New Jersey is Full of Them!
Compiled by Wendy Greenberg and Jeffrey E. Tryon
For hikers, and hikers in the making, New Jersey has it all — the Appalachian Trail, hikes by waterfalls, beach hikes, rocky hikes, grassy meadows, state parks, overlooks, challenging hikes, strolling … It’s all there for the adventurous and the mindful walker.
AllTrails.com lists 1,478 hiking trails and 1,032 walking trails in New Jersey. Here is a sampling of popular hikes transversing New Jersey from north to south.
These summaries include information from alltrails.com, njhiking.com, and other websites. To supplement the briefs, these sites list mileage, photos, how to get from point A to point B, where there are restrooms, benches, and sometimes nearby restaurants.
Be inspired. Get motivated.
Take a hike!
High Point State Park Monument. (Photo by Jeffrey E. Tryon)
High Point State Park and High Point Monument
1480 State Route 23, Wantage
nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/parks/highpointstatepark.html
On a clear day you can see Pennsylvania: Hike to the highest elevation in New Jersey and enjoy panoramic views of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York. Anthony and Susie Dryden Kuser donated a monument and 16,000 acres of land to create High Point State Park. A memorial to New Jersey veterans, the 220-foot-tall obelisk has 291 steps inside to the top, and at 1,803 feet marks the highest elevation in the state. A 3.8-mile trail goes from the Appalachian Trail lot to the monument and back, and there is a shorter version, both with varying rocky and smooth terrain. On the way to the monument, a raised observation platform offers panoramic views. Parking is available at multiple lots; however, the office lot has a two-hour limit.
View from Mount Tammany. (Photo by Jeffrey E. Tryon)
Mount Tammany via Red Dot Trail/Mount Minsi (Pa.) and Delaware Water Gap trails / Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Old Mine Road, Hardwick
visitnj.org/delaware-water-gap-national-recreation-area
Mind the Gap: At the border of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, the Delaware River has cut through the Kittatinny Ridge leaving a gap, with Mount Tammany on the New Jersey side, and Mount Minsi on the Pennsylvania side. Awaiting you are nearly 70,000 acres of breathtaking scenery along 40 miles of the Delaware River, winding through the Appalachian Mountains. The length is 3.5 miles to Mount Tammany on the Jersey side; Mount Minsi, 5.5 miles round trip. The terrain is slightly steep, but the payoff is a spectacular view. Photos of Mount Minsi are often mistaken for Mount Tammany, and one can see one from the other. Mount Minsi is known for rhododendrons that bloom in July. Parking may fill up early on nice weekends, but there is a Hiker Shuttle, if running, from Memorial Day through August 31, between Kittatinny Point Visitors Center and the DWG Park and Ride just over the bridge in Pennsylvania. Check gomcta.com for schedules and routes.
Mountain biking on the New Jersey portion of the Appalachian Trail. (Shutterstock.com)
New Jersey portion of Appalachian Trail (with boardwalk section) and Sunfish Pond, Stairway to Heaven
443 Vernon Warwick Road, Vernon Township
takeahike.us/stairway-to-heaven-wawayanda-state-park
The views! After a short approach to Sunfish Pond via Garvey Springs, this hike yields expansive views along the Appalachian Trail, through some beautiful forests to a glacial lake 1,000 feet above the surrounding area. The terrain at Garvey Springs is a short but steep way to get to Sunfish Pond, but the steep climb is at the beginning. Few species live in Sunfish Pond because of its natural acidic composition, but among them are yellow perch and pumpkinseed sunfish. The Stairway to Heaven hike is a 1.3-mile section of the Appalachian Trail in Wawayanda State Park that climbs Wawayanda Mountain and leads to the Pinwheel’s Vista viewpoint of the Vernon Valley, the Kittatinny Ridge, and even the Shawangunk and Catskills. High Point Monument might be seen on a clear day, across the valley along the Kittatinny Ridge, so bring binoculars. Nearby is a hike across a marshy area on a long boardwalk to the Pochuck Suspension Bridge, where there may be turtles below.
Buttermilk Falls in Sussex County
Mountain Road, Layton, Walpack Township
visitnj.org/article/nj-waterfalls
How high is Buttermilk Falls? Answers vary, from 70 feet to 200 feet. But it is generally agreed to be New Jersey’s tallest waterfall. The falls are actually steps away from the parking lot, so it isn’t actually a hike to view it. But elaborate stairs can be climbed to get views from the side and top of the waterfall. Visitors will find a small wheelchair-accessible lot adjacent to the falls, along with a viewing platform that allows one to get close to the cascades. The name is believed to come from the frothy, white appearance of the water as it tumbles down the rocks, resembling buttermilk. For hikers, the 1.4-mile Buttermilk Falls Trail in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area starts with a steep stair climb to the top of Buttermilk Falls and the Appalachian National Scenic Trail for spectacular views of the valley below.
Palisades Interstate Park. (Shutterstock.com)
Palisades Interstate Park
Henry Hudson Drive, Alpine
njpalisades.org/trails.html
Riverside to rocks: From strolls to challenging rock scrambles, there is a lot of variety on the Palisades trails. The park is about 12 miles long and half a mile wide, with 2,500 acres of wild Hudson River shorefront, uplands, and cliffs. The Giant Stairs at The Palisades are not to be confused with Stairway to Heaven. The Giant Stairs is a long section of huge boulders that have tumbled from the Palisades. Surfaces range from flat to very rocky, including a mile of scrambling over large boulders. Hikers are warned that it is steep down and back up from the Shore Trail with steep cliff drop-offs: avoid when wet or icy. But it is said to be a fun and unique hike that features the largest rock scramble available in New Jersey. If you use trekking poles for the steep descent/ascent to the shoreline, be sure to have a way to stow them or strap them to your pack — you need both hands to be free on the Giant Stairs. The Peanut Leap Cascade is a short but steep hike section of the Giant Stairs that avoids the more challenging rock scramble.
Hacklebarney State Park. (Photo by Jeffrey E. Tryon)
Hacklebarney Loop Trail Long Valley, Black River
119 Hacklebarney Road, Long Valley
nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/trailguides/docs/Hacklebarney-Trails.pdf
Along the river: Great for viewing multiple cascades along the Black River, this popular 2.1-mile loop trail near Long Valley is considered a moderately challenging route, good for beginners or for quick hikes. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Dogs are welcome and may be off leash in some areas. This loop hike is said to be relaxing and will take you down into the Black River as well as along Rhinehart Brook, hemlock ravines, and mature hardwood forests. The trails are wide with added gravel. There are a few narrower and rockier trails along the Black River that are more like traditional hiking trails. The trails pass benches and picnic areas, not to mention old (not in use) water fountains built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression.
View from Millford Bluffs. (Shutterstock.com)
Thomas F. Breden Preserve at Milford Bluffs
CR519 / Milford Warren Glen Road, Milford
cnjhiking.com/delaware-delight-thomas-f-breden-preserve
Bluffs Await: Hike to steep cliffs overlooking the Delaware River into Pennsylvania. The Breden Preserve, lauded for its breathtaking views of the Delaware River and beyond, is a mix of forest, fields, and the hot, dry microclimates on the red shale bluff. Unusual for Hunterdon County are the prickly pear cacti found growing along the road at the base of the cliff. Steep cliff edges with crumbly shale rock call for caution. There is a 1.7-mile loop trail, Milford Bluffs Tail, which is considered a moderately challenging route and is great for birding and walking. Leashed dogs are welcome. The Preserve sits atop a plateau and includes woodlots, old fields, and a hemlock-shaded trout stream. With cooperation from a local farmer, late season hay mowing benefits grassland songbirds such as the bluebird, meadowlark, and bobolink that find the high grass to their liking.
Goat Hill Overlook. (Photo by Jeffrey E. Tryon)
Goat Hill Preserve, Lambertville
Parking: 20 George Washington Road
Coon Path, Lambertville
njhiking.com/goat-hill-overlook
High on a hill: This preserve perches on a ridge above the Delaware River just south of Lambertville, offering numerous trails through mature hardwoods and great views of the river to the north, west, and south from overlook points that are dotted along the length of the preserve. Hike to a fantastic view over the Delaware River, Lambertville, and New Hope, Pa. Bowman’s Tower is just visible across the Delaware River in Pa., at the far left. For about 2.4 miles the easy, gravel path is somewhat uphill, and the longer route sports light rocks. The preserve is part of Washington Crossing State Park.
Sourland Mountain Preserve, Devil’s Half-Acre. (Photo by Cristina and Jeff Tryon)
Sourland Mountain Preserve
421 East Mountain Road, Hillsborough
somersetcountyparks.org/sourland-mountain-preserve
Hike the Sourland Mountains: The 6,300-acre preserve occupies a portion of the northeast point of the Sourland Region, which stretches southwest across Hillsborough and Montgomery townships through southern Hunterdon and northern Mercer counties to the Delaware River. Hike over boardwalks and through the boulders of Devil’s Half Acre and Roaring Rocks for about 5.7 miles in this very rocky area with some slight elevation. Mountain biking, horseback riding, and bouldering are also allowed. A shorter trail (4.9 miles) is easy to navigate, with interesting rock formations. Though the trail requires no scrambling, bouldering is allowed here so energetic hikers can clamber around the big rocks in Devil’s Half-Acre. There are boardwalks over potentially wet areas.
Herrontown Woods
600 Snowden Lane
HerrontownWoods.org
Princeton’s own: Herrontown Woods, part of a large corridor of preserved land lying across the eastern end of the Princeton Ridge, offers more than three miles of trails through a peaceful, mature forest. The preserve includes the headwaters of a pristine tributary of Harry’s Brook, and several rocky streams that join near the parking lot. Boulders increase in size and number as trails rise in elevation and are covered in moss and lichen. The 142-acre property is owned by the Municipality of Princeton and cared for by the Friends of Herrontown Woods (FOHW.org). See the Veblen House, a gift from Elizabeth and Oswald Veblen, who was a Princeton University mathematician. The “barden,” a botanical art garden, is an example of harnessing nature to make art. There are some 57 diverse tree species in Herrontown Woods, and more than three miles of trails crisscross the dense growth in this 100-acre preserve with native flora lining the paths.
Mercer Meadows. (Photo by Jeffrey E. Tryon)
Lawrence Hopewell Trail through Mercer Meadows and the Pole Farm
The Historic Hunt House
197 Blackwell Road, Pennington
lhtrail.org
LHT: a mix of woodlands and fields, the Lawrence Hopewell Trail (LHT) winds for 20 miles through Lawrence and Hopewell townships. The Mercer Meadows–Pole Farm segment of the LHT travels through the Pole Farm district of the 1,600-acre Mercer Meadows Park for 1.85 miles, with signage explaining that from 1929 to 1975, the Pole Farm District was owned by American Telephone and Telegraph (AT&T) and was the site of a large shortwave radio station used for international communications. From this area, the LHT continues to travel north for 0.60 miles through a mix of meadow and wooded areas, then east along Cold Road as it wraps around a meadow and arrives at Blackwell Road, travelling through the Rosedale Park district, providing a scenic and tranquil setting for picnics, walks, and outdoor recreation, with access to the Stony Brook, Willow Pond, and Rosedale Lake. The LHT continues on the north side of Blackwell Road along the driveway access to Hunt House: built in the 1700s by Noah Hunt, it anchored a prosperous farmstead, now on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 and the office of the Mercer County Park Commission.
Rancocas State Park. (Photo by Jeffrey E. Tryon)
Rancocas State Park Northern Loop, Rancocas State Park Creekside, and Mossy Bluff Trail
794 Rancocas Mt Holly Road, Westampton Township
nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/parks/rancocasstatepark.html
Wildlife observation: The sandy trail that runs along the winding Rancocas Creek and passes by the remains of an old house is a little more than 3 miles, with minor hills. The Northern Loop is almost 3 miles, near Hainesport Township and considered an easy route — it takes just under an hour to complete it. A popular area for birding, cross-country skiing, and fishing, it is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Dogs are welcome and may be off-leash in some areas. The Creekside and Mossy Bluff Trail offer a picturesque hike along a wooded bluff overlooking the Little Red River. As you wind along the path, you’ll be treated to scenic panoramas of the dam and the surrounding landscape. The area is rich in flora and fauna, providing ample opportunities for wildlife observation.
Pine Barrens — Double Trouble State Park, Batsto Village, and Batsto Lake
581 Pinewald Keswick Road, Bayville
nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/parks/doubletroublestatepark.html
Batsto Road, Hammonton
njhiking.com/nj-hikes-batsto-lake-trail
A Pine Barrens vista: Double Trouble State Park offers easy, sandy trails through the Pine Barrens and around cranberry bogs with views of Cedar Creek and several reservoirs near village buildings from the early 20th-century cranberry industry in New Jersey. The main portion is on wide, packed sand roads around old cranberry bogs, designated an “easy walk,” but the Swordens Pond and Clear Brook trails offer a more vigorous hike. The fresh, pure waters of Cedar Creek, a Pine Barrens ecosystem surrounding a former company town, provided power and raw materials to a sawmill and large cranberry operation at Double Trouble Village. Cedar Creek serves canoeists and kayakers, while hikers, photographers, mountain bikers and horseback riders enjoy the miles of marked trails through pine forests and cedar swamps. An easy loop through the Pine Barrens is along Batsto Lake Trail, about 4 miles of flat packed sand trails. Strolling through the historic village and buildings of Batsto adds a few miles; there is also the option of a long 53-mile Batona Trail. A fee is charged from Memorial to Labor Day. Information on the NJ State Park Pass.
Island Beach State Park dune trail. (Photo by Jeffrey E. Tryon)
Island Beach State Park
2401 Central Avenue, Seaside Park
nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/parks/islandbeachstatepark.html
A Jersey Shore hike: Short trails to the ocean and bay sides of a barrier island, and along an undeveloped beach with views of Barnegat Lighthouse. The terrain is mostly level and varies between easy dirt and deep, soft beach sand. One trail is an accessible boardwalk. Approaching the inlet, conditions can get windy. NJHiking.com suggests hiking to “both the ocean and the bay from the middle of a skinny strip of raw, undeveloped Jersey shore. Bundle up against a brisk wind in winter to avoid the bugs (and crowds) of warmer months.” Tip: walking at the water’s edge you may be dodging fishing poles. There are a series of parking areas with trails leading either to the ocean or the bay side, a boardwalk trail, plus various beach access paths. There is a fee year-round and higher in season (Memorial — Labor Day); covered by the NJ State Park Pass.
Cape May Lighthouse. (Shutterstock.com)
Cape May Point State Park
303 County Hwy 629, Cape May
capemay.com/play/cape-may-point-state-park
See the lighthouse: Cape May Point State Park is a 244-acre park located in Lower Township. The park offers walking, hiking, and nature trails as well as beaches, an exhibit gallery, a ranger office, and is the site of the Cape May Lighthouse. The park is operated and maintained by the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry and is considered one of the best places in North America to view the fall bird migration to the south, as birds await favorable winds to cross the Delaware Bay. The park has three hiking trails, all start and end at the parking lot. The Red trail, a boardwalk trail that is wheelchair accessible, is a half mile long and has several observation platforms. The Yellow trail is part boardwalk and part dirt. The blue trail includes part of the beach. The park’s trails and beach connect to the adjacent 200-acre South Cape May Meadows owned by The Nature Conservancy. There are no park or entry fees.
