Duke Island Park — Attraction in Bridgewater Township

Nice spot for a run, walking your dog, or bike riding. Going left out of the parking lot, along the river, is about 3 miles roundtrip to the bridge. Going right along the road to the path through the woods is 1.5 miles roundtrip. The area is quiet and there's little to no other traffic. Even when busy it's not very crowded since it's such a big park. Almost completely flat.

Bathrooms, tons of parking, plenty of trash cans, and dog poop bags are always stocked. Lots of picnic tables and grills if you want to have lunch. The fields are huge and are always mowed.

During the winter you can ice skate on the pond, and there's sledding by the entrance. Trails, roads, and parking lots are always plowed shortly after it snows.

There is lots of wildlife around- tons of birds, squirrels, and deer. I've seen a fox a couple of times. There is a bald eagle nest at nearby Duke Farms, so keep an eye out on the river since they like to hunt fish on it.

About the only downside of this park is it gets trashed every time the river floods. The woods are also swampy so the...

A good Somerset County park, with lots of asphalt-paved walkways, partially through nice wooded areas. I've used it a lot. And good for families, women, young kids, etc. The only drawback is it's not like Washington Valley Park up on the mountain near Chimney Rock, or Rutgers Ecological Preserve, or the Helyar Woods section of Rutgers Gardens, or the Watchung Reservation. These places all have true wilderness areas, with dirt trails through isolated, undeveloped, wooded areas, which is a more pristine and natural experience. So, if you're a woodsman, hiker and/or Eagle Scout (like me), and you're looking for serenity, seclusion, solitude and a retreat from the rat race of suburban life (and peace of mind), you might want to go there instead. But if you just wanna walk with your (city born and raised) girlfriend-in a place that she can handle-well, Duke Island Park is perfect, for that (although today, I should've STAYED in the woods, instead of hanging out with my city girl! Ha ha ha ha...) So, I'll give...

I have the best memories of this place. I have this picture and wanted to share a place my mom loved. There are paths, waterfall and great fishing. We spent years here if you added up the hours. Monkey apples was a special part of the park. They are green with bumps all over them. They have concerts of all types of music. People from all over the area come out with family and friends. You can find yourself dancing with anyone from a year old to 95 years old. Single or a group of ten. Oh this place is God's gift to us. You might even be able to eat something without knowing the name. Dogs will be there to eat up any love they can get while owners chat about the trick to get them and their families home. I was I'll and ask someone to bless me with the photo of my mother's favorite place who went home with Jesus. I hope you have enjoyed my memories with me. Thank you so much for your love you...