Palisades Interstate Park and its creator, the Palisades Interstate Park Commission, was formed in 1900 by governors Theodore Roosevelt of New York and Foster M. Voorhees of New Jersey in response to the destruction of the Palisades by quarry operators in the late 19th century.The Palisades are the cliffs on the west bank of the Hudson River across from and continuing north of Manhattan island.
The Palisades Interstate Park, New Jersey Section Headquarters is in Alpine, New Jersey.
The park system has been expanded over the years and now includes 24 parks and eight historic sites, covering over 100,000 acres along more than 20 miles of Hudson River shoreline and beyond. The Commission also oversees Minnewaska State Park Preserve and operates the Palisades Interstate Parkway.
The Palisades Interstate Park was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1965. The area included in the landmarking is the Palisades Park in New Jersey, and the Palisades Park and Tallman Mountain State Park in New York State.
The NJ Section offers special programs for the public and an online calendar.
The park is a popular hiking area and offers easy hikes that can be completed in two hours or less by hikers with relatively little hiking experience, including school-age children accompanied by adults. who are among the group. (An "easy +" rating means that the hike is over 3 miles long or includes some moderate slopes.) There are also "moderate" and more difficults hikes better suited to those who have some real hiking experience. For example, "The Giant Stairs" is rated as "most difficult" because it includes a challenging rock scramble coupled with steep slopes. These hikes may take over three hours to complete, and younger children may not be able to complete them. Older children and adults should be in good shape and confident of their hiking abilities.
All hikers should read and understand their hiking tips before setting out on hikes.
Some "easy" hikes:
- Shore Trail at Bloomer's
- Ross Dock to Englewood Boat Basin
- Cape Fly Away Loop (easy +)
- The Women's Federation Monument (easy +)/li>
Directions to the park and attractions includes information for those using public transportation.
