120 acres, lakeside accessible trail, additional trail network and seasonal boating. Open dawn to dusk.
Nature · History · Dining · Day Trips · Nearby Lodging
Visit Franklin Lakes
Franklin Lakes is best approached as a nature, local-history and dining destination rather than a conventional tourism center. Its strongest public draws are preserved landscapes, trails, Lorrimer Sanctuary and community parks.
Things to see & do
84-acre public park at 500 Parsons Pond Road with ponds, streams, fields and wooded paths.
790 Ewing Avenue. New Jersey Audubon visitor center, educational programs and 14 acres of self-guiding nature trails.
The Donch preserve trail system connects into the larger High Mountain Park Preserve network extending into neighboring municipalities.
Historic burial ground at 1115 Franklin Lake Road. Visit respectfully; the site preserves important early-settlement and military history.
Local restaurants, coffee, shopping and services make the commercial corridor a practical stop before or after outdoor recreation.
Where to stay
Franklin Lakes is not a conventional hotel center. Most practical lodging is outside the borough, especially in the Ramsey/Mahwah/Route 17 corridor and nearby Bergen County communities. NJTGO does not relabel those hotels as Franklin Lakes.
A simple day trip
Walk the accessible lakeside trail or a longer preserve route.
Visit Lorrimer Sanctuary when the visitor center/program schedule fits.
Choose Franklin Avenue or Pulis Avenue dining from the Food & Drink directory.
Parsons Pond Park, local shopping or a respectful local-history stop.