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Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Morris County, NJ

Susan Diem's photo
Newark Backpacking Examiner
blue grey gnatcatcher, Great Swamp, NJ
 Great Swamp, NJ, blue/grey gnatcatcherPhoto: Public Domain

The Great Swamp National Refuge, is 7735 acres just 26 miles west of New York City's Times Square.  The swamp was formed when the Wisconsin Glacier reached its furthest journey south, about 25,000 years ago.

In 1959, when a major airport was proposed  for the area the Great Swamp Committee of the North American Wildlife Foundation raised over a million dollars to purchase almost 3,000 acres which were donated to the Department of the Interior.

There are 8 miles of trails in the 3,660 acre wilderness designated area.  Good shoes are recommended as the trails are often wet and can be slippery.

A great video of a recent canoe trip down the Passaic thru the Great Swamp Labor Day weekend 2009,

by the author of Nightshade on the Passiac available at Weird New Jersey

Open daily, dawn to dusk.

Directions:

From interstate 287 (southbound and northbound):

  • Take Exit 30A (Basking Ridge/ North Maple Avenue) and bear right onto North Maple Avenue. 
  • Go through traffic light at Madisonville Road (ignore the refuge directional sign pointing left at Madisonville Road) and continue on North Maple.
  •  After one mile North Maple will bear left and become South Maple Avenue.
  •  Continue on South Maple Avenue for one mile and turn left on Lord Stirling Road.
  •  After 1.3 miles you will pass over a bridge on the Passaic River.
  •  Continue straight on White Bridge Road for one mile and turn left onto Pleasant Plains Road.
  •  Follow Refuge directional signs to Refuge Headquarters.

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Other New Jersey Locations:

If you are going home by way of Newark, why not stop in to Adega Grill Restaurant, Ferry Street, Ironbound Section for some of the best Portugese cuisine, featuring organic meats, and only the freshest fish and seafood.


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, Newark Backpacking Examiner

Susan has lived in or near wilderness areas all of her life. Backpacking, hiking and cycling have been lifelong passions. Accompanied by various grandchildren or Betsy McGee, her faithful four-legged companion she shares her enthusiasm for backpacking (urban and wilderness). She can be reached...

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