The Frelinghuysen Arboretum

127-acre public arboretum on a former Colonial Revival estate.

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The Frelinghuysen Arboretum was once Whippany Farm, the country estate of Frederick and Sara Frelinghuysen. Their daughter Matilda bequeathed the 127-acre property to Morris County in 1969, and it now serves as the Park Commission’s administrative headquarters and main arboretum.

The 1891 Colonial Revival mansion houses the Park Commission’s offices and the horticultural library; only parts of the ground floor are open to walk through, but the architecture and the conservatory are worth a look on the way in.

The grounds are the draw:

  • Themed gardens, including a heritage rose garden, an herb garden, and a winter garden;
  • The arboretum collection with marked specimens across the property;
  • Paved, accessible paths that loop the formal gardens;
  • Woodland trails through the back of the estate, intersecting with the Patriots’ Path.

Free parking; a popular daily stop for dog walkers, stroller traffic, and lunchtime walks for the nearby office crowd.