Hiking in NJ

List of all the hike guides found on njHiking.com.

This includes ones on the Top 10 page, all of the Best lists: Best Hikes, Best Central NJ, Best South NJ, Fall Foliage, and Waterfalls, plus Easy Hikes, Challenging Hikes, every hike under the NJ Hiking category, as well as “near NJ” hikes in NY and hikes in PA.

For a map overview of hikes covered on this site try our Hike Finder Map.

The hikes are loosely listed by geographic area, but what constitutes “north”, “central”, and “south” Jersey is subjective at best – and argumentative at worst! – so we’ll leave it up to you to discuss amongst yourselves…

★ = Best Hike     ❗ = Challenging Hike

Hikes in North New Jersey

Northwest region, including the Delaware Water Gap Recreation Area
Hikes along the northwest angle of New Jersey and includes High Point State Park in the most northwestern corner through Stokes State Forest, Delaware Water Gap Recreation Area, and Worthington State Forest.

• Appalachian Trail and Iris Trail Loop – High Point S.P. – Sussex County
• Appalachian Trail – Catfish Fire Tower – Del. Water Gap – Warren County
• Appalachian Trail – Crater Lake to Blue Mountain – Del. Water Gap
• Appalachian Trail – Culvers Gap to Blue Mountain – Stokes S.F. – Sussex County
• Appalachian Trail – Culvers Gap to Culver Fire Tower – Stokes S.F. – Sussex County
• Appalachian Trail – Sunfish Pond to Raccoon Ridge – Worthington S.F.
• Appalachian Trail – Sunrise Mountain to Culvers Gap – Stokes S.F. – Sussex County
• Blue Mountain Loop – Lower – Stokes S.F. – Sussex County
• Blue Mountain Loop – Upper – Stokes S.F. – Sussex County
• Blue Mountain – Red Maple Trail, Appalachian Trail, Jacobs Ladder – Stokes S.F. – Sussex County
• Buttermilk Falls (falls guide only) – Del. Water Gap – Sussex County
• Buttermilk Falls, Crater Lake – Del. Water Gap – Sussex County
• Coppermines, Appalachian Trail, Catfish Fire Tower, Rattlesnake Swamp – Del. Water Gap – Warren County
• Crater Lake and Hemlock Pond Loop – Del. Water Gap – Sussex County
• Kittatinny Valley State Park – Sussex County
• Laurel Falls – Worthington S.F.
• Millbrook Village, Van Campens Glen – Del. Water Gap
• Mind the Gap – Mt. Tammany & Mt. Minsi
• Monument Loop – High Point S.P.
• Monument Loop via Steeny Kill Lake – High Point S.P.
• Monument Trail and Cedar Swamp via Appalachian Trail – High Point S.P.
• Mt. Tammany – Worthington S.F.
• Mt. Tammany and Sunfish Pond – Worthington S.F.
• Rattlesnake Swamp – Catfish Fire Tower Loop – Warren County
• Silver Spray Falls – Del. Water Gap – Sussex County
• Stony Brook Falls / Silver Mine Trail – Stokes S.F. – Sussex County
• Stony Lake Loop – Stokes S.F. – Sussex County
• Sunfish Pond – Worthington S.F.
• Sunfish Pond – Garvey Springs and Douglas Loop – Worthington S.F.
• Sunrise Mountain – Stokes S.F. – Sussex County
• Swartswood State Park – Grist Mill Trail – Sussex County
• Swartswood State Park – Spring Lake– Sussex County
• Tillman Ravine – Stokes S.F. – Sussex County
• Van Campens Glen – Del. Water Gap
• White Lake Natural Resource Area – Warren County

North Central and Jersey Highlands
Features hiking areas such as Wawayanda State Forest, Terrace Pond, Bearfort Ridge, Norvin Green State Forest, and the Ramapo Mountains.

• Allamuchy Mountain State Park – Deer Park – Warren County
• Allamuchy Mountain State Park – North – Waterloo Trail. Sussex County
• Allamuchy Pond Trail – Warren County
• Apshawa Preserve – Passaic County
• Apshawa Waterfall – Passaic County
• Bearfort Mountain – Surprise Lake Loop via State Line – Abram S. Hewitt S.F.
• Bearfort Ridge Loop – Surprise Lake – Abram S. Hewitt S.F.
• Beaver Brook Trail – Mahlon Dickerson Reservation
• Black River Trail – Cooper Mill – Morris County
• Black River – Kay’s Cottage Ruins – Morris County
• Butler Reservoir – Morris County
• Echo Lake – Highlands Trail – Pequannock Watershed
• Four Birds Trail – Splitrock Reservoir, Rockaway Twp.
• Four Birds Trail – Wildcat Ridge
• Four Birds Trail (North) – Farny Highlands
• Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge – Observation Center – Morris County
• Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge – Blue Trail – Morris County
• Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge – Orange Trail – Morris County
• Hank’s Pond – Bearfort Fire Tower – Pequannock Watershed
• Hacklebarney State Park – Morris County
• Jenny Jump – Ghost Lake – Warren County
• Jenny Jump Trail – Warren County
• Jockey Hollow – Grand Loop Trail – Morris County
• Jockey Hollow – Grand Parade Loop – Morris County
• Long Pond Ironworks – Sterling Ridge and Jennings Hollow – Passaic County
• Mahlon Dickerson Reservation – Headley Overlook
• Norvin Green – High Point, Chikahoki Falls, Otter Hole Loop – Passaic County
• Norvin Green – Horse Pond Mountain to Lake Sonoma Loop – Passaic County
• Norvin Green – Lake Sonoma Loop – Passaic County
• Norvin Green – Overlook Rock and Manaticut Point – Passaic County
• Norvin Green – Wyanokie Crest, Carris Hill, High Point – Passaic County
• Norvin Green – Wyanokie High Point, Carris Hill, Buck Mountain – Passaic County
• Pochuck Boardwalk – Appalachian Trail – Sussex County
• Ramapo Valley County Reservation – Bergen County
• Ramapo Mountain S.F. – Ramapo Lake, Van Slyke Castle – Bergen/Passaic County
• Ramapo Mountain – Grand Castle Loop – Bergen/Passaic County
• Ramapo Mountain – Van Slyke Castle Loop – Bergen/Passaic County
• Ramapo Mountain – Wanaque Ridge – Bergen/Passaic County
• Schooley’s Mountain – Morris County
• Skylands Manor – Ilgenstein Rock – Ringwood State Park
• Splitrock Reservoir Loop – Morris County
• Stephens State Park – Morris County
• Stairway to Heaven – Appalachian Trail; Sussex County
• Stairway to Heaven: Pochuck Valley to Pinwheel Vista – Appalachian Trail; Sussex County
• Stonetown Circular – Passaic County
• Terrace Pond Lollipop – Wawayanda State Park
• Terrace Pond Loop – Wawayanda State Park
• Terrace Pond North Trail – Wawayanda State Park
• Terrace Pond – West, Circular, North – Wawayanda State Park
• Torne Mountain and Osio Rock – Passaic County
• Tourne County Park – Morris County
• Tripod Rock, Whale Rock, Bear Rock – Pyramid Mountain – Morris County
• Turkey Mountain – Perimeter Loop – Morris County
• Turkey Mountain – Valhalla Falls Loop – Morris County
• Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge – Sussex County
• Wawayanda S.P. – Cedar Swamp, Lake Lookout – Sussex County
• Wawayanda S.P. – Furnace Loop – Sussex County
• Wawayanda S.P. – Hoeferlin, Cedar Swamp, Red Dot – Sussex County
• Wawayanda S.P. – Iron Mountain and Hoeferlin Loop – Sussex County
• Wawayanda S.P. – Lake Loop – Sussex County
• Wawayanda S.P. – Lake Loop and Twin Bridges – Sussex County
• Wawayanda S.P. – Old Coal/Laurel Pond – Sussex County

 

Northeast New Jersey
Includes hikes in the Palisades along the Hudson River and in South Mountain Reservation.

• High Mountain – Passaic County
• Paterson Great Falls – Passaic County
• Palisades Interstate Park – Alpine to Forest View – Bergen County
• Palisades Interstate Park – Alpine to Huyler’s Landing – Bergen County
• Palisades Interstate Park – The Giant Stairs – Bergen County + NY
• Palisades Interstate Park – Peanut Leap Cascade – Bergen County + NY
• South Mountain Reservation – Fairy Trail – Essex County
• South Mountain Reservation – Hemlock Falls Loop– Essex County
• South Mountain Reservation – Washington Rock, Hemlock Falls, Rahway River– Essex County
• Tenafly Nature Center and Lost Brook Preserve – Bergen County

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Hikes in Central New Jersey

Hikes in the area roughly between Route 78 and Route 195. Key areas include Cheesequake State Park, Sourland Mountain, Cheesequake State Park, Baldpate Mountain, and Hartshorne Woods.

• Allaire State Park – Monmouth County
• Baldpate Mountain – Mercer County
• Bunker Hill Natural Area – Somerset County
• Butler Road Natural Area – Somerset County
• Clayton Park – Monmouth County
• Cheesequake State Park – Green Trail – Middlesex County
• Cheesequake State Park – Steamboat Landing – Middlesex County
• Cheesequake State Park – White Trail and Arrowsmith – Middlesex County
• Cheesequake State Park – Yellow, Blue, and Green Trail – Middlesex County
• Davidson’s Mill Pond Park – Middlesex County
• Duke Farms – Somerset County
• Farrington Lake Trail – Middlesex County
• Fiddlers Creek Preserve – Mercer County
• Forest Resource Education Center – Ocean County
• Goat Hill Overlook – Hunterdon County
• Griggstown Native Grassland Preserve – Somerset County
• Hartshorne Woods – Monmouth County
• Helyar Woods – at Rutgers Gardens, Middlesex County
• Holmdel Park – North Section – Monmouth County
• Holmdel Park – Ramanessin and Bayonet Farm – Monmouth County
• Huber Woods Park – Monmouth County
• Institute Woods, Rogers Refuge, Princeton Battlefield – Mercer County
• Ireland Brook Conservation Area – Middlesex County
• John A. Phillips Preserve – Middlesex County
• Julian Capik Preserve – Middlesex County
• Kugler Falls – Hunterdon County
• Lockatong High Falls – Hunterdon County
• Manasquan Reservoir – Monmouth County
• Mercer County Park – Mercer County
• Merrill Creek Reservoir – Warren County
• Monmouth Battlefield State Park – Monmouth County
• Mountain Lakes Open Space Princeton – Mercer County
• Musconetcong Gorge Preserve – Hunterdon County
• Negri-Nepote Native Grassland Preserve – Somerset County
• Perrineville Lake Park – Monmouth County
• Plainsboro Preserve – Middlesex County
• Point Mountain Reservation – Hunterdon County
• Round Valley Recreation Area – Hunterdon County
• Rutgers Ecological Preserve – Middlesex County
• Shark River Park – Monmouth County
• Six Mile Run Reservoir – Rt 27 – Red Trail – Somerset County
• Six Mile Run Reservoir – Canal Road – Blue Trail – Somerset County
• Sourland Mountain Preserve – Somerset County
• Sourlands Mountain Preserve, Ecosystem Preserve and D&R Greenway – Hunterdon County
• Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Reserve
• Swinging Bridge in Princeton – Mercer County
• Tamarack Hollow Preserve – Middlesex County
• Tatum Park – Monmouth County
• Thompson Park – Middlesex County
• Thompson Park – Monmouth County
• Thompson Park Conservation Area – Middlesex County
• Turkey Swamp County Park – Monmouth County
• Turkey Swamp – Metedeconk To Manasquan Loop – Monmouth County
• Van Dyke Farm – Middlesex County
• Voorhees State Park – Hunterdon County
• Washington Crossing State Park – Mercer County
• Washington Valley Park – Somerset County
• Watchung Reservation – History Trail – Union County
• Watchung Reservation – Sierra Trail – Union County

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Hikes in South New Jersey

The southern region features pinelands but also contains unique coastal hikes. Parks include Wharton State Forest, Belleplain State Forest, Island Beach State Park, Cattus Island, Black Run, Parvin State Park, and Maurice River Bluffs.

• Apple Pie Hill – Batona Trail – Wharton State Forest
• Atsion to Quaker Bridge – Wharton State Forest
• Bass River State Forest – Burlington County
• Batsto Lake Trail – Wharton State Forest
• Belleplain S.F. – East Creek Trail – Cumberland/Cape May County
• Belleplain S.F. – East Creek and Sunset Road Loop – Cumberland/Cape May County
• Black Run Preserve – Burlington County
• Cattus Island Park – Ocean County
• Commercial Township Wetlands – Cumberland County
• Corson’s Inlet State Park – Cape May County
• Double Trouble State Park – Ocean County
• Edwin B. Forsythe NWR – Atlantic County
• Estelle Manor Park – Atlantic County
• Franklin Parker Preserve – Chatsworth entrance – Burlington County
• Franklin Parker Preserve – Speedwell entrance – Burlington County
• Island Beach State Park – Ocean County
• Jakes Branch County Park – Ocean County
• Maurice River Bluffs – Cumberland County
• Pakim Pond and Mt. Misery Trail – Brendan Byrne SF
• Peek Preserve – Cumberland County
• Penn State Forest – Oswego Lake – Burlington County
• Parvin State Park – Salem County
• Rancocas Nature Center – Burlington County
• Rancocas State Park – Burlington County
• Saddler’s Woods – Camden County
• Scotland Run Park – Gloucester County
• Tall Pines Preserve – Gloucester County
• Tom’s Pond Trail – Wharton State Forest – Burlington County
• Wells Mills County Park – Ocean County
• Whitesbog Village – Burlington County
• Woods of Wenonah – Gloucester County

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Rail Trails

These are multi-use paths created from converting former railroad lines and usually feature graded surfaces suitable for easy hiking as well as biking.

• Barnegat Branch Trail – Ocean County
• Delaware Canal Towpath – D&R (NJ) and the D&L (PA). Central NJ and PA
• Columbia Trail – Hunterdon and Morris Counties.
• Great Valley Trail Loop – Sussex County
• Henry Hudson Trail – Monmouth County
• Paulinskill Valley Trail – Warbasse Junction to Cedar Ridge – Sussex County
• Paulinskill Valley Trail – Cedar Ridge to Viaduct – Warren County
• Union Transportation Trail – Monmouth County
• Lehigh Valley Gorge – D&L. PA –  several hours from NJ

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Hikes Near New Jersey – in NY and PA

Harriman State Park/Bear Mountain, New York

• Almost Perpendicular, Elbow Brush – Harriman S.P.
• Black Rock and Hogencamp Mountain – Harriman S.P.
• Jackie Jones Fire Tower, Big Hill, and Three Reservoirs – Harriman S.P.
• Kakiat County Park to Pine Meadow Lake – Harriman S.P.
• Lemon Squeezer – Appalachian Trail; Harriman S.P.
• Pine Meadows Lake Loop – Harriman S.P.
• Red Cross, Beech, Long Path Loop – Harriman S.P.
• Seven Hills, HTS, Pine Meadow – Harriman S.P.
• Seven Hills, HTS, Raccoon Brook, Pine Meadow – Harriman S.P.
• Seven Hills, HTS, Reeves Brook – Harriman S.P.
• West Mountain, The Timp, Doodletown – Bear Mountain

Hudson Valley; near New Paltz, New York

• Bonticou Crag and Table Rocks
• Gertrude’s Nose and Millbrook Mountain
• Labyrinth and the Lemon Squeeze
• Sam’s Point Preserve – Ice Caves, Verkeerder Kill Falls, High Point

Sterling Forest, New York

• Sterling Forest – Bare Rock, Fire Tower

Pennsylvania

• Cliff Park, Milford Knob, Hackers Falls – Delaware Water Gap NRA
• Dingmans Falls – Delaware Water Gap NRA
• George W. Childs Park – Delaware Water Gap NRA
• Green Lane Park – Montgomery County
• Mt. Minsi and Arrow Island – Delaware Water Gap NRA
• Mt. Minsi – Delaware Water Gap NRA
• Mt. Minsi, Table Rock, Cold Air Cave, Slateford Falls – Del. Water Gap
• Pinnacle and the Pulpit – Appalachian Trail – Hamburg, PA
• Pocono Environmental Education Center -Delaware Water Gap NRA
• Promised Land State Park – Pike County / The Poconos
• Ralph Stover and Tohickon Valley – Bucks County
• Raymondskill Falls – Delaware Water Gap NRA
• Tobyhanna State Park – Monroe/Wayne County