Take advantage of the snow: The best places to go sledding in North Jersey
North Jersey is finally expected to see some snow this weekend, and in some areas, it could be the most significant snowfall our region has seen in quite some time.
Depending on the area, weather experts are predicting towns will see anywhere from two to ten inches of snow Saturday evening into Sunday morning. Luckily, a weekend snowfall means one thing: There's finally an opportunity for us to take advantage of those great sledding hills across North Jersey.
Whether your kids have been nagging you about when they can finally play in the snow, or you want to feel like a kid again and glide down a snowy hill yourself, here's some of North Jersey's best sledding spots:
Bergen County
Atkins Glen Park, Park Ridge: Located at 26 Bear Brook Road, Atkins Glen Park is a notorious sledding spot in North Jersey. The features a deep ravine with Bear Brook cutting through it, and sledding is recommended on the hilly areas near the main road. Visitors can park at Glendale Road and Bear Brook Road, which is closest to the sledding spot.
Samuel Nelkin County Park, Wallington: Samuel Nelkin County Park offers 17 acres of land on Rose Street in Wallington. In addition to a pond, playground, dog run and various sporting fields, the park has large sections of open greenery, a prime location for sledding after a snowfall. Parking is available on Maple Avenue, next to the baseball field.
Van Saun County Park, Paramus: Located at 216 Forest Avenue, Van Saun County Park offers a small selection of sledding hills to choose from. Parking is available throughout the park, but the best spot for access to the hills is next to the dog park.
Passaic County
Goffle Brook Park, Hawthorne: Running along Goffle Road in Hawthorne, Goffle Brook Park is a long 103-acre park consisting of several different spots with hills for sledding. Parking is available at the southern most end of the park, and visitors can walk to the area of Goffle Road and Diamond Bridge Avenue for the best hills.
Nash Park, Clifton: Located at 700 Lexington Avenue, Nash Park has a hill that is popular for sledding in the winter months. The park is also located right across from Hot Grill, so you can get a warm bite to eat after a day out in the cold. Visitors can park off Hamilton Avenue, behind the Clifton Car Wash, and walk down Hamilton Avenue towards Route 21 to reach the sledding hill.
Morris County
Lewis Morris County Park, Morristown: Located at 270 Mendham Road, Lewis Morris County Park consists of 2,196 acres with 22.1 miles of trails. A popular spot for sledding, the park is also a great spot for hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing during the winter. Sledding is allowed from the Mendham overlook to Doe Meadow ballfield, and visitors can park at the lot on Doe Meadows Road.
Tourne County Park, Denville: Located at 83 Old Denville Road, Tourne County Park has 561 acres of land with 10.7 miles of trails. When it snows, the park closes the roads to vehicles and opens them for sledding.
Hopatcong State Park, Landing: The park's sledding hill is the steepest in the middle for more adventurous sledders, with less steep sides for younger ages. Visitors can park at 260 Lakeside Boulevard, next to the sledding hills.
Schooley's Mountain County Park, Washington Township: Schooley's Mountain County Park offers more than 823 acres for recreational activities. The park has a variety of sledding hills, as well as room for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and ice fishing. Parking is available at 91 East Springtown Road, and hills are available at the end of the lots.
Essex County
Branch Brook Park, Newark: Known as the nation's first county park, Branch Brook Park has been a popular sledding location for decades. The park is located in the North Ward of Newark, as well as into neighboring Belleville, and has hills of varying sizes for all ages. Visitors can park along Branch Brook Park Drive, and the sledding hills are along Branch Brook Lake.
Floods Hill, South Orange: Located at 100 N. Ridgewood Road, next to Meadowland Park, Floods Hill is a great winter spot for more adventurous sledders. The sledding hill is near Hillside Place and Meadowbrook Place, and visitors can park on Meadowbrook Lane near Jonathan's Bridge.
South Mountain Reservation, West Orange: South Mountain Reservation is located between South Orange Avenue and Cherry Lane. This reservation spans across more than 2,000 acres with an abundance of hills for sledding. Enter the reservation from Glen Avenue and Brookside Drive, and parking near the sledding hills is available just past Campbells Pond.
Sussex County
Highpoint State Park, Sussex: At 1480 Route 23, High Point State Park has a variety of multi-use trails available cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and sledding. Parking is available near Lake Marcia Lake and the Interpretive Center, and good sledding hills can be found behind the center.
Hudson County
Mosquito Park, Jersey City: Located at Liberty Avenue and Kennedy Boulevard in Jersey City, Mosquito Park offers a sledding location with a view. Here, you have access to more than six acres of land with views of New York City. Parking is available on the streets surrounding the park, offering easy access to any sledding locations.
Stephen R. Gregg Park, Bayonne: This park offers nearly 100 acres of land running along the waterfront. Located at 930 Kennedy Boulevard, the park has an area known as Double Hill, which is a prime location for sledding after a snowfall. Visitors can park in the lot along Bayview Drive, and sledding hills are located near the waterfront area.
Maddie McGay is the real estate reporter for NorthJersey.com and The Record, covering all things worth celebrating about living in North Jersey. Find her on Instagram @maddiemcgay, on X @maddiemcgayy, and sign up for her North Jersey Living newsletter. Do you have a tip, trend or terrific house she should know about? Email her at MMcGay@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Best places for sledding in North Jersey
