Discover Ringwood

Garden grounds amid woodland, a lake with boating opportunities and a historic residence: Ringwood offers several ways to combine time outdoors with culture. When choosing your vacation rental, it is therefore worth considering which experiences you would like to make the focus of your stay—gardens and their tours, getting active on the trails or the area’s history.

Gardens, Woodland and a Historic Manor

The New Jersey Botanical Garden encompasses 96 acres of garden grounds surrounded by 1,000 acres of woodland. The different scales illustrate the garden’s character: landscaped garden areas sit alongside an expansive woodland landscape. If you are interested in both, you can plan garden visits and time in nature as distinct priorities for your stay.

Ringwood’s historic heritage includes Ringwood Manor, a historic residence preserved as a Historic House Museum and designated a National Historic Landmark District. The completed manor has 51 rooms. It was built in several styles characteristic of the Victorian era, and its interior is eclectic. These details give the building a distinct character: alongside its historical significance, its varied architectural styles and furnishings shape how visitors experience the house.

Iron mining at the Ringwood site is also part of its history. During the American Revolution, iron mined there supplied components for the chain system used to defend the Hudson River, as well as materials for field ovens and household tools and ironware for the Continental Army. The Skylands estate is a 1,117-acre property now enclosed by Ringwood State Park. The manor, mining history and Skylands offer different historical perspectives on Ringwood.

Tours and Nature Experiences

The NJBG frequently offers tours of the gardens and Manor House. Tours and special events are also offered through the NJBG/Skylands Association. If you would like to include a guided activity in your stay, these options may be worth considering when planning your trip. In the woodland area of the New Jersey Botanical Garden, you can also join an easy, child-friendly hike led by NJBG hike leaders. For families who want to spend time outdoors together, this is a specific option alongside a garden visit.

Another highlight is Shepherd Lake in Ringwood State Park. The spring-fed lake covers 74 acres; the Shepherd Lake Recreation Area offers boating opportunities and access to trails suitable for hiking. There is a boat ramp at the lake for visitors bringing their own boat, canoe, kayak or stand-up paddleboard. Only electric motors are permitted on the lake. Keep this restriction in mind if you are planning to bring your own watercraft.

Mountain bikers can also enjoy multi-use trails with varied terrain in Ringwood State Park. Shepherd Lake and Skylands Parking Lot C are good starting points for accessing the trails. In winter, the grounds and trails around Ringwood Manor and Shepherd Lake offer many opportunities for cross-country skiing. However, the trails are not groomed, and there is no rental service. When planning, you can distinguish between trails for hiking or mountain biking and cross-country skiing in winter.

Choosing the Right Focus for Your Stay

If you are primarily interested in history, Ringwood Manor and the history of iron mining can shape your choice of day trips. The gardens, surrounding woodland and guided hike offer options for garden and nature experiences. If you would like to spend time on the water, Shepherd Lake offers boating opportunities; for trail activities, you can choose hiking, mountain biking or—keeping the ungroomed trails in mind—cross-country skiing in winter.

The Ringwood State Park entrance gate is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Keep these opening hours in mind when planning a visit to the park. You can then choose a vacation rental based on which of these Ringwood experiences matter most to your stay.

Explore More Places

If you would like to explore more destinations: Little Falls Township, Paterson, Clifton, Wayne, West Milford, Totowa, Wanaque and Woodland Park.

For the broader travel overview: Passaic.