Tourne Park: Hiking and Biking an Hour from NYC

Situated just thirty five miles outside New York City, Tourne Park, also known as the Tourne, offers some of the areas best hiking, running, biking and equestrian trails. Located in areas of Mountain Lakes, Boonton Township and Denville, the Tourne provides the curious outdoor lover with over 500 acres of woods, streams, mountains and meadows to explore.

If you are a road tripper in the Bronx or other areas of NYC, the easiest way to access the Tourne is by driving over the George Washington Bridge and following Route 80 to the Cherry Hill Road exit in Parsippany, about an hours drive depending on traffic, and proceeding into Mountain Lakes to the Birchwood Lake park entrance. If you are on campus and without a car, there are a couple different ways to reach the park. If you'd like to explore the Tourne on foot, take the subway into Manhattan and take the bus from Port Authority Bus Terminal to the Mountain Lakes Boulevard stop. From there, you can walk to the entrance of the Tourne located on North Pocono Road. If you'd prefer to explore the park via bike, take the subway to Penn Station  -  you are allowed to bring your bike on both the subway and NJ Transit  -  take the train to the Denville stop and ride your bike over to the Tourne. 

Once you are there, there are trails that suit every level of explorer: short and flat 1.5  -  2 mile loops, moderate 3-4 mile loops through varying terrain and the most popular trip in the park, the top of the Tourne hike. The top of the Tourne hike begins in the parking lot where you will find basic amenities such as a port a potty, covered picnic area, outdoor grills and finally, separate trails for hikers and bikers. Follow the signs for your preferred method of exploring and begin up the hill. On your way you will find different flora and fauna, rocky outcroppings and wildlife. However, the real prize is at the top of the hill, where you will find a 9/11 memorial, including a full view of Manhattan off the eastern side of the hill. It's always rewarding to see where you started your journey as you take a moment to relax and appreciate your trip. 

Overall, the Tourne provides the perfect quiet, wooded escape within an hours drive of the city and is sure to have something for every type of outdoor explorer. Enjoy!