From December 1779 to June 1780, George Washington and the Continental Army camped in Morristown. Morristown National Historical Park commemorates these winter encampments—a tangible way to explore Morris County’s history. The park preserves the heritage of these winter encampments. Admission is free.
History that offers different perspectives
Other places tell very different chapters of the region’s history. Historic Speedwell preserves the cotton mill where Alfred Vail perfected the telegraph. Visitors can see a working waterwheel at the mill. The Lake Hopatcong Historical Museum is housed in a former lockkeeper’s house on the Morris Canal and shares the history of New Jersey’s largest lake.
At Craftsman Farms, the Main Log House dates to 1911. It was once the home of Gustav Stickley; the property is designated a National Historic Landmark. Fosterfields, meanwhile, is described as New Jersey’s first living-history farm. Demonstrations there include seasonal planting, tending, harvesting and milking. Together, these sites cover topics ranging from industry and technology to agriculture and design.
The Morris Museum combines permanent and changing exhibitions. Its extensive collections include fine art, anthropology, geology, decorative arts, history and natural sciences. The Bickford Theatre offers performing arts programs for all ages. Those interested in designed landscapes can find a work by Martha Brookes Hutcheson, one of America’s first landscape architects, at the Bamboo Brook Outdoor Education Center. The Frelinghuysen Arboretum features extensive collections of trees and shrubs as well as display gardens with plants adapted to the soils and climate of northern New Jersey. The Hagarty Education Center offers classes, special horticultural events, a reference library and a visitor information area.
Trails and landscapes
Morris County lies among rolling hills, broad valleys and sparkling lakes, about 30 miles northwest of New York City. The county park system includes more than 20,000 acres of hiking, biking, wildflower and nature trails. This variety of trails offers different ways to explore the landscape, so not every visit needs to have the same focus.
Jockey Hollow offers more than 20 miles of trails. Two named routes make for an easy comparison: the Yellow Trail is 2.25 miles long and follows an out-and-back route; the Blue Trail is a three-mile loop. The routes differ in length and format, while both offer a concrete guide for choosing a trail.
Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area offers a different landscape: its more than 1,600 acres include challenging trails, fields, forests, rock outcrops and wetlands. Glacial erratics include Bear Rock, Tripod Rock and Whale Head Rock. Geological features meet a varied landscape here, and the trails are explicitly described as challenging.
Water and working farms
Sunrise Lake in Lewis Morris County Park offers swimming and boating. In summer, activities include an inflatable water obstacle course. As this offering is seasonal, check before your trip. Valley Shepherd Creamery offers a different glimpse of local life: visitors are immersed in the day-to-day operations of an active sheep dairy. Visit arrangements may change, so check the details before you go.
Getting around the county
New Jersey Transit carries commuters in Morris County every day. The Central Railroad of New Jersey, the Morristown & Erie Railroad and the New York, Susquehanna & Western Railroad also cross the county. Bus routes connect its 39 municipalities with the metropolitan region. Major interstate highways 80, 10, 46, 287 and 280 connect numerous municipalities. These different transport connections can provide a starting point for planning; check routes based on your specific destination.
Discover more destinations: Ledgewood, Warren, Middlesex, Essex, Gloucester County, Union, Bergen, Monmouth
For the main travel overview: New Jersey.
