Take A Hike!

Stairway to Heaven—Sussex County

A moderate difficulty trail in Vernon Township along part of the Appalachian Trail. This trail is rocky and steep but has awesome views. Fall is the best time to visit when the leaves are changing colors. Reviewers on alltrails.com recommend wearing hiking boots because of the rockiness and to take your time because it’s a challenge to navigate some parts.

Ramapo Mountain State Forest—Bergen and Passaic County

If you’re looking for a large variety of moderately challenging trails, travel up to Bergen and Passaic county to take a stab at one of the 19 moderate trails in Ramapo Mountain State Forest. The trails range from two to 10 miles and are between 216 and 1,092 feet above sea level. The forest is extremely hilly and is a sanctuary for wildlife—a great spot for birdwatchers. Some of the trails even have views of the NYC skyline.

Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area— Morris County

Along the trails of Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area, you can see the largest glacial erratic in the state, streams, and at the historic area’s highest point you can see the NYC skyline.

High Point State Park—Sussex County

There are 13 hiking trails for all nature lovers at High Point State Park, and it’s a popular destination for not only hiking but also camping, skiing, and angling. The park’s trails are of all difficulty levels—the more difficult the hike, the better the views. If you’re into photography the High Point via Appalachian Trail has an observation deck with panoramic views.

Wyanokie High Point—Passaic County

Not for the faint of heart, Wyanokie High Point is a rugged, challenging route that is over eight miles in length. It has an elevation of 1,827 feet and njhiking.com said it takes over five hours to complete, including photo and snack breaks. Put in the work for this hike and the payoff is a beautiful water view.

Mount Tammany—Warren County

Located near Pahaquarry, Mount Tammany is one of the top hiking spots in the state with incredible views of the Delaware Water Gap. The trail is only 3.8 miles, and it earns a moderate difficulty level for its rockiness and high elevation. Don’t forget your camera or smartphone, because hikethehudsonvalley.com says, “You want to scrabble up a beast of a mountain to see some gorgeous views,” they give Mount Tammany’s scenery a 4.5 out of five.

Sourland Mountain Preserve—Somerset County

Travel to the Hillsborough/Montgomery Township area to hike over the boardwalks and rock formations of the Sourland Mountain Preserve. The preserve has something for everyone if hiking isn’t your thing—mountain biking, birdwatching, bouldering, and horseback riding. However, new and seasoned hikers alike can find a trail at the Sourland Mountain Preserve with 11 trails ranging from easy to moderate difficulty levels and ranging from 1.4 to 6.1 miles.

Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park—Middlesex, Mercer, Burlington, Somerset and Hunterdon County

This unique state park is 70-miles long and crosses five counties. In the 70s, the area had many historic structures added to the National Register of Historic Places and was deemed a state park a year later. The main historic towpath runs from Bakers Basin Road in Trenton to New Brunswick and is great for both hiking and biking. Since the park extends over five counties, there are many trails to choose from and are of different difficulty levels.

Goat Hill Overlook—Hunterdon County

This one-mile hike is for newbies and great for families. There is a slight elevation gain and once you make it to the top of the hill you can see the Delaware River. The overlook is part of Washington Crossing State Park, so you can make a whole day out of the trip and visit the nearby town of Lambertville.

Wells Mills County Park—Ocean County

With over 900 acres of forest within the Pine Barrens, Wells Mills is the largest park in Ocean County. The main trail loop of almost eight miles is of moderate difficulty and features a lake surrounded by scenic views of the Pine Barrens. However, the park has 10 trails of varying lengths and different activity options. If you’re looking to make the trip a family affair, the three-story nature center in the park has a library, observation deck, and offers environmental programs regularly.

Wharton State Forest— Burlington County

Batsto Lake Trail in the forest is an easier sand packed trail through the Pine Barrens and along Batsto Lake. With an elevation of 131 feet, this trail is good for all skill levels and your furry friend can join in on the fun. After the hike, visit Batsto Village’s many historic sites such as a general store, grist mill, mansion, and more.

Parvin State Park—Salem County

Over 200 kinds of flowering plants burst in the springtime in this state park located on the edge on the Pine Barrens. Take the shorter three-mile easy loop around the Parvin Lake or add on other trails to your route for something a little longer. During the summer months, visitors can swim in Parvin Lake, have a picnic lunch with a water view, and even reserve a campsite to enjoy all the park has to offer such as nature programs, boating, fishing, and more.

Maurice River Bluffs—Cumberland County

This easy sandy trail is a stopover habitat for migrating songbirds, osprey, and bald eagles according to nature.org. The preserve is also home to some of the state’s largest contiguous wild rice marshes. During the winter and spring months sections of the path are closed due to bird mating season, so be sure to visit during the summer or fall. Visit the floating dock on the preservation for a view of two bald eagle nests and be sure to pack a lunch or a snack to enjoy one of the scenic picnic areas.

Belleplain State Forest—Cape May County

The main trail in the forest starts at Lake Nummy and is about seven miles long but is deemed easy because of the flat-packed sand. The State of New Jersey established Belleplain State Forest in the 1920s for recreation, wildlife management, timber production, and water conservation. In the 1930s a cranberry bog in the forest was converted into Lake Nummy, which is now popular for swimming, boating, and fishing.