Mendham Borough · New Jersey
Hidden Pond Tree Farm
Find a field or ready-cut fir, with train rides, open fires and a separately booked Santa expedition.
At a glance
Plan your visit.
- Santa Expedition, age 1 and over
- $27 per person
- Tree season
- Opens November 21; closed Thanksgiving
- Find the farm
- 4 West Field Road, Mendham, NJ 07945
- Farm visits, current tree availability and entry waits973-865-6362
Plus 6.625% tax; advance ticket required
All tree prices ↓Hours: Daily 8am–5pm during tree season
Dates & hours ↓
Trees & prices.
| Selection & size | Price |
|---|---|
| Santa Expedition, age 1 and over | $27 per person Plus 6.625% tax; advance ticket required |
| Santa Expedition, under 1 | Free Must sit on a parent’s lap |
Dates & hours.
Tree season: Opens November 21; closed Thanksgiving
| Published tree-selling schedule | Hours |
|---|---|
| Tree shopping from November 21 | Daily 8am–5pm; closed Thanksgiving |
| Ordinary Christmas train | Weekends all day; weekdays after 3pm; weather permitting |
| Santa Expedition · November 25, 27–28; December 3–6, 10–13 and 17–23 | Advance timed tickets; departures at 40-minute intervals; arrive 15 minutes early |
Santa tickets and professional photo appointments are separate from ordinary tree shopping. Check remaining departure availability before travelling.
Choose your Christmas tree.
Hidden Pond has cut-your-own field trees up to 9 feet and a separate pre-cut selection of Fraser, concolor and Canaan fir up to 14 feet. Meyer spruce is also listed among its trees; ask which varieties and heights are available in the field that day. Staff supplies twine and ties the tree to your vehicle, and stands are sold for the sizes offered.
Tree shopping begins November 21, with daily hours of 8am–5pm and a Thanksgiving closure. Bring cash or a personal check; an ATM is on site. Five portable toilets are provided, but the farm has no running water. Weekend entry can pause when parking fills, so call about the current wait or consider a weekday.
Tree species
- Fraser fir
- Concolor fir
- Canaan fir
- Meyer spruce
The farm visit.
A train ride and a fireside break
The ordinary Christmas train runs throughout weekend opening and after 3pm on weekdays, subject to weather. The homepage posts $4 per person while the FAQ still lists $3; confirm the rate before riding. This daytime ride is separate from the reserved Santa Expedition.
The Snack Shack offers hot chocolate and small snacks, with bonfires, marshmallow roasting, music and hayrides adding to the farm outing when conditions permit. Check which activities are running on your visit day.
Wreaths and fresh holiday greens
The farm makes wreaths on site using fresh evergreen material and boxwood. Centerpieces, tabletop decorations and mailbox pieces provide other choices for decorating beyond the tree. Ask about the available designs or a particular size before making a special trip.
Reserve the Santa Expedition
This separately booked nighttime train outing takes families to Santa and Mrs. Claus for a visit lasting about 30–40 minutes. The announced booking calendar includes November 25, 27 and 28; December 3–6, 10–13 and 17–23. Departures run at 40-minute intervals, with availability varying by session. Select a date and time before travelling.
Each rider aged one and over needs a $27 ticket plus 6.625% sales tax. A child under one rides free only on a parent’s lap. Arrive 15 minutes early, dress for the weather and leave strollers off the train. Departures leave on time; staff may try to help late arrivals but cannot promise another slot.
All ticket sales are final, including illness or weather. Family photographs are welcome during the expedition, but professional photographers are not permitted on this program.
Bringing a dog
Dogs must remain leashed under an adult’s control and at least six feet from other visitors and dogs. Bring cleanup bags, collect waste promptly and use the proper bins. Keep the dog close through the working fields and shared visitor areas.
Arrange professional photography
Professional photographers can request hourly or day access for their own clients. These are farm-location fees; a photographer’s services are separate. The farm must accept the signed agreement and confirm the dates before a shoot. The policy offers weekday and weekend appointments through November 22, with no weekend sessions afterward; ask directly about any later weekday availability.
Photographers pay the farm on arrival before shooting. All setup, sessions and breakdown must fit between 7am and 5pm. Fields and settings are shared rather than exclusive, and public opening can restrict particular areas. Arrange outside vendors in advance; hired Santa or holiday characters are prohibited while the farm is open to the public.
Clients park in the lot and may walk up to a quarter mile, about ten minutes, over uneven ground and high grass. Bring suitable shoes and a wagon for equipment or props; client vehicles cannot enter the fields. Any vintage-truck photo prop requires a separate arrangement and suitable field conditions. Children under twelve need an adult with them, and leashed pets require immediate cleanup. Portable toilets are available, with no running water.
Contact photos@hiddenpondtreefarm.com or use the policy’s preferred text number, 973-865-6362, to request arrangements. The farm will try to accommodate weather rescheduling; confirm the plan directly. Send an agreement by the stated email or mailing address, while clients use the visitor entrance at 4 West Field Road.
| Arrangement | Posted farm fee | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Day access | $350 per photographer per day | One photographer with multiple client sessions; each additional photographer pays $350 per day. |
| Short session | $110 | One photographer and one client; maximum one hour. |
| Red Jeep photo prop | $350 per day | Optional vintage 1947 Jeep CJ2A; arrange separately. |
| Christmas Cabin photo prop | $350 per day | Exterior only; arrange separately. |
Other farms to compare.
- Anne Ellen Christmas Tree FarmManalapan Township, New Jersey
Walk mixed fir, spruce and pine fields, or choose a pre-cut tree under the lights; the shops and separately ticketed Village offer different ways to extend the visit.
- Conover’s FarmWall Township, New Jersey
Select and tag a field tree for staff cutting, with heights from four feet to more than twelve and a separate reservation-and-pickup routine.
- Keris Tree Farm & Christmas ShopUpper Freehold Township, New Jersey
Compare field-grown fir, spruce and pine with pre-cut noble and Fraser fir, then browse a Christmas shop with handmade bells, ornaments and fresh greenery.