Home › New Jersey › Montclair › Alonzo F Bonsal Wildlife Preserve
Alonzo F Bonsal Wildlife Preserve
4.5 ★★★★★ 155 Google reviews · Running trail in Montclair, New Jersey · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Not reported
- Loop distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Alonzo F Bonsal Wildlife Preserve's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Wildlife refuge with a hiking trail suitable for kids and leashed dogs.
What runners say about Alonzo F Bonsal Wildlife Preserve
“Great, beautiful preserve in the middle of Montclair.”
“Nice and quiet, barely anyone there, and some of the trails get blocked off but besides that it’s amazing for a small little hike.”
“Good place for a leashed dog, we saw one on our walk.”
Great, beautiful preserve in the middle of Montclair. Took about 5 minutes of walking around to realize where the entrance was between the 2 houses (pictured). Street parking. Once you’re inside it’s beautiful and peaceful to walk around for an hour or so. I saw ducks, deer, birds, definitely will be back.
If you’re looking for a peaceful little escape, this preserve is a hidden gem. Walkability – The trail is short, easy, and calm — perfect for when you just want to slow down, breathe, and let nature work its magic.
This is a great little bit of wildlife amongst the suburbs but its also bo secret. There's maybe a mile of trails mostly consisting of one loop. It's a nice place to visit if you want to feel a bit of wildlife without driving too far. It's a good bird watching destination too.
Very nice and clean little wildlife preserve. We saw a ton of wildlife like deers, squirrels, birds, etc… definitely worth a visit and only takes about 20-30 minutes to do the whole trail. Definitely recommend!
Trail conditions & character
“Nice and quiet, barely anyone there, and some of the trails get blocked off but besides that it’s amazing for a small little hike.”
“Great, beautiful preserve in the middle of Montclair.”
“Good place for a leashed dog, we saw one on our walk.”
“Hidden in a rural neighborhood yet uniquely attainable from 2 entrances with a simple loop thru park.”
Plan your run at Alonzo F Bonsal Wildlife Preserve
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Websitemontclairnjusa.org
- Phone+1 973-509-4915
Hours
| Monday | 6 am–7 pm |
| Tuesday | 6 am–7 pm |
| Wednesday | 6 am–7 pm |
| Thursday | 6 am–7 pm |
| Friday | 6 am–7 pm |
| Saturday | 6 am–7 pm |
| Sunday | 6 am–7 pm |
Running trails near Montclair
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Yantacaw Brook Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 157 reviews
Small park featuring trees, flowers and rolling hills.
Mills Reservation
4.7 ★★★★★ 557 reviews
156-acre park offers a range of walking trails on preserved land, native wildlife & scenic outlooks.
Anderson Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 342 reviews
This park was laid out over 100 years ago by the firm of the famous Olmsted brothers.
Edgemont Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 884 reviews
A WWI memorial stands on an island in a pond in the middle of this community park.
West Essex Trail
4.6 ★★★★★ 27 reviews