Lyndhurst: Riverside Trails, Nature and Stargazing

Lyndhurst brings together trails along the Passaic River, nature observation, an observatory and historic sites. Each place and activity has its own focus—from paved trails to a weather-dependent visit to the observatory.

Key facts

• Riverside County Park covers 85 acres along the Passaic River and lies partly in Lyndhurst and partly in North Arlington.
• Riverside County Park North has more than 3 miles of paved trails for cycling or walking.
• Public community rowing programs have been offered at Riverside Park since 2003.
• Richard W. DeKorte Park has 3.5 miles of walking trails.
• A trail in Lyndhurst Nature Reserve passes interpretive signs, wildlife viewing areas and native plant communities.
• William D. McDowell Observatory is open year-round on Wednesdays, weather permitting; observing sessions are free.
• Little Red School House has been restored as a museum with permanent and rotating exhibits.

Trails and the riverfront

Riverside County Park covers 85 acres along the Passaic River. Its two sections are in different municipalities: Riverside County Park North is in Lyndhurst, while Riverside County Park South is in North Arlington. This distinction is useful if you want to learn about one of the two park sections specifically.

The northern section has more than 3 miles of paved trails that can be used for cycling or walking. Richard W. DeKorte Park has 3.5 miles of walking trails. These figures describe different trail offerings: for Riverside County Park North, both the paved surface and two uses are specified; for DeKorte Park, the length of the walking trails is highlighted. This lets you decide which park better suits your plans based on the type of activity, without treating the trails as alike.

Riverside Park also offers public community rowing programs run by the Bergen County Department of Parks in partnership with the nonprofit Passaic River Rowing Association since 2003. Check program details before your trip. This means you can combine a visit to the riverfront with an activity other than cycling or walking; no specific dates or schedules are implied.

Nature at DeKorte Park

With its 3.5 miles of walking trails, Richard W. DeKorte Park offers a distinct experience. In Lyndhurst Nature Reserve, a trail passes interpretive signs, wildlife viewing areas and native plant communities. The route connects several nature-related themes: along the way, you can read information, look for wildlife and take in native plant communities.

World Trade Center Memorial Cove is also in DeKorte Park. From a designated location, visitors can see exactly where the World Trade Center towers once stood in the skyline. The site connects a view of the former skyline with a specific historical reference. Unlike the park’s natural areas, the focus here is remembrance of a particular place in the cityscape.

Observatory and stargazing

William D. McDowell Observatory is located in DeKorte Park. It is open year-round on Wednesdays, weather permitting. Observing sessions are free, and advance registration is not required. Since operations depend on the weather, check the latest operating details before your visit.

The telescope can be used to observe the Moon, planets and their moons, nebulae, star clusters, individual stars and galaxies. This range extends from objects in our solar system to distant celestial objects. The opening condition and the observing options answer different questions: above all, check whether the observatory is operating, as this depends on the weather, and choose which celestial objects interest you once you are there.

Schoolhouse and local history

Little Red School House has been restored as a museum with permanent and rotating exhibits. The combination of a permanent exhibition and rotating displays gives the museum two distinct aspects: alongside content on permanent display, other exhibits may change. When choosing a place to visit, it is therefore useful to consider both its museum character and its changing program.

Together with the observatory, trails and Memorial Cove, it offers a choice of different experiences rather than a single, uniform excursion. For weather-dependent observing sessions and the rowing program, it is a good idea to check the relevant details before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Rutherford, East Rutherford, Hasbrouck Heights, Little Ferry, Fort Lee, Ridgefield, South Hackensack Township, Mahwah.

For the regional travel overview: Bergen.