Washington Rock & Roll Tour

The Washington Rock & Roll Tour is named after Washington Rock, a valuable lookout point for the Army during the War of 1812. From the vantage point of this natural rock outcropping, Essex County and the Newark Militia were first warned that the British had launched an attack westward to “the Gap”, (Hobart Gap), a natural pathway to Washington’s troops encamped at Morristown in June of 1780.

The tour directions begin and end at the parking lot of Bernard M. Degnan Park adjacent to West Orange High School on Pleasant Valley Way in West Orange. The 22.4 mile tour reveals the scenic beauty of Essex County and passes by a number of cultural and historic points of interest along the way.

Essex County is one of the four original counties in New Jersey and the first county in the United States to have its own parks department. Several Essex County parks are featured on this tour.

Early in the ride you pass by 54-acre Verona Park with a beautiful 13-acre lake in the southern part of Verona. Be forewarned, at the beginning and end of the tour, the route crosses the First Watchung Mountain two times with steep climbs and picturesque views to the New York City skyline. Next you pass the Montclair Arts Museum which collects, preserves and presents American and Native American art. The Edison National Historic Site can be explored on Main Street in West Orange where Edison worked for the last 44 years of his life and developed more than half of his total patents. Out of the West Orange laboratories came the motion picture camera, vastly improved phonographs, sound recordings, silent and sound movies and the nickel-iron alkaline electric storage battery. The Edison National Historic Site provides a unique opportunity to interpret and experience important aspects of America's industrial, social and economic past, and to learn from the legacy of the world's best known inventor. Next you will pass the Millburn Train Station which was one of the original stations served by the Morris and Essex Railroad.

Towards the end of the ride, you will pass the South Mountain Reservation which is home to the Turtle Back Zoo, Richard Codey Arena and the Washington Rock Lookout. This 2,047-acre reservation lies between the first and second ridges of the Watchung Mountain Range. For a side trip to visit the Turtle Back Zoo which is about a quarter of a mile off the route, turn right at the traffic light at Cherry Lane. No matter what the season, Turtle Back Zoo is a great place to visit with lots of activity going on every day. When visiting the zoo make sure to get there early as the animals are usually more active first thing in the morning. If you cannot visit early in the morning, late afternoon is also a great time to visit, as the animals are being fed their afternoon meals. Cool and overcast days are also a wonderful time at the zoo as animals tend to rest in the shade on hot days.

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