Updated October 2026. Tourne Park, officially Tourne County Park, is the 550 plus acre Morris County park where most Denville families learn to hike, sled and picnic. The draw is a short, steady climb to the top of the Tourne, an 897 foot hill with a view of the New York City skyline, but the park also has about a dozen miles of trails, a wildflower garden, a softball field and access to the Rockaway River.
The facts below come from the Morris County Park Commission’s park page, rules and official trail guide, checked in October 2026, with trail details cross-checked against the New York New Jersey Trail Conference. For other places to get outside, see our Denville lakes, parks and trails guide and our list of things to do in Denville.
Quick facts
- Address: McCaffrey Lane and Old Boonton Road, Denville, NJ 07834
- Run by: Morris County Park Commission, (973) 326-7600
- Hours: Daily, sunrise to sunset
- Cost: No entry fee listed
- Size: More than 550 acres
- Trails: 17 blazed segments totaling roughly 11.7 miles
- Summit: 897 feet, with a New York City skyline view
- Dogs: Allowed on a leash of 6 feet or less
Getting there and parking
The park’s address is in Denville, which makes it one of the closest county parks for township residents. The main entrance is McCaffrey Lane, off Old Boonton Road. The Trail Conference describes a large lot on the right side of McCaffrey Lane with a trail map kiosk at the end, plus a second lot near the base of the DeCamp Trail descent that has an accessible restroom. A tiny four car lot down the hill fills fast, so do not count on it. The road up the mountain itself is closed to cars, so everyone walks or rides from the lots.
McCaffrey Lane has a long history of its own: the park commission says Samuel Ogden laid it out in 1767 to haul iron ore from the Hibernia mines to his ironworks in Old Boonton.
Trails at Tourne Park
The commission’s trail guide lists 17 blazed segments. Most are natural surface trails rated 2 to 4 on the county’s 6 point terrain scale, meaning moderate footing with some rocks and roots. The longest is the Red Trail at 3.1 miles, which loops much of the park and doubles as the wide gravel Overlook Trail in places. Mountain biking and horseback riding are allowed on many segments, so stay alert on the wider paths.
DeCamp Trail to the summit
The route most people want. The DeCamp Trail is the old road Clarence Addington DeCamp built to the top by hand. Follow the Top of the Tourne signs. The Trail Conference puts the climb at about 300 feet over 0.6 mile, roughly a 10 percent grade with no steep scrambles, which makes it a manageable climb for most families. The top is a grassy clearing with picnic tables. A rock ledge to the east looks out to the Manhattan skyline on clear days, and a 9/11 memorial sits nearby. A bench on the west side looks over the Rockaway Valley toward Green Pond Mountain.
Emily K. Hammond Wildflower Trail
A 0.41 mile gravel loop, rated 2 out of 6, so it is one of the easiest walks in the park. The commission says it holds about 250 species of native plants and wildflowers. It sits inside a deer fence, so close the gate behind you, and volunteers from the Rockaway Valley Garden Club maintain it. Visit in April and May for peak bloom.
Other routes worth knowing
- Swamp Trail: passes Denture Rock, one of the park’s big glacial boulders.
- Ogden Trail: a wide dirt road the Trail Conference says was built in 1898 for a railroad that never ran.
- Brookside Trail: crosses Tourne Brook on two footbridges.
- Yellow Trail: 1.24 miles of gravel surface.
Download the commission’s printable trail map or use its MCPC Explorer web app, which shows your location and lets you save maps offline.
Mouse Cradle Rock and other landmarks
Near the southwest summit sits Mouse Cradle Balancing Rock, a 54 ton glacial erratic balanced on two points of a ledge. DeCamp named it in 1897 after finding a mouse nest in a crack in the rock. Denture Rock, another massive glacial boulder, is on the lower trails.
Picnics, ball field and playground
The park has first come picnic sites plus a reservable group picnic site for up to 50 people and a reservable picnic shelter, all with tables, benches and grills. Both reservable spots sit next to a recreational softball field, used mostly for pickup wiffleball, and an open play field. The commission also lists a playground. Any club, business or group of 25 or more needs a reservation and a permit. Charcoal only in the grills.
Sledding, skiing and winter
The Tourne is a classic Denville snow day stop. The park commission lists sledding, snowshoeing and cross country skiing as winter activities, and Morris County Tourism points to several hills of different steepness and good parking access. County rules say sledding is allowed only at the times and places the commission designates, so follow posted signs.
Dogs, bikes, fishing and rules
- Dogs: welcome on a leash no longer than 6 feet. Bring bags.
- Biking and horses: both allowed on designated trails.
- Water: the Rockaway River access area is open for fishing, canoeing and kayaking.
- Not allowed: alcohol without a group permit, feeding animals, motorized off road vehicles, and removing plants or rocks.
- Closing: parks close at sunset.
A short history of the Tourne
The name comes from a Dutch word for lookout or mountain. The land was surveyed in 1715 as part of the Great Boonton Tract, and David Ogden, colonial attorney general of New Jersey, bought it in 1759. The park commission notes that cannonballs for the Continental Army were made in this iron district during the Revolution.
The person most tied to the park is Clarence Addington DeCamp (1859 to 1948), who inherited and bought much of the land, built two roads to the summit with hand tools and levers, and invited the public to walk it. The commission calls him one of Morris County’s first conservationists. The county bought its first parcel on July 24, 1958, and opened Tourne County Park in 1960.
Frequently asked questions
Is Tourne Park in Denville or Boonton?
Both, in a sense. The Morris County Park Commission lists the park’s address as McCaffrey Lane and Old Boonton Road, Denville, but the 550 plus acre park stretches across Denville, Boonton Township, Mountain Lakes and Parsippany.
How long is the hike to the top of the Tourne?
The DeCamp Trail climbs about 300 feet over roughly 0.6 mile at an average grade near 10 percent, according to the New York New Jersey Trail Conference. The summit sits at 897 feet.
Can you see New York City from Tourne Park?
Yes. On a clear day the summit has a view east to the New York City skyline, and there is a 9/11 memorial near the top.
Are dogs allowed at Tourne County Park?
Yes, on a leash no longer than 6 feet. That is the Morris County Park Commission rule for all of its parks, and the park’s trail guide lists leashed pets as an allowed use.
Is there sledding at Tourne Park?
Yes. The park commission lists sledding as a winter activity, and county tourism officials note the park has several hills of different steepness. Sledding is allowed only where the commission designates it.
What are the hours at Tourne County Park?
The park is open daily from sunrise to sunset, and the park commission lists no entry fee.
Heading out with kids or the dog this weekend? See our Denville parks and trails guide for more options close to home.
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