Hackensack River County Par

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

The Hackensack River County Park is located in the state of New Jersey and offers a beautiful natural setting with a variety of activities for visitors.


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Summary

The park is a great destination for outdoor enthusiasts, with several unique points of interest worth exploring. These include the New Overpeck Lake, which was created by the damming of Overpeck Creek and is now home to a diverse array of wildlife. Visitors can enjoy boating and fishing on the lake, as well as hiking and birdwatching along its shores.

Another highlight of the park is the Bergen County Zoological Park, which features a wide range of animals from around the world. Visitors can see everything from tigers and giraffes to kangaroos and lemurs, making it a great destination for families with children.

In addition to these attractions, the Hackensack River County Park also provides ample opportunities for hiking, biking, and picnicking. The park's many trails wind through beautiful wooded areas and along the river, offering stunning views of the surrounding landscape.

One interesting fact about the park is that it was created in the 1960s as part of an effort to protect the Hackensack River watershed from pollution. Today, the park continues to serve as an important natural resource for the region, providing a home for many native plant and animal species.

The best time of year to visit the Hackensack River County Park is during the spring and summer months, when the weather is warm and the park is at its most vibrant. However, visitors can enjoy the park's scenic beauty year-round, with each season offering its own unique charm.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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