Rifle Camp Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Rifle Camp Park is a county park located in the city of Woodland Park, New Jersey.


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Summary

The park spans over 200 acres and offers a variety of recreational activities and amenities. One of the main reasons to visit Rifle Camp Park is for its hiking trails, which provide scenic views of the surrounding forests and hills. The park also features a lake where visitors can fish, picnic areas, playgrounds, basketball courts, and baseball fields.

One notable point of interest in Rifle Camp Park is the Garret Mountain Reservation, which is located adjacent to the park. Garret Mountain offers additional hiking trails and a popular overlook that provides panoramic views of the New York City skyline. The Rifle Camp Park Observatory is another notable attraction, which offers public stargazing events and educational programs.

Interesting facts about Rifle Camp Park include its history as a site for military training during World War II and its former use as a rifle range for the National Guard. The park also contains several small ponds, which are home to a variety of wildlife including fish, turtles, and birds.

The best time of year to visit Rifle Camp Park is in the spring or fall when the weather is mild and the foliage is at its peak. However, the park is open year-round and offers winter activities such as ice skating and sledding.

Overall, Rifle Camp Park is a great destination for outdoor enthusiasts looking to hike, fish, or simply enjoy the natural beauty of the area. Its proximity to New York City and the Garret Mountain Reservation make it a popular destination for day trips and weekend getaways.

       

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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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