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Harding Township is the quiet, wooded corner of Morris County between Morristown and Basking Ridge, and it holds two of the best outdoor days in the county: the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge visitor center and the Jockey Hollow side of Morristown National Historical Park. Add a stop at a farm market that has been in the same family since 1922 and you have an easy half day close to home.
The township covers about 20.5 square miles and had 3,871 residents at the 2020 Census. It was carved out of what was then Passaic Township (today Long Hill) on September 1, 1922, and it is named for President Warren G. Harding. Most locals know it by its village names, especially New Vernon, where the township has its mailing address. There is no train station in Harding, so plan on driving, and plan on narrow, winding country roads.
The Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center
The Helen C. Fenske Visitor Center sits at 32 Pleasant Plains Road in Harding (the mailing address says Basking Ridge). Inside are exhibits on the refuge’s habitats and wildlife, a History Hallway that tells how local residents stopped the Great Swamp from becoming a jetport in 1959, a children’s corner and a volunteer-run nature shop. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service currently lists the visitor center as open Tuesdays and Thursdays through Sundays from 10 AM to 4 PM. Check the Great Swamp visitor page before you go.
The short trails here are perfect for kids and first-timers, as described by the Friends of Great Swamp:
- Bockoven Trail: a half-mile loop through a meadow and woods around a vernal pool, ending at a view of the Passaic River beside a centuries-old white oak. The first stretch is accessible stone dust to a platform over the pool.
- Nature Detective Trail: a short woodland loop with 11 hands-on stops built for young kids.
- White Oak Trail: a mostly flat one-mile loop across the street, with boardwalk sections, bluebird boxes in the meadows and another vernal pool platform.
- Overlook parking area: also on Pleasant Plains Road, with two viewing scopes for birding without a hike.
Tip: parts of the refuge are open to hunting in season. If you hike the White Oak Trail or the Wilderness Area trails then, the refuge asks you to stay on marked trails and wear blaze orange visible from all sides. For more places to spot owls, herons and eagles, see our guide to the best places to see wildlife in Morris County.
Jockey Hollow and the Wick House
During the brutal “hard winter” of 1779 to 1780, George Washington’s Continental Army camped on Henry Wick’s roughly 1,400-acre farm at Jockey Hollow. Today it is the wooded heart of Morristown National Historical Park, and the Tempe Wick House at Jockey Hollow is one of Harding’s best-known historic sites.
Start at the Jockey Hollow Visitor Center (586 Tempe Wick Road, which uses a Morristown mailing address), open Thursday through Monday from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The Wick House is also open Thursday through Monday, though hours can vary, so the park asks you to check at the visitor center on the day you visit. Park buildings close on Thanksgiving Day, December 25 and January 1, and the grounds open daily at sunrise with a closing time that shifts by season. The trails through Jockey Hollow are some of the best in the county, and they appear in our list of the best hiking trails in Morris County.
Wightman Farms
On Route 202 at 1111 Mount Kemble Avenue, Wightman Farms has been family owned and operated since 1922, the same year Harding became a township. It is the township’s go-to stop for hayrides, pumpkins and pick-your-own seasons, and the farm market is a reliable place to grab pies and fresh produce on the way home. Seasons and hours change through the year, so check the farm’s site or call (973) 425-9819 before you head over.
Historic Harding: New Vernon and the Old Villages
Harding is a patchwork of small historic settlements, including New Vernon, Green Village, Logansville, Mount Kemble Lake, Pleasantville and the old mill hamlets of Baileys Mill, Dickson Mill, Olmstead Mills, Osborn Mill and Van Dorens Mill. A slow drive is the best way to see it. Landmarks worth knowing by name include the Peter Kemble House, the Glen Alpin estate and the Tempe Wick Road and Washington Corners Historic District near Jockey Hollow. Most of these are private property, so enjoy them from the road.
Where to Eat Near Harding
Harding is mostly farms, woods and homes, so plan your meal for downtown Morristown, a short drive north of Jockey Hollow. Our guide to the best restaurants in Morristown covers everything from a quick lunch to a big night out. To see how Harding fits into the rest of the county, browse our guide to all 39 Morris County towns.
Harding Township FAQ
Is the Great Swamp visitor center in Harding Township?
Yes. The Helen C. Fenske Visitor Center is at 32 Pleasant Plains Road in Harding Township, though its mailing address reads Basking Ridge.
Is New Vernon the same as Harding Township?
New Vernon is a village inside Harding Township and the township’s mailing address. Harding also includes Green Village, Logansville, Mount Kemble Lake and several other small communities.
Does Harding Township have a train station?
No. The closest NJ Transit stations are in Morristown, Madison, Chatham and Bernardsville.
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