Welcome to Hawk Rise Sanctuary, a 95-acre ecological preserve and wetland complex, which was carved out of a former landfill in Linden, New Jersey.
This park is open from dawn to dusk and includes a “double-legged" lollipop trail of about 1.5 miles that alternates between boardwalk and gravel paths. In addition to panoramic views of the Rahway River, trails are equipped with interpretive signage to provide visitors with habitat descriptions and information regarding over 120 species of birds and other wildlife that have been seen in the area.
Wooded Wetlands
Some of the pools in this woodland were created by man-made disturbances that have changed natural drainage patterns; other pools may have been made by glacial ice carving out depressions. As you explore this area or visit during different times of the year, make note of how the wetland looks and changes with the seasons.
Did you know that wetlands…
- contain some of New Jersey’s most diverse wildlife?
- act as sponges, holding rain and flood water?
- can neutralize toxic substances?
- keep the water supply clean by acting as a filter?
- are a resting place for migratory birds?
- serve as a nursery that shelters, protects and feeds young wildlife?
A Wetland Primer
Rivers, lakes, ponds, streams, marshes, bogs and swamps are all types of wetlands. While these water bodies all look very different, they share some common characteristics:
- Water is present during all or some portion of the year.
- Water-loving plants grow in and around the area.
- Soils are saturated with water, creating low amounts of oxygen in the soil horizon.