Overlooks
Information on this page current as of January 24, 2009There are a number of locations to enjoy cliff-top views in the NJ Section. The most easily accessible are listed here, south to north in the park:
Allison Park
Rockefeller Lookout
Alpine Lookout
The Women’s Federation Monument
State Line LookoutAllison Park
Hudson Terrace (between the George Washington Bridge and Palisade Avenue)
Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632
201 768-1360 (general information)Site Description
A landscaped, scenic cliff-top park with scenic overlooks, ornamental gardens, paved walkways, restrooms, and drinking fountains.
Hours and Fees
Grounds are open year-round, daylight hours. No fee for parking.
Rockefeller Lookout
Northbound Palisades Interstate Parkway (about 1 mi. north of Exit 1)
Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632
201 768-1360 (general information)Site Description
A pull-off overlook with scenic views of the Hudson River, northern Manhattan, Spuyten Duyvil, and the southern Bronx. Named in honor of John D. Rockefeller Jr. for his role in preserving the the lands on the summit of the Palisades and creating the Palisades Interstate Parkway.
Hours and Fees
Grounds are open year-round, daylight hours. No fee for parking. No facilities available.
Alpine Lookout
Northbound Palisades Interstate Parkway (about 3 mi. north of Exit 1)
Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632
201 768-1360 (general information)Site Description
A pull-off overlook with scenic views of the Hudson River, Yonkers, and Westchester County.
Hours and Fees
Grounds are open year-round, daylight hours. No fee for parking. No facilities available.
Women’s Federation Monument
Alpine, NJ
201 768-1360 (general information)Site Description
A scenic cliff-top overlook area and monument to the New Jersey State Federation of Women’s Clubs, honoring the role they played in shepherding the creation of the Interstate Commission to preserve the Palisades at the turn of the twentieth century.
Hours and Fees
Grounds are open year-round, daylight hours. Trail access only, no facilities available. The most direct access is from a pedestrian bridge crossing the Parkway from U.S. Route 9W (follow the blue-and-white-blazed Forest View Trail); additional access can be obtained from State Line Lookout (hiking instructions), or by following the aqua-blazed Long Path north from Park Headquarters (about two mi.). No parking fees are charged at these areas.
State Line Lookout (Lookout Inn)
Opposite median U-Turn for Exit 3, northbound Palisades Interstate Parkway
Alpine, NJ 07620
201 750-0465 (Lookout Inn)
Site Description
Situated at the highest point on the Palisades Cliffs (elevation 532 ft.), Point Lookout at State Line Lookout commands unparalleled views of the Hudson and Westchester (New York) County, and on to the Long Island Sound. The area offers access to some of the best hiking in the NJ Section, as well, along with over five miles of cross-country ski trails. Restrooms, public phone, and accessible overlook are provided.
Map of cross-country ski trails
A note on winter use: State Line Lookout and Lookout Inn may be closed during a significant weather event. When a barrier has been put in place by the Park on any of its roadways, including the access road to the Lookout area, the roadway beyond that barrier is to be considered closed for all use; those going beyond such a barrier are subject to prosecution. The State Line area will be plowed and open for cross-country skiing after the Parkway and other critical park roads have been completely cleared and deemed safe by the Parkway Police. Visitors can expect the area to be open for skiing within 24 hours of the end of a typical storm event.
Lookout Inn, a refreshment stand and gift shop, provides a lunch and snack menu as well as a wide variety of books, gifts, and other items of interest. Built in 1937 by the Works Progress Administration, the building looks like a miniature ski chalet, built of native stone and chestnut wood. The building plays host to special programs throughout the year and is wheelchair accessible. See also: “Welcome to Lookout Inn.”
“Mad about Hawks”… Jonathan Wood and the Raptor Project visit State Line Lookout for an annual program co-sponsored with the Nature Program Cooperative… (Click here to see more photos of this event.)Hours and Fees
Grounds are open year-round, daylight hours. No fee for parking. Lookout Inn hours vary with the length of the day. Generally, it is open from 9 am until about one hour before dusk.
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