Best Waterfront Spots and Parks in Hudson County for Fall

Hudson County packs an amazing amount of green space and waterfront into a small footprint, and fall is when it shines. Crisp air, golden trees and clear skyline views make this the perfect season for a long walk. Here are our favorite waterfront spots and parks in Hudson County for fall.

Liberty State Park, Jersey City

Our top pick for a fall day. A two mile stretch of the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway links picnic areas, the Nature Center and the historic Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal, with views of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Visit Empty Sky, New Jersey’s official 9/11 memorial, and walk the Richard J. Sullivan Natural Area. It is also the only spot in New Jersey with ferries to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.

• Hours: Gate open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.; the CRRNJ Terminal is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in November and December and closed on Thanksgiving
• Location: CRRNJ Terminal, 1 Audrey Zapp Drive, Jersey City
• Cost: Free entry
• More info: NJ State Parks

Hudson River Waterfront Walkway

The Walkway covers about 18.5 linear miles from Bayonne to the George Washington Bridge, tying together waterfront parks in Jersey City, Hoboken, Weehawken and beyond. Pick any section and you get the river and the Manhattan skyline right beside you. Early mornings in October are especially beautiful.

• Hours: Varies by section
• Location: Hudson River shoreline from Bayonne north through Hudson County
• Cost: Free
• More info: Hudson River Waterfront Conservancy map

Pier A Park, Hoboken

Hoboken’s signature waterfront park juts into the Hudson with wide lawns and front row views of Midtown and Lower Manhattan. Grab a coffee on Washington Street and walk it at sunset.

• Hours: Check the City of Hoboken park page
• Location: 100 Sinatra Drive, Hoboken
• Cost: Free
• More info: City of Hoboken

Hamilton Park and the Weehawken Dueling Grounds, Weehawken

Perched on Boulevard East atop the Palisades, Weehawken’s Hamilton Park offers one of the most sweeping skyline views in the region. Nearby, the Weehawken Dueling Grounds mark the site where duels took place between 1700 and 1884, including the famous Hamilton and Burr duel, with a bust of Hamilton on display.

• Hours: Dueling Grounds listed at 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Location: Boulevard East; Dueling Grounds at 24 Hamilton Avenue, Weehawken
• Cost: Free
• More info: Township of Weehawken

Weehawken Waterfront Park, Weehawken

Down at river level, Weehawken’s waterfront park pairs the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway with recreation space and big views of Midtown. It is an easy add on to a Hamilton Park visit.

• Hours: Check the township for hours
• Location: 1 Port Imperial Boulevard, Weehawken
• Cost: Free
• More info: Township of Weehawken

James J. Braddock North Hudson Park, North Bergen

At 167 acres, this is one of the largest Hudson County parks. It wraps around the 16 acre Woodcliff Lake, with an arboretum, nature trails, a dog run, about 8 miles of walkways and a view of the Manhattan skyline from atop the Palisades. The park, established in 1910, is named for boxing champion James J. Braddock.

• Hours: Check the county parks page
• Location: North Bergen
• Cost: Free
• More info: Hudson County Parks

Laurel Hill Park, Secaucus

Laurel Hill’s defining feature is Snake Hill, a volcanic rock formation more than 150 million years old that rises about 150 feet above the Meadowlands. The park offers access to the Hackensack River for walks along the water’s edge and kayaking, plus a riverside promenade.

• Hours: Check the county parks page
• Location: Laurel Hill Road, Secaucus
• Cost: Free
• More info: Hudson County Parks

Stephen R. Gregg Park, Bayonne

Nearly 100 acres on the east bank of Newark Bay, this 1916 county park has a half mile promenade, a gazebo fishing pier at the 48th Street bay front and a pond lined with walkways and bridges. The Cherie LaPelusa Gardens, with more than 3,000 plants, have blooms from April through November, so fall is still a great time to visit.

• Hours: Check the county parks page
• Location: 930 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, Bayonne
• Cost: Free
• More info: Hudson County Parks

Lincoln Park, Jersey City

The oldest and largest of the county parks, Lincoln Park has east and west sections that draw walkers, runners and families all year. The tree lined paths are a classic Jersey City fall walk.

• Hours: Check the county parks page
• Location: Jersey City
• Cost: Free
• More info: Hudson County Parks

Dress in layers, since it is always a few degrees cooler and breezier right on the water.

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Featured photo: John Cunniff from New York, NY, USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.