Grace Lord Park

Grace Lord Park At A Glance...

The Rockaway River drops through a wooded gorge here, a few minutes from Boonton's Main Street.
It is one of the shortest walks to a real waterfall anywhere in Morris County.
Todays Sunrise: 6:39 am, Sunset: 7:05 pm
New Jersey Skylands Region Morris County

About Grace Lord Park

Grace Lord Park is one of our favorite stop offs when exploring the Boonton area. The Rockaway River cuts a steep wooded gorge right through the middle of town here, and the park follows it: a small park at the top, waterfalls both small and large, hiking trails, and picnic benches to sit back and relax.

What makes it worth the detour is the drop. This is a municipal park a few minutes off Main Street, and it stops looking like one the moment you are down in the gorge - the water, the rock and the tree cover do not feel like the middle of a town.

Certainly worth a visit.

Activities:
- Hiking
- Jogging / Running
- Playing in the playground
- Walking
Amenities:
- Parking - Street Parking Only
- Parking Lot(s)
- Picnic / Sitting Area
- Benches
- Picnic tables
- Playground
Trails:
- Flat / Easy
- Rugged / Rocky
- Natural Surface (Dirt/Roots/Rocks)
- Walking Paths
Park Type:
- Municipal / City Park
- Park (General)
- Playground
- Scenic Areas (overlooks/waterfalls)

Contact / Location

Primary Address:

Get Directions Essex Ave and Plane St.
Boonton, New Jersey 07005

Contact:

Trail & Path Info

There is one main trail that will bring you from Essex Ave, past the waterfalls, over an old bridge, and looks like it might bring you all the way down to the southern most section of the park.

The ground changes as you descend. The upper section near the playground and picnic area is flat and easy going; once the trail drops toward the river it turns rugged and rocky, and it stays wooded the whole way. Footing near the falls is the part to take slowly, particularly after rain or in freeze-thaw weather when the rock stays wet.

This is a short walk rather than a hike. Think of it as half an hour of scenery, not an afternoon on the trail.

Things to See & Do

The waterfalls are the reason to come. There is more than one, and the trail from Essex Avenue takes you past them.

The old footbridge over the river is the other landmark, and the obvious place to stop and look back up at the gorge.

At the top of the park there is a playground, basketball courts, and picnic tables with benches - which is what makes this workable as a family stop rather than only a scenery stop. One person can take the trail while somebody else stays up top with younger children.

Parking

You will find parking near the playground to be On Street only. There is some public parking on the east side of the river for the picnic tables and basketball courts.

Neither is a large lot, and this is a residential street, so on a warm weekend it is worth arriving early rather than circling.