Alonzo F Bonsal Wildlife Preserve

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. Photography – As someone who loves capturing nature’s beauty, I was delighted to find so many photo-worthy spots: the gentle river, tall trees, pops of wildflowers, and all those small, magical details. Maintenance – Everything felt clean, safe, and clearly cared for, which made the visit even more enjoyable. Parking – On my first visit, Google Maps sent me to the wrong side of the preserve, so I had a little adventure finding the real entrance — a narrow path tucked between two houses that’s easy to miss. There’s no official parking lot, so you’ll need to park on the street. Admission & Hours – It’s free and open every day, so you can visit whenever inspiration strikes. Overall – This is the kind of place you go when you need a short walk, a quiet pause, or a creative recharge with your camera in hand. Small, but full of heart. 🌿

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!

For those seeking a quiet and remote walk, this is it. A preserve on its way to escalation offering a slice of flavor we all can use from the ordinary. Hidden in a rural neighborhood yet uniquely attainable from 2 entrances with a simple loop thru park. Go on a sunny or even snowy day.

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.

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.