Eco-Cruises

These are the trips you’ve heard about and read about in
The New York Times, The Record and the Star-Ledger.

Come join us for an incredible journey on the Hackensack River
and through the marshes of the New Jersey Meadowlands…

Eco-Cruise

Eco-Cruises are fun, educational tours of the Hackensack River and the NJ Meadowlands aboard Hackensack Riverkeeper's specially-rigged pontoon boats, the Robert H. Boyle and the Edward Abbey. Captain Bill Sheehan started our Eco-Cruise program in 1994 to increase public awareness of the lower Hackensack River watershed as a vital natural and recreational resource. Since then more than 25,000 people have traveled with us. Eco-Cruises generally take between two and two and one-half hours and are fully narrated by a US Coast Guard-licensed Captain.

Our Itinerary

Most Eco-Cruises originate from the docks at Laurel Hill County Park in Secaucus, NJ and take participants on an excursion through the tidal portion of the Hackensack River and its estuary, the Meadowlands. Most Eco-Cruises take place along a seven mile stretch of river between Little Ferry in the north and Jersey City to the south.

Our choice of route depends on the tides and the time of day. Some of the places we might visit are: Bellman's Creek, Chromakill Creek, the Mill Creek Marsh, Kingsland Creek, Berry's Creek and the Berry's Creek Canal. Sometimes we even travel as far north as Hackensack or as far south as Newark Bay.

The highlight of every Eco-Cruise is a trip through the Sawmill Creek Wildlife Management Area, called by many “The Jewel of the Meadowlands”, the Sawmill is home to a staggering amount of wildlife including shorebirds, waterfowl, herons, raptors, muskrats and more. Wherever we travel, we endeavor to provide the best wildlife-watching opportunities possible while relating the natural and human history of the region.

On the river


There are two different ways you can take an Eco-Cruise with us: CHARTERS and OPEN ECO-CRUISES:

CHARTER ECO-CRUISES

CHARTER ECO-CRUISES are GROUP trips that engage an entire boat (or both boats) for your club, class, Scout group, etc. Charters can be booked for any date or time from the beginning of May through the end of October based upon availability. We ask the following donations:

$300.00 per boat for adult groups / family events (15 participants MAX)
$250.00 per boat for school /Scout groups (15-17 participants MAX)
$300.00 per boat for a Combination Program (school field trip including shoreside activity for up to 34 students & adults lasting up to four hours duration)

IMPORTANT! PLEASE NOTE: Due to problems with untimely cancellations coupled with increasing demand for our programs, a $100 non-refundable* deposit is now required when booking Charter Eco-Cruises.

*While non-refundable, deposits can be applied in full to any re-scheduled Eco-Cruise without expiration. Non-refundability does not apply to weather-related cancellations.

OPEN ECO-CRUISES

OPEN ECO-CRUISES are scheduled in advance and are appropriate for individuals, couples, families and the like.
PLEASE NOTE: They are not for group outings. Scroll down for the 2008 Schedule. For seats on Open Eco-Cruises, we ask the following donations:

$25 per adult (ages 13 and up)
$10 per child ages 4-12.*

*In determining what constitutes an “adult” we consider average size and weight for safety’s sake. Also, Eco-Cruises are not recommended for children under the age of 4.

Reservations are required and must be secured with a credit card. To reserve or to get more information, please contact our Program Director Hugh Carola at 201-968-0808. Upon reserving, your trip confirmation and directions will be mailed to you.

2008 Open Eco-Cruise Schedule
 

MAY

Sunday, May 11, Noon

Sunday, May 11, 3 PM

Saturday, May 24, 1 PM

Sunday, May 25, 4 PM

Saturday, May 31, 10 AM *

 

JUNE

Wednesday, June 4, 5 PM *

Sunday, June 8, 3 PM *

Thursday, June 12, 6 PM *

Tuesday, June 17, 6 PM

Saturday, June 216 PM

Wednesday, June 25, 6 PM

Friday, June 27, 6 PM

 

JULY

Saturday, July 5, 6 PM *

Tuesday, July 8, 6 PM *

Thursday, July 10, 6 PM *

Monday, July 14, 6 PM *

Wednesday, July 16, 6 PM

Wednesday, July 23, 6 PM *

Friday, July 25, 6 PM

Wednesday, July 30, 6 PM

 

AUGUST

Mon, August 4, 6 PM

Thursday, August 7, 6 PM

Saturday, August 9, 6 PM

Saturday, August 16, 5 PM

Saturday, August 23, 5 PM *

Sunday, August 24, 3 PM *

Saturday, August 30, 5 PM *

Sunday, August 31, 3 PM *

 

 

SEPTEMBER

Saturday, September 6, 5 PM *

Sunday, September 7, 3 PM

Saturday, September 20, 3 PM *

Sunday, September 21, 3 PM *

Saturday, September 27, Noon *

Sunday, September 28, Noon *

 

OCTOBER

Saturday, October 4, Noon

Sunday, October 5, Noon


* BOTH boats available / up to 30 people.

Crossed-out dates indicate the boat is full for that trip (or date is past).

For printable directions, return to the Eco-program page.

See you at the River!