A few weeks ago, we had the fun of visiting an arboretum just outside of Chester, New Jersey.  We’d visited Willowwood Arboretum once before – in the late spring – so we were all looking forward to seeing if it was just as pretty in the fall as it was in the spring.

 

 

Answer: it was just as beautiful in the fall.  The flowers, the leaves, the berries, the gardens – it was all downright lovely!

 

So I figured I’d simply let the pictures speak for themselves.  Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Willowwood Arboretum a great little place to visit for a couple hours, to wander around, to enjoy the quiet gardens and easy paths.  You could also walk the longer trails – I haven’t, mostly because I’ve either had non-hikers with me, or I wasn’t sure they weren’t hunting in the nearby woods.  (Technically, on Saturday in October, hunting wasn’t allowed, but that didn’t mean everyone was paying attention to the law.)  No matter the non-snowy season, it seems Willowwood has something worth seeing!

Round Trip Distance: Depends; a couple miles maybe

Elevation Change: Negligable

Fees: Free to the public

Facilities: Restrooms in the Shingle Barn near the parking area.

Hours: 8am to dusk, year round.  Note that hunting is allowed in the surrounding woods in the fall.

Trail

Road

Signs

Scenery

Would I go 100 miles out of my way for this?

Overall Rating:

Key GPS Coordinates for the Willowwood Arboretum

Parking area: 40.72530N / 074.69933W (40° 43′ 31.0794″ / 74° 41′ 57.588″) (304 ft.; 92 m)

Mediterranean Garden: 40.72557N / 074.69917W (40° 43′ 32.0514″ / 74° 41′ 57.0114″) (359 ft.; 109 m)

Pan Garden: 40.72657N / 074.69865W (40° 43′ 35.652″ / 74° 41′ 55.14″) (340 ft.; 103 m)

Tubbs Residence – Porch: 40.72654N / 074.69862W (40° 43′ 35.5434″ / 74° 41′ 55.032″) (341 ft.; 104 m)

Japanese Garden: 40.72676N / 074.69839W (40° 43′ 36.3354″ / 74° 41′ 54.204″) (336 ft.; 102 m)

Stone bridge: 40.72676N / 074.69823W (40° 43′ 36.3354″ / 74° 41′ 53.6274″) (342 ft.; 104 m)

Cottage Garden: 40.72600N / 074.69861W (40° 43′ 33.5994″ / 74° 41′ 54.996″) (351 ft.; 107 m)

Getting to the Willowwood Arboretum

From Chester, NJ, drive south on US-206 for almost 7 miles to Pottersville Road (there is a stoplight here).  Turn right onto Pottersville Road and drive approximately 0.5 miles to Lisk Hill Road.  Drive another 0.1 miles to a T intersection and turn right.  Continue 0.3 miles to a Y intersection and turn left onto Longview Road.  If you’re not from NJ, by now you’ll probably be scratching your head and wondering why these roads aren’t one-way and are actually real roads.  Don’t worry.  This is just a lesser-known part of New Jersey.  Keep driving on Longview Road for 0.5 miles, then turn left at the entrance to the Willowwood Arboretum.  Be forewarned that the entrance road is graded gravel and a very rough cattle guard is at the beginning of the road.  It’s certainly accessible, though, as at one point we were driving a Camry and were ok (just take it slow).

If you’re coming from I-287, take Exit 22 (that’s Exit 22 if coming from the north and Exit 22B if coming from the south) onto US-206 North.  Drive almost 7 miles to Pottersville Road; turn left and follow the directions above to the Arboretum.

If you’re coming from I-80, take Exit 27A to US-206 South; drive almost 8 miles to the middle of Chester, then follow the directions above to the Arboretum.

Zoom map out to browse nearby hikes & places of interest

 

This Week’s Featured Product!

If gardens is your thing, you might just enjoy this excellent book, capturing the best public and private gardens of the Garden State – New Jersey!