ringwood state park

My parents always had a painting of Ringwood Manor in their house, I always wanted to go and see it in real life. Truth be told, no painting or picture can truly capture the beauty of this park. It is a great place for hiking and weddings. I would highly recommend going here at least once in your life. Not sure young children will enjoy it though, it's mainly history and walking.

I am so happy to live near this park. For a relatively small park, it has so much to offer. There are plenty of paths and roads for a stroll, hiking paths for a more rigorous workout, and lots of hills for children's sledding. The grounds remind me of Europe, and the curator of the manor house is extremely knowledgeable and obviously cares deeply about the property. Dogs are allowed here, unlike at Skyline Manor. This is a beautiful, peaceful park which hosts different events year-round. Highly recommended. In the summer there is a fee per car unless a state park pass is purchased. I recommend getting the pass since it provides access to many state parks-a bargain.

Wanted us to come back in two hours. We may come back in two years.... Cooper Hewitt mansion might have been interesting but we weren't going to kill two hours out of a travel weekend waiting for another hour tour.

Despite going to Skylands many times, this was my first visit to Ringwood State Park, just across the street. I loved the tour of the historic mansion, but mostly I love strolling the grounds. A historic cemetery dating from colonial times is a plus for history geeks like me.

The park offers hiking trails, quiet park roads for biking, lovely gardens and grounds for leisurely walks. We even brought our inflatable kayak to enjoy paddling around Shepherd lake

If you have an interest in art, architecture, house decor or the history of the American Revolution, Ringwood Manor in Ringwood State Park (NJ), is an interesting way to spend a few hours. A tour of this impressive house, which was home to the Cooper and Hewitt families, among others, and was recently restored, takes a little over an hour. It provides a look at how members of the upper class lived during the 1800s (e.g., pull strings to summon servants were noticeable in many rooms).Among the most impressive rooms included on the tour is, what for lack of a better term, I'll call the sun room, a large white room walled with floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides. Also noteworthy is a gunroom with the mounted head of a buffalo shot by "Buffalo" Bill Cody and a booth for the phone that was previously housed outside of the manor. The beautiful wood staircase with carvings of the owner's initials was very impressive. The house contains paintings from the Hudson River School, including one by Thomas Cole, and a number of paintings of George Washington.My traveling companion, who thought the tour would mostly be about decor and architecture, was pleasantly surprised to learn about the house's ties to the American Revolution. Robert Erskine, one of the home's owners, was a map maker for the Continental Army. George Washington, whose image, as mentioned, appears throughout the house, is purported to have stopped there. And on the grounds is a replica of the chain used to obstruct British vessels on the Hudson River at West Point.The grounds are lovely and include a pond, two foot bridges and a waterfall. Parking is $7 and admission is $3. Note that the house may be somewhat difficult to find. Although a GPS address is provided on the house web site, there is no significant signage on Sloatsburg Road to indicate the turnoff for the house.

Some mountain views reaching back to Manhattan on a clear winter day. Enjoyable day hiking, mildly strenuous at times. Some nice waterfalls for photography.

We went to the Ringwood State Park yesterday for labor day & when we arrived, we were told it was full to capacity & could not enter the park area AT ALL. We were puzzled as we knew the lake was pretty large & couldn't understand why it we were being turned away. The guard told us to come back after 3:30pm which we did (we returned at 5:00pm). When we pulled in, we were SHOCKED at the size of the swimming area. It was literally a roped in area not far from the shoreline. There were tons of young kids in the water-not many adults--it actually resembled a kiddy pool! The grounds themselves were pretty nice-very nice open area with several picnic tables. There were several families enjoying barbeque's, playing games & more (grills ARE provided on the grounds which is nice). I just wish the swimming area was larger-it was actually pretty ridiculous and sad to see such a small (literally it was a TINY area) swimming area at such a beautiful lake. However with that said, if you want to do boating, hiking, fishing or just enjoying the beautiful nature up there, this is a great place to visit. Great place for excellent fotography as well.

I have to say this is by far the cleanest lake I have been to in the state of NJ! Pros: -There were lifeguards on duty-Pay by car NOT per. person rate-Very clean!-There are paddle boats, kayaks, motor boats, and regular small fishing boats for rent-Basketball court up the hill-Not crowded-Great for small hikes-Fishing is allowed-Outside showers accessible-Lots of parking-Playground for kidsCons: -Only a small area was accessible for swimming, most was closed off-Easily can get lost getting to the destination; bad GPS directions-Bathrooms don't smell very nice

A rambling manor house begun in 1807 provides the setting for the lives of Peter Cooper and his son-in-law Abram S. Hewitt who purchased the house in 1853 as a country home. Many additions and renovations were made up through 1910. The rooms are beautifully furnished with family items. A knowledgeable guide leads you through the house. The house sits on a hill overlooking a pond. Elsewhere within the park are several picnic area. There is ample parking, but out-of-staters are charged a higher fee to park than are in-staters plus the admission fee to the house. Somewhat disconcerting is to pay a parking fee here as well as at the next door Skylands Manor which is also in Ringwood State Park.

It was a really awesome place to visit, hike take pictures & relax. Such a beautiful place and so close.

if you are looking for a NY metro - Northern New Jersey hike that will take you up a small mountain that offers good views and a modest amount of exercise, this is a good time.

This park provides something for nearly anyone who wants to get outdoors. Many of the hiking trails are old carriage roads that are nice walks for families with with young children or people who aren't in shape to tackle the more difficult trails. There are plenty of those trails too. The hike to the summit of Mt Defiance is steep, but the views along the way are worth the walk. This property is loaded with history. It hosts numerous abandoned mines, along with Ringwood Manor and Skylands Manor making this a worthwhile stops for history buffs. This land was the estate of captains of the 19th century iron industry and also the site of the homes of the 18th century ironmasters. One of these, Robert Erskine, is buried on the grounds. Erskine was a key figure in the Revolutionary War, not only supplying iron for the cause, but serving as George Washington's Surveyor General and chief map maker. The hundreds of maps he created not only were of value to Washington, historians use them to this day. Ringwood State Park also contains the New Jersey Botanical Garden, which is worth a visit for those who enjoy that sort of thing. Ringwood Manor is a huge building built in the 19th century. In addition to it being a museum, the state of NJ uses it as the headquarters for their park staff. Skylands Manor is a beautiful building that is available for weddings and other occasions. Shepherds Lake offers good fishing for trout, bass and pickerel and also has a beach for swimming. There is also a good sized picnic area suitable for everything from a small family picnic to a larger corporate or club outing. There are numerous geocaches available in the park, ranging from easy "park and grabs" to strenuous hikes to beautiful views, making Ringwood a geocacher's paradise. Mountain bikers will also find many excellent trails for riding. History, natural beauty, gardens, fishing, picnic facilities, Ringwood State Park has it all and is a must stop for anyone visiting the region who enjoys the outdoors.

Just to run around see some birds and feel like you have traveled to a destination makes this a great day of few hour walk. Pack food. Some of the art is breathtaking. Great deals from Groupon that makes you want to stay a day or 2. I wish you could still tour the estate but I understand the changes for sure. If you can get a little hidden bench settle in......stunning

We have come here once and I hope to come again. I just need to find a better route from Montco PA because Rt 202 was a nightmare. We did a hike to the castle ruins and enjoyed terrific views and fall foliage.