NjHiking.com's Blog (187)

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The company that provides the software for the forum stopped supporting it long ago, is now increasing the monthly cost astronomically, and most people have been connecting via social media instead of places like Connect for several years. …

Moderate hike that takes in a viewpoint from historic Washington Rock, Hemlock Falls, and the Rahway River.

Historic Fun Fact: Washington Rock is where a signal beacon warned the Army at Morristown of the British Army's approach.

Trail surface: Moderate, somewhat rocky trails. A few easy stream crossings, and one over the Rayway…

Easy trail that skirts the edge of Lake Mercer, travels through woods and along fields and streams.

5.0 miles, easy surface: packed dirt, some roots/mud, mostly level.

Our two cents: While we normally avoid built-up parks like this, the eastern section of the park loop is all trails and is quite nice. It is a little…

Expansive views from a fire tower and Big Hill, a few ruins, and hiking old woods roads past three pretty reservoirs.

Miles: 7.0; rugged, rocky trails with some decent hills.

Route: Suffern-Bear Mountain (S-BM - YELLOW) past ORAK ruin, Jackie Jones fire tower, Big Hill. Leave Suffern-Bear Mountain (S-BM - YELLOW)…

Hike through a beautiful section of the pine barrens and around old cranberry bogs.

Easy, flat, no elevation changes. Soft sand and pine needles, some potentially soggy areas, a few water crossings on logs.

• 7.7 miles – this route, RED and GREEN trails.
• Shorter: 6 mile loop – just RED [recommended] or 6.7 mile…

Views of the NYC skyline (Ilgenstein Rock) and of Wanaque Reservoir (Erskine Lookout) are along this hike in Ringwood State Park.

9.5 miles. Moderate. Typical rugged Jersey trail surface.

Update 11/20/15 - Description and GPX updated, foliage photos added.

Our two cents: A stunning…

Pretty, well-maintained trails that are best for short loops plus a visitor center and small reptile house.

5 miles to do the perimeter of the park, minus the farm trails. Surface is packed earth with exposed roots, few rocks. Some minor hills along Many Log Run.

• Shorter: Multiple short trails under 2m each; link several for 3-4 mile…

Hike through fields and forest around Swimming River Reservoir and Marlu Lake in Monmouth County.

Trail surface: mostly easy; some very prominent roots, especially in the beginning, and grassy areas can be quite muddy. Mostly flat, no big elevation changes.

• This route: 6.9 miles
• Shorter: Marshy Walk (.3 mile.),…

Moderate hike that includes a view of the Delaware River and passes old farm buildings and the Kuser Estate House.

8.1 miles. Easy to moderate trail surface; minor elevation change. Some muddy/rutted trail sections due to use by bikes/horses. The trail is mostly hard packed earth, with some rocky areas.

Our two cents: This park…

Hike boardwalks, a suspension bridge, hardwood forest, fields of wildflowers, train tracks, a cow pasture, a boulder field... before steeply climbing the “Stairway to Heaven” to one of the best viewpoints in NJ: Pinwheel Vista.

The Kittatinny Mountains are visible in the distance, farms in the valley below, and on a clear day, High Point…

Scramble through the Lemon Squeezer – a narrow rock crevice on the Appalachian Trail – and hike past Island Pond, Boston Mine, Green Pond, and the Valley of Boulders.

8.2 miles; moderate. Rugged and rocky trail surface, but other than the Lemon Squeezer area, no real scrambling.



Updated 10/15/15 - Revised…

Nice views of rural Northern NJ from Sunrise Mountain and along the Appalachian Trail, plus hiking through a dense forest.

8.7 miles. Moderate - to difficult, typical rugged north Jersey trail surface. The AT is not as rocky here as it is closer to the Gap. Steady uphill on the Cartwright Trail as well as being quite rocky. Stony Brook can be wet in areas…

Challenging loop that combines a section of the Four Birds Trail with the Splitrock Trail to circle Splitrock Reservoir.

Enjoy views of the reservoir and Misty Pond from Indian Cliffs. This challenging loop is one of the most difficult hikes in NJ.

11.2 miles; challenging. Suitable for experienced, fit hikers only (seriously, we…

Challenging hike to the summit of Mt. Tammany and then to Sunfish Pond in the Delaware Water Gap.

Steeply climb to the summit of Mt. Tammany (1527') for amazing views over the Delaware Water Gap, then follow the Kittatinny ridge along a fire road before heading over to beautiful Sunfish Pond. Return is via the scenic Dunnfield Creek Trail.

10.7…

Small county park with a very nice trail system through a pine forest with several short, easy loops – or combine all for a 5.0 mile hike.

Trail surface: Very easy: level and soft pine needles, with boardwalks to cross brooks and wet areas. Some overgrown grassy areas after crossing Pleasant Valley Road.



Our 2-cents:…

Hikes in north New Jersey may get most of the attention, but the entire state has plenty of excellent hiking available. Hiking in Central Jersey is diverse – trails may head up mountains, across rolling hills, through forests and pine barrens, skirt fields and farmlands, and cross marshes on boardwalks. The trail surface is less rocky than up north. The area is also a great introduction to hiking…

A long route on mostly woods roads to a fire tower, or take it easy with short trails, picnic tables and playgrounds.

Trail surface: Moderate. Lots of level woods roads, with some steep sections. This park is multi-use.

• This route: 9.3 miles.
• Shorter: YELLOW, RED, and ORANGE are all under 1.2 miles each and can be used to for smaller…

South Jersey is often overlooked as a hiking destination but it offers unique and interesting hikes that every Jersey hiker should check out. The south is dominated by the “Pine Barrens” – over one million acres – so trails are usually easy, level, soft, sandy, and covered in pine needles as opposed to the the hilly, rock-filled northern trails. The south is especially striking in winter with the…

This moderately challenging loop combines pleasant forest walking with rocky scrambles and passes by pretty Terrace Pond.

4.8 miles – Rugged, rocky surface with some scrambling.

• Shorter option: Start with BLUE and go right to the pond and back, skipping the YELLOW and RED portions of the hike below. Keep in mind the BLUE trail heads uphill on the way…