Mills Reservation

Mills Reservation is a county park that spreads across around 157 acres of woodland in Cedar Grove and Montclair, offering visitors several walking trails. The grounds include five marked paths, including the Mills Loop Trail with its white blazes, which wind through natural landscapes.

The property became a public park in 1952 after David and Ella Mills donated around 118 acres to Essex County as a protected area. This donation allowed the forest to be preserved for future generations.

The New Jersey Audubon Hawk Watch program operates at Mills Reservation since 1959, monitoring raptor migrations through northern New Jersey.

The park is accessible during daylight hours and offers well-marked paths suitable for different ability levels, with the Mills Loop Trail covering around 1.5 miles. Visitors should wear proper footwear and come prepared for uneven terrain.

Since 1959, a raptor monitoring program has operated at this location, tracking bird migrations over northern New Jersey and helping scientists understand seasonal movement patterns. This decades-long observation effort has made the site valuable to bird watchers and researchers.

Location: New Jersey

GPS coordinates: 40.85340,-74.21060

Latest update: December 13, 2025 11:45