Ceres Park — Attraction in Mantua Township

Ceres Park is the kind of place where you half expect to stumble onto something… unnatural. Years back, my late mother, our dog Comet, and I were walking the trails just as dusk was swallowing the light. The air was heavy, everything washed in that shadowy grey that makes every stump look suspicious. Comet froze, hackles raised. Ahead, in the center of the wide trail, a tall, gaunt, alien-like silhouette shifted in slow, deliberate movements. It didn’t charge, it didn’t flee—it just waited. We crept closer, hearts pounding, convinced we were staring down some velociraptor-shaped forest cryptid. The reality was only slightly less surreal: a massive emu, escaped from a local farm, blocking the path like some prehistoric sentinel. Terrifying at first, hilarious in hindsight. But honestly, that’s the vibe of Ceres Park—it’s wild, strange, and just unsettling enough to keep your adrenaline humming. On the upside, the biking trails here are excellent, weaving you through dense woods that actually feel like nature rather than a manicured park. It’s rarely crowded, the air feels unspoiled, and the lack of litter is almost shocking for Jersey. Walking the hills is no lazy stroll—you’ll earn your cardio—but in the best possible way. It’s the kind of environment where you forget you’re still in suburbia. The trade-off? Solitude here comes with a side of sketchy vibes. The strangers you occasionally pass might be perfectly harmless, but in such an isolated setting, your brain can’t help but wander to worst-case scenarios. Add in trails that flood, turn to mud, or vanish into overgrowth, and it’s not exactly user-friendly. Parking is a gamble, the lake is more swamp than scenic centerpiece (though the turtle population is thriving), and the lack of clear trail markers makes it easier than it should be to get disoriented. Ceres Park is equal parts enchanting and unnerving. It’s the sort of place where you go for a great workout, a brush with raw nature, and, if you’re lucky, an emu sighting that will haunt your...

07/26/2021 I came for an evening hike with a hiking group. We parked at the back lot, which can host approximately 15 cars.

Due to unclear markings, we got lost shortly after we started hiking. Although it’s not a big deal since it just made us to cover more miles in a small park. But if I hiked alone here in the evening, I would be scared to be lost in the woods.

On our way we came across with many mountain bicyclists. Obviously the up and down trails are quite challenging and excited for mountain biking.

The park is right by a golf course, so you can see some golf balls along the trail.

The fun part is the rope swing down between the hills. Some of us just had fun playing it...

Let's face it....per square mile new Jersey is the most populated state in the country (besides the district of columbia) Yet still you find some gems to wonder and gaze upon. Ceres is a beautiful little utopia and a perfect small hike getaway. Flowers and trees fill the setting as you walk through it's pathways and honestly it's a well received breath of fresh air. Picnic table and trash can in the parking section and always remember to leave it cleaner then When you arrived. Try it out sometime and...