October 15 - 22

Fields of Fun

It all starts in the dirt and rises to the top, and October is the time to find your field of fun. So make a list! Could be an apple orchard, lines of ageless trees laden with the mythical fruit, each cultivated for its own purpose. But you can pick more than apples. You can get all kinds of late season vegetables and berries. And it's not too early to begin the all-important pumpkin search. Some farms include wagon rides to the picking area and shops filled with baked goods. Others sell local cider, and a few places make their own. And it's not hard to find a corn maze full of twists and turns. And umpteen million potential wine lovers within an hour’s drive is a natural energizer for a wealth of ideas. And so many have borne fruit. Enjoy the harvest!

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Sweet and Spicy

On Saturday (October 18) the annual Sussex County Harvest, Honey and Garlic Festival will celebrate the agriculture, heritage and outdoor attributes of New Jersey's Great Northwest with family activities, craft demonstrations, agricultural exhibits, food vendors, local artisans, and live music. The Sussex County Beekeepers Association will have educational displays, materials and an array of honey products. For those who love all things garlic, we’ll have the Garden State Garlic Growers. Kids can paint pumpkins, do crafts or ride in a hay wagon. The free, family oriented event runs from 10am - 4pm at the Sussex County Fairgrounds, 37 Plains Road in Augusta. (Please no pets. Service animals only. Comfort/therapy animals are prohibited.) For more details, click here!

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Canned Sunshine

Not so long ago, every family had a root cellar, and canning of all the excess bounty, whether from the home garden or the farm stand, was standard practice until the advent of the home refrigerator in the 1900s. It's not too late to take advantage of the fall harvest, and "put up" some food for healthy, nutritious eating during the long winter months.

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Boulder Hops and Star Gazing

Brilliant foliage at Ghost Lake.

The ancient rolling terrain of Jenny Jump Mountain provides spectacular vistas of the Kittatinny Mountains and the Water Gap to the west, and the vast panorama of the Great Meadows to the east. A haven for those who love a hike and a good view, the Park promises special rewards for devotees of geology, astronomy, mountain biking, bird watchers, bass fishing, and all season camping.

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Through the Farny Highlands

Split Rock from a kayak is a beautiful sight in autumn. Photo by Lee Sandstead.

A trio of Morris County reservoirs, each less than ten miles from the next, dot opposing sides of a triangle that frames sharply contrasting environments. Split Rock sits in one of Morris County’s most remote regions; Taylortown in Montville’s preserved mountains and woodlands, steps away from suburbia and Boonton near the busy intersection of Routes 287 and 80. An autumn visit to each or all promises ample leaf peeping vistas, woodland or urban hikes with water views and flashes of Revolutionary and Civil War history. Put this trip on your list this fall!

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Planet Jersey

Great Horned Owl. Photo: Rose Marie Joy

From books and movies to commercials and graphic tee shirts, owls abound in popular culture. They draw us in with their big, soulful eyes and luxuriously soft-looking feathers, and we appreciate how that spark of interest can be nurtured into the type of informed appreciation that leads to conservation action. These amazing birds have earned their moment of fame and the platform it provides for education. Wisdom on the fly!

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Discover!

October 9 - 16

The Hunt For Orange October!

Early morning fog is slow to fade as I pull the fly rod from its cotton sleeve. When the sun breaks through the shroud, leaves of poplar, black birch, oak, and shagbark hickory appear to glow. Awash in color, the surrounding hills complement the two sections of golden cane.

The annual fall foliage bloom is dependent primarily on moisture and the first frost, but peak leaf viewing in Northwest New Jersey normally begins in the first half of October. So, do yourself a favor and leave it all behind for a couple of hours on the road, lined with good things to do and colorful panoramas for leaf peepers. Pick from a multitude of scenic tours and daytrips and watch out for our virtual efforts to keep you informed.

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Art and Fellowship

At the heart of the estate stands the 18th-century farmhouse.

At the western edge of the Great Swamp, less than a mile from downtown Basking Ridge, lies the fifty-acre Boudinot-Southard-Ross Estate—also known today as The Ross Farm. This historic property has been home to several prominent families whose legacies shaped both New Jersey and the nation. Today it is also a destination for music, art and natural heritage. You can tour the farmhouse and grounds during this weekend's Somerset County Journey Through the Past.

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Roadside Attractions

Van Campen Inn on Old Mine Road in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

A casual stop at the Isaac Van Campen House (or Van Campen Inn) blossoms effortlessly into a full day of exploration and discovery. The Inn is among the most prominent "official” destinations along the Old Mine Road, but it is not at all apparent how many features actually wait here for discovery. You can find out this Sunday (Oct. 12, 2025) on Van Campen Day, during the Walpack Historical Society's annual heritage weekend.

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Trickle Down

Spruce Run Creek is a sparkling ribbon of natural beauty whose course through rich agricultural land interspersed with hardwood and evergreen forests still embodies the area's early history and provides sanctuary for many species of wildlife. The spring rises along the ridge of Schooley's Mountain, ten miles northeast of the reservoir near the boundary of Washington Township, in Morris County, and Lebanon Township, in Hunterdon County.

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Denville Detour

Jonathan's Woods. Photo by Dan Balogh.

Even today, if you needed a natural hideout—a really good one—Jonathan’s Woods could work. This six hundred plus acre pocket of undeveloped property, speckled with high and low ferns and Indian paintbrush, crossed by slender streams and marked by sharply rising rocky outcroppings, lies not far from one of Morris County’s busiest highways: Interstate Route 80. And yet the tract offers unexpected isolation. You could, as they say, get lost here!

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Discover!

October 2 - 9

OctoberFest!

Together, Allamuchy Mountain and Stephens State Parks include 9,600 acres in Morris, Sussex and Warren counties. Deer Park Pond sits atop Allamuchy Mountain.

Events all month long in Northwest New Jersey’s Skylands add up to one giant celebration of autumn. Arts, harvests, history – pretty much everything that needs expressing is expressed this month, beginning in a big way this weekend. You'll find more about these events and much more on our calendar for this and coming weekends. Pick from a multitude of scenic tours and daytrips and watch out for our virtual efforts to keep you informed.

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Park Place

One day this fall you are likely to find yourself headed to New Jersey’s northernmost corner in search of autumn adventure. You may be guided by way of either of two well-known parks; the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and High Point State Park which converge at the top of the state in the Township of Montague. Although few visitors care what zip code they’re in, some exploration beyond the park borders can be quickly rewarded.

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Watershed Moments

The long view west to the Delaware Valley from Ragged Ridge.

Lopatcong Creek pours down the Scotts Mountain Ridge in Harmony Township towards its appointment with the Delaware River twelve miles southwest at Phillipsburg. Hikers can explore the upper reaches of the Lopatcong along portions of the Warren Highlands Trail, crossing farms and rugged forest through the peaks and valleys of the watershed, including a spectacular viewpoint at Ragged Ridge. The Lopatcong watershed hosts the remnants of locks and planes at the western terminus of the Morris Canal, which are preserved and documented by the ever-expanding Morris Canal Greenway project. Follow the river!

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All Along the Byway

The Millstone Valley Scenic Byway is a narrow 23-mile roadway loop paralleling the western side of the Millstone River and the eastern side of the Delaware & Raritan Canal between the villages of Millstone and Kingston. Found within the Byway are eight historic districts; a twelve-mile section of the Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park; vintage bridges; and roadways over which Revolutionary War troops marched nearly 240 years ago. Outdoor enthusiasts can fish, hike, bike, jog, horse-back ride, canoe or kayak and bird-watch at various locations. A perfect road trip!

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Bottle Hill

Arcoss from Hartley Dodge Memorial, Madison’s stately borough hall, is a pocket park maintained by the Madison Garden Club, a quiet sanctuary of paths and benches surrounding a plot of hybrid tea roses.

Established in 1715, the village of Bottle Hill officially changed its name to Madison in 1834, in honor of President James Madison. The town, nicknamed The Rose City, became a leading rose producer from the mid-1800s to mid-1900s, shipping millions of blooms to New York each year. Dozens of greenhouses flourished until rising land values and cheaper imports caused decline by the 1980s. Find out much more about Madison's current culture at the annual fall festival, Bottle Hill Day, Saturday, October 4.

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I Paint What I Know

John Crouse painted a picture of Alice's Store in Little York, where he grew up, as it might have appeared in the 1960s, adding a Studebaker pick-up out front.

Hunterdon County artist, John Crouse, passed away on September 11. He was a great friend of our publication and to all who love the rural character of Northwest New Jersey. Farm scenes were John's passion. "As an artist I am naturally observant and over the years I've painted many of the subjects and sceneries that I've observed on the farm. I see a rusted piece of machinery and I immediately recognize it as a sort of monument that symbolizes a time in America's history when hard work and perseverance were the rule of the day. The farmers of yesterday could tell stories that require few embellishments and minimal, if any, exaggeration. My challenge as an artist is to provide a visual backdrop for these stories and to take the viewer to a place and time where modern technology and industry cannot spoil the scenery."

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Primetime!

September 24 - October 1

Don't Miss A Thing!

Floating Autumn Leaves on Dark Water, an award-winning photo by Linda Calvet on display at the 12th Annual Highlands Juried Art Exhibition, Maxwell Engine House, 713 Main Street in Boonton.

No doubt, fall is the most precious season. You never really know when autumn's gonna end, but you absolutely know what's coming behind it... SLUSH! Don't miss a thing this fall. It comes and goes so fast, so keep an eye our virtual efforts to keep you informed.

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Meadow Walks

A walk in an autumn meadow — make it simple and bring just your senses! Look at the vibrant golden and purple wildflowers and luminous oranges of butterflies like the Buckeye and Monarch. Smell crisp and pungent aromas of Mountain Mint and Wild Bergamot seed heads. Listen to the song of our state bird, the Gold Finch. Or bring some gear like a camera and binoculars, perhaps a magnifying glass or loupe to bring your findings into close focus. Whatever your approach, make sure to take a slow ramble this fall.

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Power of the Pyramid

Its particular geography makes Pyramid Mountain, in Boonton Township, home to an especially wide range of wildlife. The rugged terrain harbors an estimated four-hundred types of native plants and is crisscrossed by thirty types of mammals and one-hundred varieties of birds and myriad butterflies. Take a walk on the Pyramid!

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The Tewksbury Register

Mountainville ahead!

Hunterdon County is home to over forty historic districts on the National Register. Some of those, in Tewksbury Township, are located in some of the most beautiful and serene countryside in New Jersey. With a little historic perspective, your trip through these antique villages will become an excursion of discovery. An afternoon driving or biking along this route is time well-spent; one that you'll likely tell your friends about.

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For the longest time

Grey Towers, a National Historic Landmark in Milford, Pennsylvania.

Gifford Pinchot's revolutionary concepts for natural conservation are enshrined, not only in the vast stands of our national forests, but at his family's retreat, now a National Historic Site. Visitors to Grey Towers, in Milford, PA, will come to understand the importance of the Pinchot family influence on America's conservation ethics and natural resource management policies. This Saturday's (Sept. 27) Festival of Wood is the perfect time to visit, a free family event with Demos & Goods from the Woods! Click or call 570-296-9630 for more information.

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Autumn in the boundary waters

As the autumn brisk takes hold, fish regain their ambition. In the Delaware River, big bass come into season, fattening up and settling down for winter. The big fish, cool water, great weather and spectacular scenery combined to make the fall season what many consider to be New Jersey’s premium fishing season.

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Primetime!

September 18 - 25

As the sun heads south across the equator, Northwest New Jersey will prove itself a popular stage for quality arts, crafts, natural and historical celebrations all season, as autumn arrives Monday, Sept 22 with a schedule of colorful programs. Soft and mellow autumn days can be intoxicating. So make sure to keep an eye on our calendar for this and coming autumn weekends. Pick from a multitude of daytrip itineraries and watch out for our virtual efforts to keep you informed. Treasure the journey!

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Borough Blast

Warren County’s largest music and street festival returns this Saturday, Sept. 20, featuring three stages of entertainment with an array of musical genres. Streets lined with vendors, children's activities, rides, and a tasty assortment of food will permeate downtown Washington Borough. There is also a Friday Night Pre-Party from 6-9pm at Veteran's Park. The Festival in the Borough is free to attend and includes plenty of free parking. This event takes place rain or shine, 10am - 10pm. For information, please call 908/689-4800, or click the Washington Business Improvement District website.

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Curtain Up!

CSC's Curtain Up performance features John Lloyd Young on Saturday, September 20.

Centenary Stage Company celebrates their 40th season of performing arts on Saturday, September 20 at 8pm with the first event of the 2025-26 Season, a performance by John Lloyd Young, a Tony and Grammy winner, multi-Platinum recording artist and Presidential Appointee. As the original “Frankie Valli” in Broadway’s Tony Award-winning Best Musical, Jersey Boys, Young garnered unprecedented accolades from the New York and national media, and has taken his expertly-curated repertoire of classic pop and R&B to filled-to-capacity rooms. The Curtain Up! performance commences at Sitnik Theatre of the Lackland Performing Arts Center at 715 Grand Ave, Hackettstown. For tickets, click or call 908/979-0900.

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Bob-o-Beats!

Festival jazz veterans, Supernova, get down to earth at Bobolink Dairy and Bakehouse this Sunday, Sept 21, part of the farm's professional music series featuring an extraordinary farm to fork picnic menu.

This Sunday, September 21, spend the late afternoon on the farmhouse lawn at Bobolink Dairy and Bakehouse, listening to festival jazz with Supernova: classic and modern jazz with a jam vibe, from Chick Corea, Pat Methany, and John Scofield to classic 60s funky jazz like Eddie Henderson and Wes Montgomery. And there will be good food as well including selections from Bobolink's delicious farm to fork picnic menu with culinary delights made from their own farm products! Family friendly, BYOB. No dogs please. Food service starts at 3pm, music 4-6:30pm, $15 per person. Get your tickets here!

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Rooms With A View!

Camping doesn't have to end with the summer. In fact, Kymer's Camping Resort makes a perfect home base for most outdoor fall activities such as leaf peeping, bird and wildlife watching, hunting and fishing. The campground offers park model, cabin and luxury tent rentals as well as trailer or tent campsites with water, electric and cable TV hookups. And each weekend, there's something special going on: Fall Harvest Weekend on September 26, and three big Halloween Weekends right through October! Located on two-hundred scenic acres in Sussex County near the Kittatinny Mountains, at 69 Kymer Road in Branchville, you won't find a better spot to enjoy fall outdoors!

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Don't Miss A Thing!

September 11 - 18

The 9/11 National Memorial Trail in Knowlton Township is marked by a restored three-sided stone fireplace left from a demolished nineteenth century farmhouse. that now serves as a base for a memorial plaque that commemorates Warren County residents who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. It's just a short walk to the monument, well worth taking.

On this final summer weekend you might consider a drive in search of early autumn flavor and regional heritage. Don't miss a thing this fall. It comes and goes so fast, so keep an eye on our calendar and watch out for our virtual efforts to keep you informed.

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On That Road Again

Decker's Ferry house, Flatbrookville

In the 1600s Dutch miners discovered copper ore in a beautiful ravine located about seven miles north of the Delaware Water Gap. To access the ore and to transport it to Kingston, New York, they constructed a road, now known as the Old Mine Road. Retaining much of its historic charm and remote scenery, the road is a popular scenic route through the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.

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King Of Drakesville

The King Store Museum on Main Street in Ledgewood, once known as Drakesville.

Just off Route 10, near the old, now-vanished, Ledgewood Circle, a stone's throw from the mall, the Drakesville Historic Park pays tribute to Morris County's pedigree of innovative pioneers. Ledgewood's historic district consists of three museums located on Main Street —the King Store, flanked by the King Homestead and the Silas Riggs House—all in the vicinity of the Morris Canal's Inclined Plane 2 and 3 East and two canal basins. Read more about Drakesville, then plan on a visit this Sunday (or the second Sunday of each month.) 209-213 Main Street in Ledgewood.

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Trails, Tracks, and Taverns

The old mill complex in Little York.

Old roads and new trails in and around Hunterdon County’s Jugtown Mountain offer scenic options for fall explorers as they wander through historic districts, old hamlets, wooded roads, environmental preserves and county parks. The more you look, the more you see! Here are the details...

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Mind Your Manor

Shippen Manor

Oxford Furnace and the surrounding historical district are listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. Located on a terraced hill overlooking the village, Shippen Manor was built as the iron master’s residence in c. 1754 on the four-thousand-acre estate of Dr. William Shippen, Sr. and his brother, Joseph Shippen, Jr.. Today's Shippen Manor Museum is open for visitation and offers public programming on the first and second Sundays of the month. This Sunday (Sept. 14), reenactors from the 2nd NJ Regiment, Helms Company will portray the times during the War for American Independence with picket marches, kids activities and a chance to meet the soldiers, nurses, and more! 8 Belvidere Ave., Oxford, 908/453-4381.

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Get in Gear

A rural paved pate through the Sourlands.

Strap on a helmet, pump up the tires and take a bike ride. There's no better way to work out the cardiovascular while observing the sights and sounds of Northwest New Jersey along a variety of specific trails and open road routes. Here are closer looks at some biking routes in Hunterdon, Warren, and Sussex counties.
Go it on your own, bring the family or join a club, or take advantage of two events this Saturday (9/13), just for the cyclist in you. The Sourland Spectacular Bike Rally will feature a range of routes through those rural hills. Or cycle through the northwest NJ farmlands along one of the Tour de Farm's variety of options.

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Don't Miss A Thing!

September 4 - 11

Primetime!

Plan to spend a day in the New Jersey Highlands on this easy path from garden to garden along Patriot's Path--from Kay Environmental Center to Bamboo Brook to Willowwood Arboretum.

In Northwest New Jersey, there's so much going on in September, we need to add a few more days to the end of each week. Otherwise you'll have to make some choices! Keep an eye on our calendar and watch out for our virtual efforts to keep you informed.

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The Blair Trail

This triumvirate of stately buildings—the National Bank, Water Works and Old Mill—lends a certain gravitas to the village of Blairstown in keeping with the prominence of its namesake.

Blairstown has recently served as the filming location for a new series inspired by the horror classic Friday the 13th, also filmed there in 1980. While the town draws many fans eager to visit the movie’s setting, most remain unaware of its deeper history. In 1839, the Warren County village of Gravel Hill was renamed Blairstown in honor of its most prominent citizen, John Insley Blair, then just 37 years old. Today, the Blairstown Historic District—still lined with buildings from Blair’s era—offers more than a glimpse of a movie backdrop. It tells the story of a man whose vision shaped American transportation and industry, and it invites visitors to follow his legacy across the communities of Blairstown, Hope, Belvidere, and Delaware.

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Barn People

Keep your eyes open on your road trips this fall, and you might notice something like this classic Dutch-American barn just north of Oldwick village. This property is private, however the road is quiet, and you can stop and get a good view across an open equestrian exercise area.

One thing that most people are not aware of, not even native New Jerseyans, is that our part of the state has the greatest diversity of barn types perhaps in the entire North American continent. More than 150 years ago, they went truly ballistic with all kinds of barn building expressions. We are lucky to have this diverse collection of architectural history in our midst. Take some time, learn and enjoy them before they are lost. More...

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Forty Miles of Memory

The old mule bridge as the river approaches Boonton.

The Rockaway River, which winds through forty miles of wooded valleys, residential properties, and scenes of industrial use and misuse, carries what we give it and deposits that load in the Passaic River in Montville Township, Morris County. Follow its path--not an easy thing, since access is often difficult--and you can see things that make you want to cheer and weep. In its journey, the Rockaway serves as a précis of the story of all American rivers and their relationship with people who live, work, play, travel, love, care for and ignore them.

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Planet Jersey

When you go for a walk, seek the not-so-obvious. Examining scat and peering through "runs" in the bush, listening to the warning calls of birds, or locating the area where deer slept the night before are the kinds of things that make a hike worthwhile. You need no destination or deadline, just wander. Look closely and you'll feel like you have lived an entire day in a single hour. More...

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August 27 - September 3

Labor Day Weekend!

Ask a beekeeper about the medicinal powers of honey, the magic of propolis, or his recipes for making mead. Then sit back and listen.

End of summer? No worries. Relax and enjoy the fruit of your labors. Stay tuned to our Day Trip Map for good ideas for a scenic drive! For the more aerobically inclined, the Outdoor Map shows the way to go, or choose among dozens of natural attractions or outdoor activities suggested on our website.

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Wonder Walks

Hiking may be Warren County's favorite sport. Certainly the county offers the largest variety of hikes in New Jersey, including a panorama of magnificent vistas, intriguing history, and abundant wildlife.

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Way Out Yonder

Do the boardwalk, Skylands style, across the Pochuck Quagmire Bridge and along a section of the Appalachian Trail in northern Sussex County, on the way from Pochuck Mountain to the trail on Wawayanda Mountain. Walk on...

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Packed to the Rafters

Learn something everyday, even if it's about roof-lines! How about this Dutch Gambrel? Ain't she a beauty?

Early Dutch settlers wandered through the Raritan Valley in the mid 1700s and put down roots in what is now Readington Township in Hunterdon County. One of those old farmsteads later became a summer retreat for a famous actress and her acclaimed playwright husband. Today the Bouman-Stickney Farmstead and surrounding sixty-acre park, which is always accessible for walks or peaceful respite, is worth noting for a late summer destination.

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Paths of Green, Fields of Gold

The Raritan Headwaters Association keeps watch on the river's watershed, which supplies clean water to approximately 1.5 million people. For a memorable personal encounter with RHA, a visit to their magnificent headquarters at Fairview Farm Wildlife Preserve in Bedminster is the ticket.

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Planet Jersey

MacKenzie Hall releases a young male Big Brown Bat on his maiden flight.
Photo by Bob Thompson.

Bats are a fascinating group of animals. They've been flapping through the skies for more than fifty million years and are still the only mammals on Earth that can truly fly. But they are largely misunderstood, and have had very hard times of late. Read more!

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August 20 - 27

Got a couple of days coming to you? How about walking the Appalachian Trail through New Jersey? Your soon-to-be adventure on the Jersey AT demands to be done!

Summer is starting to fade and Labor Day is on the horizon. Don't be intimidated! Spread your wings and reach for the Skylands!

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Nowhere Fast

Have you ever followed a highway sign and gotten nowhere? Follow some directional markers off Northwest New Jersey country roads and that's just what you'll get. Unless of course you slow down long enough to take a closer look. A few older homes clustered together, a crumbling foundation, cemetery stones worn with time: these places tell stories worth knowing. Huntsville, in Sussex County, is such a place. There is no post office, general store, fire station, or church. Yet upon closer inspection, those old buildings hold clues to the town which once thrived. Step back in time, a mere fifty years, and the town of Huntsville exists again.

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Leg Stretchers

At the Sourlands Mountain Preserve on East Mountain Road in Hillsborough, three trails begin across the grass from the parking lot. Grab a map in the kiosk and enter the woods for this pleasant hike in Somerset County. Take the four-mile Ridge Trail, designated with a rectangular blaze. The blazes here are carved wooden plaques in geometric shapes. Walks are always easy at the trailhead, and this one starts with a smooth gravel/dirt path under tall trees.

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Beguiling Bridges

The Brugler Road bridge in Knowlton Township.

Going places? Cross the next bridge when you come to it, but not without considering its story and its style. A bridge’s context and charm can make your passage delightful.

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Heir Guitar

Joseph Kekuku, born in the Hawaiian Islands in 1874, was the inventor of the Hawaiian, or "steel", guitar played on the musician's lap with a slide. Kekuku played for kings and queens, London's Hippodrome, The Café De Paris, and radio stations all over the Continent. While touring America's vaudeville venues, he performed at the Baker Theater in Dover, where he decided to settle. He died in 1932 at Dover General Hospital, suffering a brain hemorrhage at age 58. His grave, obscured for decades, was uncovered for all to see with the help of a local artist widely recognized for his mastery of the Kekuku tradition.

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Wit Happens

Centenary Stage Company's Summerfest 2025 closes with the return of comedian Paula Poundstone for one night only this Saturday, August 23 at 8pm. Known for her smart, observational humor and a spontaneous wit, Poundstone regularly plays theaters across the country, hosts a weekly comedy podcast, and is a regular panelist on NPR’s Wait, Wait… Don’t Tell Me. Poundstone is also an advocate for literacy and animals, blending comedy with meaningful causes while entertaining audiences with her unique, insightful perspective. Purchase tickets online and save, or call the CSC box office at (908) 979 – 0900. Lackland Center, 715 Grand Ave., Hackettstown.

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Easy Living

August 7 - 14

The sultry days of mid to late summer are long and lazy. Busy, demanding days are not far ahead; so spend some quality time finding out the best ways to do nothing but relax.

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Water Marks

Minisink Island, viewed here from the north, lies between Milford and Dingman's Ferry. Water birds and eagles live along the narrow water, spiced with lots of little ripples. At the southern tip you can paddle up through the island where a stream flows when the water is high enough. The whole bank is covered with rhododendron. And when they're blooming it's perfectly gorgeous. And then in August everything is wildflowers. Yellows and fuchsia and cardinal flowers!

Never more than on a hot summer's afternoon does the Delaware River’s cool, clean serenity invite exploration. Islands of the Delaware are markers for the miles traversed on a float down the river, and for centuries of human history along its banks.

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Just Plane Fun

The Flight Path Trail in Boonton Township traces the perimeter of what once was the Rockaway Valley Aerodrome.

It’s easy to overlook the rich aviation history in New Jersey’s northwest corner. Way before Silicon Valley and the dawn of the computer age, guys in basements and industrial labs in the Skylands worked on the hot tech of the day— flight Located in and around early local airports, they helped move airplanes from mainly experimental and military enterprises into the heart of American commerce and lives. Make a loop this summer, visiting area airports and discover not only that science and history but also the thrill of flight — from the air if you dare, from the ground if you don’t. 

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Power Plants

For those in the know (and it's important that you know before you pick) the forests and fields of Northwest Jersey offer a visitor much more than a walk in the park. They are a veritable garden; Nature's garden of edible and medicinal plants. From the lowliest ground creeper to towering trees, each plant has some nutritional, chemical, edible properties, for better or worse. Much more...

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Double Header

As August progresses, the water on this slow-moving run has become as thin as my aging hairline. Trout that have survived a season of anglers, not to mention mergansers, herons, snakes, and otters, fin in the gin-clear current like specters through a graveyard, mocking any attempt to prove their existence. All the while they grow large on the stream’s abundant insect life as evidenced by this fish, which continues to feed where I lost a trout the previous afternoon. Yesterday, another fish rose through the surface to grab my fly, but when the knot between a 7x tippet and the end of my leader failed to hold, it broke me off. More...

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Planet Jersey

Did you ever notice those large insects zipping over streams and ponds all summer long, skimming the water, then shooting about in zigzag patterns that make your head spin watching them? Dragonflies and damselflies, collectively belonging to the taxonomic order Odonata, are named for their prominent biting mouth parts and predatory nature. Not to worry they don't bite or hunt people! Amazing is the fact that there are more species of dragonflies in Sussex County (145, out of a possible 182 in NJ) than any other county in the United States. Rack up another superlative for NJ's Great Northwest!

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