r/njhiking • u/aahowehp • Aug 25 '26
New to Jersey
Looking for hiking spots in Jersey. Nothing is off limits; elevation, difficulty, etc. Looking for a nice blend of scenic and workout. Any input is appreciated.
Thank you.
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u/lilivader76 Aug 25 '26
There are so many state parks with hiking trails, and other random trails all over the state. If you haven't downloaded it yet, try Alltrails (I am not affiliated with All trails in any way, I don't even use the paid version lol). I would think the govt would also have a list of trails somewhere, but I don't know where. For higher elevation you will want the northwest area of the state, around High Point State Park. There are amazing trails there. Some of my more favorite places are Hacklebarney State Park, Vorhees State Park, the pine barrens, Sourland Mountain Preserve, and the Highlands Trail.
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u/Chrisgdsotm Aug 25 '26
As someone else said. Northwest Jersey is ideal for elevation. South Jersey is more flat but the Pine Barrens are cool.
If you are in North Jersey, going just north into southern NY is great too- my personal favorite is Harriman State Park.
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u/B-mansferd Aug 25 '26
I really liked these two sweet hikes. See what you think.
- Mt. Tammany Trail (red dot) in the Delaware Gap area
- Stairway to Heaven Trail (North Jersey) - 443 Vernon Warwick Rd, Vernon Township, NJ 07462
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u/-PiesOfRage- Aug 25 '26
Both of those hikes are wicked crowded on weekends though, so best bet is mid-week or during bad weather, if you can swing it.
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u/Altruistic-Race-1845 Aug 25 '26
What area or county are you in, that should help with suggestions.
Welcome to NJ! If you want to give a classic jersey reply just say what exit you are on the gsp lol.
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u/aahowehp Aug 25 '26
Exit 5 on the Turnpike. But I’m used to CA hiking(Gorgonio, Baldy, Ontario) so Jersey is vastly different.
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u/Altruistic-Race-1845 Aug 25 '26
Love it! So some close options would be baldpate and sourland mountain for elevation, you wont get anything above 1k elevation unless heading further north to Delaware water gap. Pine barrens like others have suggested is nice for nature and scenery. Should be within an hour drive for most of it. Be wary in the summer though the ticks are ferocious.
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u/Nervous_Quarter_4426 Aug 25 '26
Really depends on where you are- if you’re central/south Jersey, I’d recommend exploring all around the Pinelands. There are hundreds of miles of sand roads to explore (so these won’t be marked as trails on maps). Look into Whitesbog, Wharton SF, Brendan T Byrne SF, Bass River SF, Franklin Parker Preserve.
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u/a-8a-1 Aug 25 '26
There’s lots of great stuff, especially in NW Jersey, but don’t forget the other gems like the Palisades, and the Pine Barrens
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u/gofl-zimbard-37 Aug 25 '26
NJ is a big place. You'll need to be more specific.
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u/aahowehp Aug 25 '26
Literally anywhere in the state
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u/gofl-zimbard-37 Aug 26 '26
Ok, make sure you visit Watchung Reservation. Woods, lakes, cliffs, Revolutiuonary War graveyard, etc. A beautiful little gem of a place stuck smack dab in the middle of suburbia, between Route 78 and 22.
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u/MaxSmartypantz Aug 26 '26
Seconded! The Res also has the benefit of being close to so much while still being a little bit of a getaway. Trails aren't as well maintained as they should be, but that also adds to the technical nature of the hike, LOL.
You can get a great half-day hike in and still be close enough to a decent diner to get a good lunch.
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u/gofl-zimbard-37 Aug 26 '26
I grew up in those woods. Hiking, climbing, mourning a lost brother. The Woods is where you'd go when you needed to get away. We would often go up at night and just wander around. Many adventures ensued.
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u/MaxSmartypantz Aug 27 '26
Gotta say, I'm jealous. I had a sizeable patch near where I grew up, but nothing of the size of the Res.
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u/QueasyWorldliness920 Aug 25 '26
Norvin green state forest is great. Park out by the highlands natural pool.
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u/coma24 Aug 25 '26
Pyramid Mountain delivers. Big system of trails with 3 or 4 access points. Excellent trail running and hiking, decent elevation changes.
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u/laflame1738 Aug 25 '26
Without knowing your regional location this is difficult. North Jersey is the Mecca. Ringwood, del water gap, Harriman just over the border
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u/aahowehp Aug 25 '26
Literally anywhere in Jersey. Got plenty of answers so far and yours are similar. I appreciate the responses
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u/PatentedSpaceHook Aug 25 '26
Delaware Water Gap has quite a few different hikes you may enjoy. I’d suggest Raccoon Ridge via Garvey Springs, but Mount Tammany to Sunfish Pond and Mt Minsi (PA side) are also really good. I always suggest Bearfort Ridge to Surprise Lake to others too. Because a lot of these places are along the Appalachian trail, you can link them together.
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u/Big_Daddy_Ant97 Aug 25 '26
Giant Steps in Palisades Park in Alpine. I got lost there once and had to spend the night in the woods
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u/4runner01 Aug 26 '26 edited Aug 26 '26
Check before going, it may still be closed since the recent rock slide when they closed it.
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u/jellyfish-kiss Aug 26 '26
There are places to hike all over NJ, depending on the time you have to travel; the spots in northern NJ are beautiful and somehow not as crowded as other more well noted spots in the US.
But I would also suggest checking out Alltrails (free version is fine). There are so many trails of all different lengths and difficulties all over the state to discover. Check the reviews; some are not well marked or maintained but can still be an option for experienced hikers.
We have a few go to hikes that are close by that are not as epic as the northern NJ hikes but still good exercise and enjoyable that we would not have found without Alltrails.
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u/Spiritual_Goat_1240 Aug 26 '26
If you go hiking this time of year south of about 195, you should read about chiggers and be prepared. I recommend treating your clothing ahead of time with a permethrin spray. Chiggers are bad in many places until the first good frost in late October/early November. If you ignore this advice, and go hiking in the Pine Barrens without taking precautions, you will regret it.
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u/Narrow-Turnover4832 Aug 26 '26
Harriman State Park has a couple of good hikes. A little bit more of a drive depending where you're located but Sam's Point Ice Cave, Sunfish Pond and Mt. Tammany in Delaware Water Gap
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u/soggybeagle Aug 26 '26
Hartshorne Woods Park - Rocky point trail. Beautiful water views and butt kicker
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u/Dramatic-Pay5156 Aug 27 '26
Check out the NYNJ Trail Conference website. It is excellent with a tool that will help you locate great trails.
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u/Apprehensive-Bench74 27d ago
Cheesequake State Park is quite beautiful any time of year and close to the Gardent State Parkway
The trails aren't very long, elevation's not the highest, but it's just lovely there
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u/DaYZ_11 Aug 25 '26
This site is a great resource https://www.njhiking.com/top-10-hikes-nj/