200 Morris Pesin Drive, Jersey City, NJ 07305
Phone: (201) 915-3404
www.libertystatepark.org
NJ Department of Environmental Protection
Turn Right out of Palisades Interstate Park Headquarters’ parking lot. Bear Left, follow signs for Palisades Interstate Parkway South. Merge onto Palisades Interstate Parkway South. Get in Left lane after passing Exit 1 and you see EZPASS sign. Follow signs for 95 South, All N.J. Routes, staying Left. Road will become 9W – Fletcher Avenue. After you pass through first traffic light at Linwood Avenue get into Right lane. After 3rd traffic light turn Right at Routes 46, 1 & 9 sign (there is also an 80 west/95 south sign on telephone pole). Bear Left on exit ramp. Stay Left following signs for 46 West and 1 & 9 South. Stay Left following signs for 46 West to 95/Turnpike. Stay Right following signs for South 95/West 80 Teaneck Road. Bear Left following signs for 95 South/New Jersey Turnpike South only. Merge onto Turnpike South and follow signs for exit 14B. After 18 miles take exit 14B. Pay toll, bear Left and
follow signs for Liberty State Park. Be careful at stop sign, traffic coming from Right. Proceed straight through traffic light into
Liberty State Park. Information center is at end of Morris Pesin Road. Map
Open daily from 6am to 10pm. Parking is available onsite.
NJ Transit Hudson Bergen Light Rail stops at Liberty State Park, Park and Ride. You can access the Liberty State Park Shuttle Bus Line No. 305 from there; it stops at places of interest throughout the Park, which are shown on the bus schedule.
A food concession and restaurants are available at the Center Railroad of New Jersey Terminal and the Liberty Landing Marina. During the summer months small food concessions are also located throughout the park.
If you are interested in the history of the area, visit the Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal which also offers ferry service to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty (there is a charge for parking).
Fishing is allowed anywhere in the park, so bring your fishing pole. Bluefish and striped bass are caught year round. Flounder and fluke are caught in the summer and winter months.
Permits are mandatory year round. Permits are $11 per day, or $125 for the year. Seasonal launch permits must be bought at the park office and are accepted at both Liberty State Park and Leonardo State Marina. Daily launch permits may be bought at the office or at the ticket machine at the boat launch. Maps for sale of the Hudson River Harbor are available at the park office. For further info contact the Liberty State Park Offices at 201-915-3401.
The Liberty Science Center which is located on Phillip Drive is temporarily located at the Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal, until mid-2007 while their building is under construction. For more information visit their website at: http://www.lsc.org.
If you wish to access Liberty State Park from New York City, or wish to visit the city from Liberty State Park, the Liberty State Park Water Taxi runs between Liberty State Park and North Cove Marina, NYC. The water taxi can be reached by entering the parking lot by the Liberty House Restaurant. Be aware there is a charge for parking. For more information visit website: http://www.sailthehudson.com/directions.htm.
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| Bufflehead | Scott Elowitz |
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Liberty State Park comprises 1,212 acres and is as well known for its premier birding (239 species identified) as it is for its spectacular views of New York City. Whether you are a birder, boater, budding naturalist, sightseer or someone who is just looking for relaxation, you will enjoy your time at this park. It is also an ideal spot for families due to the variety of activities offered. The salt marsh, one of the few remaining tidal marshes of the Hudson River
supports a variety of foraging wading and shorebirds. Woodland songbirds can be seen and heard along the nature path in the upland area of the Richard J. Sullivan Natural Area. Enjoy the Interpretive Center and ask the staff about wildlife in the area.
If you are lucky you might get a glimpse of the harbor seals that sometimes sun themselves on the rocks. Brant, Common and Red-breasted Mergansers, Horned Grebe, American Coot, American Black and Ruddy Ducks, Bufflehead, Canvasback and Mallard may be spotted in the harbor along with large rafts of Greater and Lesser Scaups. Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Northern Cardinal and Cedar Waxwing may be found inland along the nature path. In irruption years, both Snow Bunting and Snowy Owl have been observed. Make sure you are properly attired for winter weather; the temperatures are much colder by the river.
The "konk-a-reee" of the Red-winged Blackbird and the lovely "trickling" song of the Marsh Wren begin to fill the air in the upland portions of the salt marsh. Double-crested Cormorants are plentiful as they fish the waters of the estuary. The wooded canopy along the nature trail fills with migrating passerines that may spend the summer there.
Wading birds such as Snowy and Great Egrets, Great Blue Heron, Black-crowned and Yellow-crowned Night-Herons and an occasional Glossy Ibis can be seen in the salt marsh. Diamondback Terrapins may be seen sunning on the flotsam and jetsam found in the marsh. Tree and Barn Swallows may be seen eating "on the wing" as they fly over the grassy fields. Forster's, Common and Least Terns are frequently seen fishing the waters of the estuary. The Park is popular with the human species on the weekend, so wildlife viewing may be better on weekdays. But it is a big park, so usually there is plenty of room for everyone.
Migrating passerines make their way through the canopy of the nature trail while the winter waterfowl start to make their way back to the estuary. An occasional migrating raptor may be seen overhead such as Northern Harrier, which may hunt over the marshes and park interior.
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