Ringwood State Park Photography Hot Spot
Update: January, 2026
Located in northern New Jersey, Ringwood State Park is a park with over 4,000 acres of pristine woodlands, serene lakes, and rich history. It offers a perfect backdrop for a day of photography.
WHAT CAN I PHOTOGRAPH?
Ringwood State Park features ponds and streams, formal gardens, a network of trails, and several historic manors that offer insight into the area’s past. Visitors can hike, explore the gardens, and tour the estate buildings throughout the year. The park’s manors and botanical gardens are open to the public year-round and anchor a wide range of seasonal recreation.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO GO?
The best time to visit is during the fall when the vibrant foliage transforms the landscape into a mosaic of reds, oranges, and yellows. However, springtime also holds its charm, as wildflowers bloom and wildlife becomes more active, inviting visitors to explore the trails.
HOW DO I GET THERE?
To reach Ringwood State Park, take Route 287 to Exit 55, where you’ll followthe signs leading to Skyline Drive. Once on Skyline Drive, a scenic route that winds through the Ramapo Mountains, you’ll find yourself enveloped in the tranquility of nature. The park entrance is well-marked, and ample parking is available.
ARE THERE FEES TO GET IN?
Yes, they are listed below.
The State Botanical Garden
The garden includes a wide mix of plants, along with evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs arranged in distinct garden areas. Highlights include the crabapple vista, terraced gardens, seasonal flower beds, and wooded paths. Set on 96 acres, the garden also offers views of the Ramapo Mountains. The gardens and surrounding woods are open to visitors year-round.
Skylands can be enjoyed in every season, from small wildflowers to large plantings of annual flowers. Visitors can walk through formal garden spaces or follow quiet paths through the woods. The garden also protects rare and unusual plant species from around the world.
Ringwood Manor
Ringwood Manor is a large Victorian house (PHOTOS ABOVE) set on a hill above open lawns and old trees. Built around the iron industry that shaped the area in the 1700s, it later became a summer home for the Cooper and Hewitt families. Today, the house and grounds are preserved much as they were, making it a strong subject in any season. The manor is part of a National Historic Landmark District and remains one of the visual anchors of the park.
Skylands Manor
Skylands Manor is a stone mansion built in the 1920s, modeled after old English country houses. Its rough stone walls and timber details sit naturally in the surrounding landscape, especially in changing light and seasons. Inside, tall windows, wood-paneled rooms, and decorative details reflect its early 20th-century craftsmanship. The manor’s scale, textures, and setting make it one of the most visually striking features of the park.
WHAT ARE THE FEES?
Entrance Fee
From Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day
Weekdays
NJ Residents $5.00
Non Residents $10.00
Weekend and Holidays
NJ Residents $10.00
Non Residents $20.00
Ringwood Manor
Weekends and Holidays
NJ Residents $5
Non Residents $7
Skylands
Weekends and Holidays
NJ Residents $5
Non Residents $7
Other Related Fees
OTHER STATE PARKS TO PHOTOGRAPH
