Preserve, protect, and have fun with Hackensack Riverkeeper
Whether you want to spend the entire day watching herons, egrets, raptors and wrens while kayaking, canoeing, and paddle-boarding, or just relax for a couple hours on a pontoon-style, educational eco cruise, expect to have loads of fun while also supporting a good cause at Hackensack Riverkeeper. Most of their outdoor activities start at Laurel Hill Park in Secaucus, New Jersey, which is a quick 20-minute drive or 35-minute ride on NJ Transit from Manhattan’s Penn Station, making nature-packed daytrips easy, accessible, and affordable.
New York and New Jersey are surrounded by water, from the windy waves of the Atlantic Ocean and the heavily historical Hudson River, to the wildlife-rich Hackensack River that meanders through New Jersey’s Hudson County. We only get to enjoy these rivers, however, because of groups like Hackensack Riverkeeper, an environmental organization dedicated to preserving, protecting, and restoring various fish and wildlife habitats within the Hackensack River watershed.
In addition to focusing on action, advocacy, education, and litigation, Hackensack Riverkeeper also creates opportunities for tristate area residents to get involved in conservation or to just get out on the water and have a good time. From nature walks and birding excursions to monthly river cleanups and pizza parties, Hackensack Riverkeeper offers something for just about everyone.
For more great recommendations for New York City and the Tri-State Area, please visit our friends at Time Out New York, who authored this article.