The 20 Best Hiking Trails in All of New Jersey
New Jersey might be one of the smallest state in the U.S. by area, but it boasts a beautifully eclectic geographical makeup. From the rugged cliffs of the Hudson Palisades and the wetlands in the Meadowlands, to national reserve after national reserve with pristine hiking trails, it truly does deserve the nickname Garden State.
And if you are looking to give hiking a shot, here are the 20 best hiking trails New Jersey.
1. Mount Tammany
- Trail length: 5.8km
- Elevation gain: 379m
- Difficulty: difficult
- Dogs: Yes, on a leash
- Parking: Available but limited
The Mount Tammany trail in Worthington State Forest might only be 3.5 miles, but it’s one of the most strenuous hikes in New Jersey. It’s also among the most scenic. Those who make it to the top are treated to views of the Delaware water feature and the rugged Mt. Minsi.
Named after Chief Tammanend of an indigenous tribe from the 19th century, the Mt Tammany trail is divided into two; red dot and blue baze.
While you can start your hike on either trailhead, consider going up on red dot, and descend on blue, as it’s steeper and hence easier to descend than ascend. Note that you’ll have plenty of company since the trail is among New Jersey’s most popular.
2. Hemlock Falls Trail
- Trail length: 5.8km
- Elevation gain: 239m
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Dogs: Yes, on a leash
- Parking: Available but limited
If you are in Milburn and looking to burn off some pent-up energy, hike the Hemlock Falls Loop trail in the South Mountain reservation. It has two main trails, a 2-mile trail starting at the Summit Field Parking area and a 5-mile trail along Lenape.
Both trails are moderately challenging and lead to the tranquil Hemlock Falls, where you’re treated to not only a pleasant environment but also you can take a dip to cool off. And if you love exploring swimming holes, be sure to check out the Mocassin Creek Fall nearby. While you can hike Hemlock Falls loop trails at any time, the best time to give it a shot is between March and April.
3. Dunnfield Creek Trail
- Trail length: 5.4km
- Elevation gain: 391m
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Dogs: Yes, on a leash
- Parking: Available but limited
As the name implies, the Dunnfield Creek trail runs along Dunnfield Creek, a wild trout stream and home to brook trout. It’s rocky, relatively steep at some point, and takes hikers through a Hemlock-lined ravine and multiple stream crossings. The trail begins at Dunnfield Parking lot, and ends in Sunfish Pond, a beautiful glacial lake that makes taking on the miles well worth the effort. You should, however, be wary of northern water snakes inside the pond.
4. Sunrise Mountain Loop
- Location: Stokes State Forest
- Trail length: 5.4km
- Elevation gain: 391m
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Dogs: Yes, on a leash
- Parking: Available but limited
The Sunrise Mountain loop is quintessential of the Appalachian Mountains trails.
It’s nearly 9 miles long, rocky, has several stream crossings, and you may occasionally find fallen trees, which makes for a perfectly-challenging hike. The loop has three sequential hiking trails, each more challenging than the last.
Once at the top, you’ll be rewarded with fantastic views of the surrounding landscape. And if you happen to hit the trail early enough, you’ll catch a beautiful sunrise.
5. Wawayanda Lake Loop
- Location: Wawayanda State Park
- Trail length: 5.7 miles
- Elevation gain: 130m
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Dogs: Yes, on a leash
- Parking: Available but limited
If you prefer hikes that won’t sweat you out, the Wawayanda Lake Loop might turn out to be the best hiking trail in New Jersey for you. It runs about 5.7-miles around Wawayanda Lake, a beautiful rhododendron-filled lake that makes most of the view on the second half of the lake.
It’s moderately challenging, with some stream crossings on rocks at multiple points. The trail starts at the parking area and is easily navigable, thanks to the orange blazes everywhere. It has no elevation gains, making it a perfect trail for no-pressure hikes and strolls.
6. Terrace Pond North Loop
- Location: Wawayanda State Park
- Trail length: .4.9miles
- Elevation gain: 290m
- Difficulty: challenging
- Dogs: Yes, on a leash
- Parking: Available but limited
Want to experience the northern part of Wawayanda State Park? Hike the Terrace North Pond. It’s among the best routes to take if you want to experience hiking Barefoot Mountain, one of New Jersey’s most prominent geographical features.
It runs about 4.9miles and has rhododendron tunnels and significant elevation gains. Add in its rocky terrain, and you’ve got an incredibly challenging hike ahead. It’s, however, totally worth it because once at the ridge, you get a sneak peek of New York’s skyline, expansive views of the mountain’s beautiful landscapes, and the pleasant Terrace Pond. Swimming in the pond is dangerous and prohibited, so as tempting as it is, don’t dive in.
7. Iris Trail- AT Loop
- Location: High Point State Park
- Trail length: 11.5miles
- Elevation gain: 269m
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Dogs: Yes, on a leash
- Parking: Available but limited
New Jersey in the fall is stunning. And if you’d love to see its fall foliage, plan for the Iris trail-AT loop hike. It’s one of the best routes if you want to hike part of the Appalachian Trail(AT).
The AT loop of the Iris trail starts at a small parking lot south of High Point Park and runs north as the AT until 6.5 miles, where it crosses the Iris Trail. You may take on the Iris trail(with red blazes) at this point, but it’s best if you continue on the AT for an additional 1.3 miles to enjoy great views from the ridge.
After about 0.75 miles, the AT gains another ridge with equally pleasant views and descends 1.5 miles, after which it links with the Iris Trail. Take the latter from here, and follow it 1.8 miles to Lake Rutherford, a beautiful clear-water lake designated for city water supply.
8. The Hacklebarney Loop Trail
- Location: Hacklebarney State Park
- Trail length: 2miles
- Elevation gain: 101m
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Dogs: Yes, on a leash
- Parking: yes, a few spots
The Hacklebarney loop trail is a 2-mile, moderately-challenging hiking loop in Hacklebarney State Park. It’s well-marked with red, dark blue and white blazes and runs through a maintained pathway section, a small waterfall, streams, a hemlock forest, wooded ravines and an overlook with scenic views of the Lamington River. Bring a good pair of hiking shoes because there’s also a rocky stretch. If you’re in the mood for an easy trek, consider the red, purple and white loop, a half-mile trail with a waterfall also inside Hacklebarney Forest.
9. Stairway to Heaven Trail
- Location: Wawayanda State PARK
- Trail length: 2.6miles
- Elevation gain: 274m
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Dogs: Yes, on a leash
- Parking: Available but limited
You’ll need to warm up adequately for this one because although it’s short, it literally feels like a stairway to heaven. But it’s no surprise since it’s the route that leads to the top of Wawayanda Mountain.
It starts off softly from the park but, after a few minutes, turns into a scramble over jagged rocks on zigzag-ed turns towards the top of the mountain. Thankfully, although challenging, it’s a feat you can easily achieve with a good pair of hiking shoes and some mental preparation. Leave a note in the notebook inside the famous mailbox at the top. It’s filled with notes from past hikers and adventure-seekers. Note that the Stairway to Heaven brushes with the AT severally, so you’ll probably bump into other adventure hikers.
10. Pochuck Trail
- Location: Wawayanda State PARK
- Trail length: 1.8miles
- Elevation gain: 8m
- Difficulty: easy
- Dogs: Yes, on a leash
- Parking: Available but limited
If you love the soft life and prefer lovely strollable walks over strenuous rock climbing, the Pochuk Trail over the Stairway to Heaven. They’re both in the same park, so it’s a battle of choices, but if you’re an adrenaline junkie, why not combine both trails for a partly-strenuous walk that ends with an easy hike.
The Pochuk trail is a mile-long boardwalk on a foot suspension bridge that’s also part of the Appalachian Trail. It starts with a steep descent, levels briefly, descends again, slinking hikers through breathtaking marshlands, pinelands, cow pastures, and boulder fields for over half a mile, and ends at Pinwheel Vista; one of the best viewpoints in NJ.
11. Batona Trail
- Location: New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve
- Trail length: 53.5miles
- Elevation gain: 60m
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Dogs: Yes, on a leash
- Parking: just a few spots
The Batona Trail is that one New Jersey hiking trail that brings both experienced and amateur hikers together thanks to its popularity.
Short for back-to-nature, the Batona trail truly leaves up to its name. It starts at Brendan T. Byrne Forest and stretches through the heart of the pine barrens, taking hikers through natural sites so extraordinary such as paleodunes, ghost towns, old rail lines and intermittent ponds.
The Batona Trail is relatively flat but moderately challenging, partly due to length, and its sandy nature. Pack some camping gear if you intend to complete it because it takes about three to four days to complete.
12. Grand Loop Trail
- Location: Morristown National Historical Park
- Trail length: 7.1miles
- Elevation gain: 314m
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Dogs: Yes, on a leash
- Parking: just a few spots
Love travelling for history? Hiking the Grand Loop Trail will make your day. The 7.1mile loop trail is based in Morristown National Historical Park, a major war site in America’s history. And not only that, the trail itself traverses Jockey Hollow Woods, the section of the park where the more than 10,000 historical Continental Army troops camped in the 80s.
As a result, you’ll come across many historically-significant features relating to the battle, such as reconstructed barracks. It’s relatively hilly, though, so be ready to break a little sweat.
13. The Peaceful Partners Trail
- Location: Black Run Preserve
- Trail length: 3.8miles
- Elevation gain: 63m
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Dogs: Yes, on a leash
- Parking: just a few spots
The Peaceful Partners Trail is one of the many pleasant trails inside the Black Run Preserve. As a result, it runs through pleasantly varying terrains, ranging from wetlands, pine forests, and streams to cranberry bogs. The trail is marked with blue blazes, stretches 3.8miles, and ends by a lake.
14. Fairy Tale Trail
- Location: South Mountain Park
- Trail length: 1 mile
- Elevation gain: n/a
- Difficulty: easy
- Dogs: On a leash
- Parking: Limited
If you love a good fairy tale or would love your kids to join in the next hike, add South Mountain’s fairy tale trail to your list of the best hiking trails in all of New Jersey.
It’s a short hike- only a mile long and creates an Easter-Egg-hunting-like experience thanks to the miniature fairy tale houses you have to find on the trail.
These mystical houses are the work of a local artist who began secretly setting them up until the park’s management accepted them. New visitors are, however, encouraged to adhere to the “no trace” policy, which means no more fairy tale houses set up by outsiders. Besides mystical fairy houses, you’ll also bump into a few pleasant waterfalls.
15. Batsto Lake White Trail
- Location: Wharton State Forest
- Trail length: 4.1miles
- Elevation gain: 40m
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Dogs: Yes, on a leash
- Parking: Few Spots
If you’d like to hike the Batona Trail but just don’t have the time, consider taking a day-hike on the Batsto White Lake trail. It’s only four miles but straddles the Wharton Forest well, taking hikers across pines, wild blueberries, fallen trees, miles of fern-covered forestland, swamps, hills, and ultimately, the shore of Lake Batsto!
16. Calverton Pond Preserve
- Location: Old River Rd, Manorville
- Trail length: 0.8 miles
- Elevation gain: 2m
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Dogs: No
- Parking: limited
A hike through the Calverton Pond Preserve is short but sweet. The 0.8-mile loop takes you through part of the 350-acre preserve and leads to three coastal ponds, Fox, Block and Sandy. While there’s a lot to love about the trail, the coastal plain ponds are ultimately the main draw. They’re an incredibly rare wetland with no inlet or outlet. Instead, the ponds rely on groundwater and, despite being low-nutrient, are home to some rare animal species.
17. Monument Trail Loop
- Location: High Point State Park
- Trail length: 3.4miles
- Elevation gain: 157m
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Dogs: On a leash
- Parking: limited
The Kittatinny mountain range has several hiking trails, but the Monument trail loop is the most popular, and for a good reason- it leads to the High Point Monument, the highest point of elevation in New Jersey. As a result, it guarantees spectacular views of the lush green landscapes of the mountain, the Delaware river, and even parts of Pennsylvania and New York skylines. Besides views, the monument itself is a coveted memorial symbol designed as tribute for NJ’s heroes by land, sea and air.
18. Clinton Point Trail at Palisade Interstate Park
- Location: Palisade Interstate Park
- Trail length: 8miles
- Elevation gain: 122m
- Difficulty: Challenging
- Dogs: On a leash
- Parking: Limited
Up for a challenge? Clinton Point Trail inside the Palisade Interstate Park is probably the best New Jersey hiking trail for you. It’s moderately challenging due to the bunch of little hills you’ll come across along the path, but it’s inarguably worth the effort because it runs along a river and over some cliffs with outstanding viewpoints of the area. The trail stretches about eight miles and includes a 400-foot elevation gain from the river to the cliffs.
19. Wawayanda Swamp Loop
- Location: Wawayanda State Park
- Trail length: 8.9miles
- Elevation gain: 162m
- Difficulty: slightly difficult
- Dogs: On a leash
- Parking: Limited
The Wawayanda State Forest is home to countless hiking trails, and the White Cedar Swarm route is one of the harder ones. Stretching an estimated 9 miles in the middle of the state forest, this hike brings you to a boardwalk over a swamp, mixed-oak forests, rhododendron thickets, streams and laurel groves. It’s a relatively flat trail with car-friendly sections, meaning you can tackle part of it by car.
20. Buttermilk Falls Gorge and Rim Trail
- Location: Buttermilk Falls State Park
- Trail length: 1.5mile
- Elevation gain: n/a
- Difficulty: easy
- Dogs: On a leash
- Parking: Limited
Buttermilk Falls State Park is home to numerous trails, but for breathtaking views in the shortest time possible, hike the Gorge and Rim Trail.
It’s only 1.5-miles long but wanders through areas of the park with frothing waterfalls, lovely gorges, eroded, sharply-twisting ravines, and numerous other natural wonders.
Note that Buttermilk State Park has 25 campgrounds, so you don’t have to limit yourself to one trail. Turn your hike into a camping adventure to explore all the scenic trails available.
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