades.org/newdeal.htm
For more inforamtion, please call 201-768-1360.
The following park areas are administered by this office.
CLICK HERE FOR DIRECTIONS
Allison Park
Allison Park is a small landscaped, scenic cliff-top park named for William O. Allison (1849-1924), who at one time had an estate at this location. Allison had been born in the "Undercliff" settlements, the son of fishermen and quarry workers. As a child he was made a ward of the Dana family, who owned a large estate on top of the cliffs. He succeeded in business and became one of the largest land owners along the Palisades, and was the principal owner of the Palisades Mountain House, also at this site, until it burned down in 1884.
He built his estate literally atop the ruins of the Mountain House and, ironically, it burned down as well, in 1903. He became the first mayor of Englewood Cliffs, and sold some riverfront property to the Carpenter Brothers for their quarry operation. This may have led, in part, to his becoming in his later years a staunch defender of the Palisades as a natural preserve. In his will, Allison left many acres of his holdings, including those at this site, in the public trust, as parkland.
CLICK HERE FOR DIRECTIONS
Alpine Area (Alpine Boat Basin/Blackledge-Kearney House)
The Alpine area is distinguished by a very scenic riverfront picnic area and marina, plus a beach for car-top boat launches (canoe / kayak). Eexcellent hiking trails and Henry Hudson Drive can be accessed from Alpine. The area also features an open-air stone picnic pavilion built in 1934 by the WPA (available for rental), as well as the Blackledge-Kearney House Museum.
This area was known throughout the 19th Century as "Closter Landing," "Upper Closter Landing," "the Closter Dock," or simply "Under the Closter Mountain." It was part of the settlement of fishing villages known as "Undercliff." Of the dozen or more houses at Closter Landing, only the Kearney house remains.
In the early part of the 20th Century, the Interstate Park operated a bathing beach here, and the stone picnic pavilion used to have lockers on the lower floor. Most bathers came on the Yonkers Ferry, which landed at the south end of the Alpine area. The ferry service was discontinued in 1956 after the completion of the Tappan Zee Bridge.
Listed on the National and State Registries of Historic Places as the “Blackledge-Kearney House" but known more familiarly as the “Kearney House” or “Cornwallis Headquarters”, this humble structure is the oldest building in the New Jersey Section of the Palisades Interstate Park. The southern half of the house, made of native stone and timbers, dates to before 1802. The northern, wood-frame section was added in the 1840s, the large porch in the early 1900s. Through its long life, the house has served as a Hudson River homestead, a tavern, a park police station, a caretaker’s residence, and finally a museum. Today, it helps bring to life two centuries in the story of the Hudson River and those who have depended upon it for their lives and livelihoods.
CLICK HERE FOR DIRECTIONS
Englewood Area (Englewood Boat Basin/Bloomers Beach)
A scenic riverfront picnic area and marina, plus beach for car-top boat launches (canoe/kayak), with access to our trail system and Henry Hudson Drive. A refreshment stand is open during the warm weather season.
This site was part of the "Undercliff" settlements, and the northern part of the Englewood Area is still called "Bloomers Beach," in recognition of the Bloomer family, who lived in the area throughout the 19th Century.
The Dyckman St. Ferry used to land at the southern end of the Area, until it was finally discontinued in the late 1930s due to stiff competition from the George Washington Bridge (opened in 1931). A swimming beach that operated at the Bloomers section was also closed around that time, due indirectly at least to the decline of funding for maintenance and supervision. The old stone bath house dates from 1934.
The ferry landing, in turn, was originally the site of a steamboat landing built by the owners of the Palisades Mountain House in the 1870s. The spectacular Dyckman Hill Road is also a descendent of that venture, though it was greatly improved upon in the early 20th Century.
CLICK HERE FOR DIRECTIONS
Ross Dock
A large scenic riverfront picnic area with access to Hazzard's Boat Ramp, our trail system, and Henry Hudson Drive.
This was the site of the Carpenter Brothers Quarry. The area is built on sunken barges and other landfill from the quarry period. During the early 20th century, Ross Dock was a summer camp for families from New York City.
Hazzard's Boat Ramp, a boat launching ramp for registered, trailered boats under 24', and for jet skis.
CLICK HERE FOR DIRECTIONS
State Line Lookout (Lookout Inn)
Situated on the highest point on the Palisades cliffs (el. 532 ft.), State Line commands unparalleled views of the Hudson and Westchester County (NY), and on to the Long Island Sound. It offers some of the best hiking in the New Jersey Section, and over five miles of cross country ski trails. The Lookout hosts an annual Fall Hawk Watch, as well as other programs through the year.
Lookout Inn, a snack bar and information center, provides a lunch and snack menu and a wide variety of books, gifts, and other items of interest. Built in 1937 by the WPA, the building looks like a miniature ski chalet, built of native stone and chestnut wood. The building plays host to special programs throughout the year, including our Fall Hawkwatch. The building and lookout point are wheelchair accessible.
Women's Federation Monument, (a short distance from State Line Lookout) a scenic park area and cliff-top monument was dedicated on April 30, 1929). It commemorates the role the New Jersey State Federation of Women's Clubs played in preserving the Palisades.
CLICK HERE FOR DIRECTIONS
Waughaw Ridge
under construction
|
BACK
BACK TO TOP
|
|
|
Postcards from the Parks
Here are some related links:
www.hudsonrivervalley.net
www.njpalisades.org
www.hudsonriver.com
www.orangetourism.org
www.iloveny.com
www.nysparks.com
www.thepurpleheart.com
www.bearmountainzoo.org
www.hudsonrivervalley.com
www.rocklandlakenaturecenter.org
www.exploreny400.com/home.php
www.heritageny.gov/RevWar/revwar.cfm
www.nynjtc.org/index.php
www.highlandfallsny.com
www.hikefordiscovery.org/wch
www.ptny.org
www.rocklandlakeandhookmt.org
For Your Information:
At Bear Mountain, Anthony Wayne, Silvermine, Tiorati, Kanawauke and Sebago, fees are collected weekends starting Memorial Day Weekend until the third weekend in June at that time fees are collected daily. There are no fees for designated hiker parking areas, Reeves Meadow or Skannatati Parking lot.
Palisades Interstate
Park System
MAP
Bear Mountain
Attractions
MAP
Bear Mountain
Suggested Hikes
MAP
|
|
