Campgaw Mountain Reservation facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Campgaw Mountain Reservation |
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Fyke Pond in Campgaw Mountain Reservation, Mahwah
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| Type | County park |
| Location | Franklin Lakes, Mahwah, & Oakland, Bergen County, New Jersey, USA |
| Area | 1,351 acres (547 ha) |
| Created | 1961 |
| Operated by | Bergen County Department of Parks |
| Open | All year |
Campgaw Mountain Reservation is a large park in Bergen County, New Jersey. It covers about 1351 acres, which is a huge area for outdoor fun! Most of the park is in Mahwah, but it also stretches into parts of Oakland and Franklin Lakes. This park is special because it has a popular ski area and is home to the peak of Campgaw Mountain, which is about 735-foot (224 m) high.
Fun at the Ski Area
The ski area at Campgaw Mountain is a great spot for winter sports. It's especially good for people who are just learning to ski or snowboard.
Lifts and Trails
The ski area has different types of lifts to get you up the mountain:
- Two chairlifts that can carry two people each. One chairlift even has a middle exit if you don't want to go all the way to the top.
- Three "magic carpet" lifts, which are like moving sidewalks, perfect for beginners.
- Two handle tow lifts for the tubing hill. These pull you and your tube back up to the starting point.
The highest trail on the mountain drops about 270 feet (82 m) over a distance of about 1,200 feet (370 m). The steepest part is right at the top, then it gets smoother.
Tubing and Facilities
Besides skiing, you can also go inner tubing! There's a special section of a smaller hill where you can rent tubes and slide down. After all the fun, you can warm up in the small lodge. The lodge has a cafeteria, a snack bar, and a shop where you can rent equipment. Many local kids and people from nearby cities, including New York City, come here because it's the closest ski area to them.
Park Location
Campgaw Mountain Reservation is easy to find. To the east of the park, you'll find Interstate 287. To the west, there's U.S. Highway 202 and the Ramapo River. These nearby roads and the river help define the park's boundaries.
A Bit of History
Campgaw Mountain has an interesting past. In 1955, the U.S. Army built a special station here. It was called a Nike Missile station. Its job was to help protect the New York Metropolitan Area from enemy planes. In 1959, the station was updated with newer, more powerful missiles called Nike-Hercules. The missile site was closed down in June 1971, and the land became part of the park we know today.
