Welcome back to National Parks and other public lands with T!

The Celery Farm is a 107-acre wetland preserve in Allendale, New Jersey. The park was once a celery farm and was part of the John Fell estate, dating back to the Revolutionary War era.

In the 1950s, a non-profit organization called Fyke formed with the mission of saving some of Bergen County’s last undeveloped tracts of land. Today, this group maintains the trails and viewing platforms in the Celery Farm.

The preserve is an important habitat for birds. Naturalists have counted over 240 species here and it is a breeding site for over 50 bird species. I’ve also seen turtles and deer. I even surprised a mink carrying a fish it had just captured!

The main trail is an easy level loop around a large lake. At one end, you can branch off  into other trails over streams and through marshy meadows.

Some sections pass by residential homes. The entrance to the preserve is right off the busy Franklin Turnpike. In spite of being in the midst of a densely populated area, most of the preserve is serene and quiet.

Location: Franklin Turnpike, Allendale, New Jersey
Designation: Preserve and Bird Sanctuary
Date designated/established: 195
Date of my visit: November 9, 2020