Rivers, Ridges & Windswept Trails

Explore iconic coastal landscapes and historic sites where the Atlantic meets the Hudson, offering stunning views of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

Hike scenic woodland trails past a historic mansion and working farm, spotting native wildflowers and wildlife. Explore open meadows with sweeping views across northern New Jersey's rolling countryside.

Walk to the oldest operating lighthouse in the United States, built in 1764 and still guiding ships into New York Harbor. Sandy Hook's seven miles of Atlantic beachfront sit within Gateway National Recreation Area — the northern tip offers panoramic views of Lower Manhattan, the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, and the open Atlantic. The Holly Forest Trail winds through a rare coastal holly forest, one of the oldest in the country.

Climb the twin brownstone lighthouse towers on the Highlands bluffs — at 246 feet above sea level, the highest natural point on the Atlantic coast south of Maine. The 1862 lighthouse complex housed one of the world's first electric arc light stations; the museum covers the history of lifesaving services along this stretch of coast. The view from the towers sweeps from Sandy Hook north to New York City across the Lower Bay.