Meadowlands Nature Preserves
Within a few miles of New York, Newark, Jersey City and Paterson, the Meadowlands are being reclaimed as eco-tourist sites, with noteworthy plant, bird and animals to see with a backdrop of the Manhattan skyline. NJ Audubon has published a splendid "NJ Birding & Widllife Trails—Meadowlands and More" guide, available free from the NJ Meadowlands Commission (1-888 NJM-BIRDS or www.njwildlifetrails.org). Unfortunately, most of these very close sites are not easy to reach by public transit—bus stops are close to a mile from entrances in most cases and schedules are infrequent. We should all lobby NJ Transit for week end service to these natural areas. For example, a NJTransit train runs right past the entrance to Richard DeKorte Park, but there is no stop there.
Flat Rock Brook Nature Center
150-acre natural woodland, a remnant of Palisades Forest, has 3.5 miles of trails passing a cascading stream, ponds, wetlands, meadows, wildflowers, quarry cliffs. Great Horned Owls, Wood Ducks, Green Herons, red fox, coyotes, wild turkey, migrating birds, overlook views of Teaneck, Hackensack and the Watchung Ridge.
Directions
From the George Washington Bridge Terminal: NJ Transit buses 171, 175, 178, 186 and Red and Tan buses 11C (Rockland Coaches)—10-20 minutes. Get off at Jones Road and Route 4, Englewood. From Port Authority 42d and 8th Av. Terminal: Red and Tan (Rockland Coaches): 11AT about 27 minutes.
NJ Transit Bus Schedule and Coach USA Bus Schedule
Laurel Hill County Park & Saw Mill Creek Wildlife Management Area
Hackensack Riverkeeper's Paddling Center—rent kayaks and canoes. No experience necessary. Also, Eco-Cruises. "The area is considered the jewel of the Meadowlands and a blueprint for restoration projects elsewhere....The best and only way to see the area is by small watercraft along the canoe/kayak trail." A wide range of waterfowl, shore birds and wading birds as well as shrimp, crabs, snails etc. visible in spring. Fall colors in the grasses.
Directions
Via NJ Transit train to Secaucus Junction: Trains running on six different lines make stops at Secaucus Junction throughout the day, seven days a week in both directions. Leave the train station, and make your way around to New County Road (at the blinking light), and turn left. Walk over the bridge and on into the park - turn into the first parking lot on the right (about 1/4 mile walk on New County Rd.). Be sure of your return train before coming!
Via NJ Transit Bus to Secaucus Junction: Number 2, 124 and 129 buses make stops at the Junction. Leave the train station, and make your way around to New County Road (at the blinking light), and turn left. Walk over the bridge and on into the park - turn into the first parking lot on the right (about 1/4 mile walk on New County Rd.). Be sure of your return bus before coming!
Mill Creek Point Park
"Migratory shorebirds...(and) a variety of waterfowl, breeding and feeding; thousands of green-winged teal; herons, egrets, and cormorants, hawks, osprey, large carp, a variety of vegetation: groundsel, hibiscus, elderberry, smartweed, pokeberry, goldenrod, marsh fleabane, salt marsh aster. Catch and release fishing for striped bass, white perch, etc. Excellent example of reclamation from over a century of diking and draining.
Directions
NJ Transit 190 from the Port Authority terminal at 42d and 8th Av. Saturday service every 15 or 20 minutes—less than 50 minutes to Franklin St. at Paterson Plank Road. Ask the driver to yell out. Turn left onto Stonewall Lane; turn right onto Mill Ridge Road to Mill Creek Point. Walk past the recreational area to the Point.
Richard DeKorte Park
A wide range of birds at all seasons. Trails include mudflats, marshes and uplands. Pontoon boat eco-tours. Phone: 201 460-8300.
Directions
Take NJ Transit bus 192 between Clifton and NY at the Port Authority terminal. 42d and 8th Av. to Chubb Av. and Valley Brook Av. (Ask the driver to tell you when you get there.) 27 minutes. Turn left on Valley Brook straight to the Park, about a mile.
Teaneck Creek Conservancy
www.teaneckcreek.org201-836-2403
Teaneck Creek Conservancy is a lovely small park newly created and opened on a 30-acre no man's land in the midst of developments - said to have been the special space of the Lenape Indians. The park is adjacent to and supported by the Puffin Foundation which may have music or art programs to round off an evening. It is an easy walk to Marriott Glenpointe hotel where you can have a drink or relax while waiting for a return bus.
Directions
Take 167T bus from the Port Authority bus terminal (8th Ave. @ 42nd Street) to Teaneck Road and Hillside Ave. 23 minutes.