Planning Your Visit
Admission, Dining, and Parking
Admission
Everyone is welcome to visit Presby and enjoy our unique iris collection during the annual spring Bloom Season, typically mid-May through the first week of June (please check each spring for exact dates!) While there is no admission fee to visit our gorgeous iris collection, Presby depends on donations to fund its entire operation. Suggested donation is $10 per person. During the annual spring Bloom Season our Garden is open for visiting and viewing on weekdays, weekends and Memorial Day. During Bloom Season the Walther House is open 11am-3pm, Tuesday-Sunday’s & closed on Mondays. Physically challenged visitors might have difficulty accessing the Walther House the entrance has a 7 step staircase. Come visit the gardens and help us celebrate 97 years of blooming!
Dining
Presby does not have a restaurant on-site, however, a limited number of picnic tables are available above the gardens. No reservation required. Access to the picnic tables is through the garden and up the grassy hill might be difficult to access if mobility is limited.
Parking
Presby’ does not have on-site parking. There is street parking along Upper Mountain Avenue on the garden side. As visitors come and go there are usually spots to be found however, parking becomes very difficult during high peak of Bloom Season. In addition, the garden is accessible from Highland Avenue the street directly above the garden’s access would be difficult if a visitor has limited mobility. To access Highland Avenue from the north, coming from the Route 46 side, pass the gardens on your right and take the 2nd right turn on to Windsor Place. Turn right at the stop sign on to Highland Avenue and when you see the gardens below, park along the street and walk down. To access Highland Avenue from the south, coming from Bloomfield Avenue, pass the gardens on your left and make the first left on to Mt. Hebron Road. At the top of the street, turn left and travel past the private homes and the first park until you see the gardens below to your left. Park along the street and walk down. Parking is prohibited on upper mountain avenue past presby’s driveway. the montclair police department will issue ticket
Accessibility
Please keep in mind that this facility is not 100% accessible. The garden is surrounded by grass the surface is uneven some of the beds have steep inclines. It is difficult to push heavy chairs over the grass we suggest being very careful and go very slowly. The garden does have a stone flat surface adjacent to the garden which you can view the flowers from. The gift shop is only accessible via a 7-step staircase with a wooden handrail7
Directions
280 East or West
Take the Exit 8 ramp leading North to Cedar Grove / Prospect Avenue. Go through major intersection of Prospect Ave. with Eagle Rock Avenue. Travel to next major intersection of Prospect with Bloomfield Avenue, Exxon on the left. Turn right at the light onto Bloomfield Avenue. Make second left onto Upper Mountain Avenue – across the street is a playing field. (You have traveled one block too far if you get to the light at the Montclair Art Museum.) Travel 2 miles.
New Jersey Turnpike North & South
Get off at exit 11: Garden State Parkway. Take Garden State Parkway North.
Garden State Parkway North
Take the Garden State Parkway North to exit 151 -Watchung Avenue, Montclair. At the light at the top of the exit ramp, make a left turn onto Watchung Avenue. Take Watchung Ave. as far as it goes, at one point following it under a railroad trestle and bearing right on the continuation of Watchung Avenue. At the “T” intersection (stop sign) turn right onto Upper Mountain Avenue. Travel about 1 mile.
Garden State Parkway South
Exit Garden State Parkway at exit 154, Clifton. After paying toll, follow sign for Grove Street only. At the stop sign, turn left onto Grove Street. At the corner with the huge cemetery turn right at the traffic light onto Mt. Hebron Road. Pass through traffic light at Valley Road, and over the RR tracks. At the stop sign at the next intersection, turn left on to Upper Mountain Avenue.
Route 80 West from the George Washington Bridge
Route 80 West to the Garden State Parkway South. Exit Garden State Parkway at exit 154, Clifton. After paying toll, follow sign for Grove Street only. At the stop sign, turn left onto Grove Street and travel approx. 2 miles. At the cemetery turn right at the traffic light onto Mt. Hebron Road. Travel to the first stop sign and turn left on to Upper Mountain Avenue. Travel ½ mile.
Lincoln Tunnel / Route 3 West
Exit Route 3 at Grove Street. At the stop sign at the top of the ramp, turn left onto Grove Street. At the cemetery turn right at light onto Mt. Hebron Rd. Go to the first stop sign. Turn left on to Upper Mountain Avenue. Travel ½ mile.
Western New Jerset (Routes 287, 80 & 46) & Pennsylvania
Take Route 287 to Route 80 East to Route 46 East (exit 53) or Route 80 East to Route 46 East (exit 53) or Route 46 East. Take Route 46 east through Totowa and Little Falls. Pass exits for Browertown Road, Great Notch and Lower Notch Roads and Clove Road. Take the Valley Road exit. At the stop sign, go right on to Valley Road. At Montclair State University, turn right onto Normal Avenue. At the traffic light, turn left onto Upper Mountain Avenue. Travel ½ mile.
New Jersey Transit Line #28
Take the #28 towards Montclair State University. Get off at Valley Road and Laurel Place. Walk up Laurel Place, over the train tracks, to Upper Mountain Avenue. Turn right and walk 2/10 mile.
New York by Bus
Take the DeCamp Bus Line #66 from Port Authority. Get off at Valley Road and Laurel Place (Keil’s Pharmacy). Walk up Laurel Place, over the train tracks, to Upper Mountain Avenue. Turn right and walk 2/10 mile.
NY Penn Station via the Montclair-Boonton Line
Weekdays only. Exit at Mountain Avenue (Upper Montclair), the stop nearest to Presby. After getting off the train walk up Laurel Place, over the train tracks, to Upper Mountain Avenue. Turn right and walk 2/10 mile.