Best Hikes in NJ
Trail maps, photos, videos, and info for some of the best hikes in New Jersey. Use the map locator to find where the hikes are located, click on an icon for a summary, then click on the link for more details. Hikes links are also below the map.
View NJ Hiking Trailheads in a larger map
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Wells Mills County Park - Penns Hill Trail
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Mt. Minsi - Pennsylvania side of the Delaware Water Gap
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Harriman State Park, NY - Pleasant Meadows Lake Loop
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Mt. Tammany - Delaware Water Gap
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Buttermilk Falls, Crater Lake, Hemlock Pond - Delaware Water Gap
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Terrace Pond South - Wawayanda State Park
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Ramapo Mountain State Forest - Ramapo Lake, Van Slyke Castle, Cannonball Trail, Millstones, Todd Lake
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Bearfort Ridge/Surprise Lake - Abram S. Hewitt St. Forest
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High Point State Park - Monument Trail and Cedar Swamp
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Jenny Jump - Ghost Lake
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Pyramid Mountain - Tripod Rock, Whale Rock, Bear Rock
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Jockey Hollow - Grand Loop Trail
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Norvin Green - High Point, Chik Falls, Otter Hole Loop
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Four Birds Trail - Wildcat Ridge
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Cheesequake State Park - Green Trail
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Black River Trail - Cooper Mill
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Sunfish Pond - Worthington State Forest
Wells Mills County Park - Penns Hill Trail
Complete hike details on our Wells Mills page.
Trail Summary:A great intro to the terrain of the Pine Barrens at a very nicely kept park. The well-marked Penns Hill Trail is the longest loop in the park (8.4 miles) and travels through Atlantic white cedar swamps as well as the typical pine and sandy trails of the area. There are some rolling hills - not usually found in the Pine Barrens.
Mt. Minsi, PA
Complete hike details on our Mt. Minsi page.
Trail Summary: The best view of NJ's Mt. Tammany is actually from Mt. Minsi, on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware Water Gap - the break in the Kittatinny Mountains that was carved by the Delaware River. The views are wonderfull of Mt. Tammany and the Delaware River from this short, steep route to the top. This is a popular route and you will not be alone.
Harriman State Park, NY
Complete hike details on our Harriman State Park page.
Trail Summary: Harriman is located just over the border in NY and has an extensive (and popular) network of hiking trails. This route packs a lot of nice, scenic hiking in a doable loop. At the halfway point, Pine Meadows Lake makes for a terrific break spot.
7.2 miles. Moderate due to length. Rocky, but relatively level. Some very minor scrambling in the last bit of the hike, but that can avoided.
Mt. Tammany - Delaware Water Gap
*Updated 10/09 - Complete hike details on our Mt. Tammany Red Dot Hike page.
Trail Summary: RED DOT is short and VERY steep but always worth the effort. You climb 1250 feet in 1.5 miles (a little rock scrambling involved) to a rocky outcrop overlooking the Gap, Mt Minsi and Rt. 80 below.
This is one of the most popular trails in NJ, and the summit is a great spot for lunch or a snack. This is also a great place to sit and watch the hawks glide around you. If you have the nerve you can scramble down the rocks till you are practically dangling your feet over the Gap.
(If you are looking to do a longer hike, you can do the 11 mile loop from Mt Tammany to Sunfish Pond that you can find in our trail blog.)
Buttermilk Falls, Crater Lake, Hemlock Pond
Complete hike details on our Buttermilk Falls page.
Trail Summary: This route starts at NJ’s highest waterfall, Buttermilk Falls. The falls are 200’ high and requires no hiking to see it, but elaborate stairs can be climbed to get other views.
7.4 miles – Moderate trail surface; steep in the beginning, some rocky sections but also a lot of really easy woods roads.
Terrace Pond South
Complete hike details on our Terrace Pond South page.
Trail Summary: Very popular hiking destination in West Milford, NJ. This moderately challenging loop combines pleasant forest walking with rocky scrambles and passes by pretty Terrace Pond.
4.8 miles – Most books seem to rate this loop as “challenging” ... but we'd clarify that a little...
Ramapo Mountain State Forest - Van Slyke Castle
Complete hike details on our Ramapo Mountain page.
Trail Summary: Popular, extensive network of trails located in Bergen and Passaic Counties, NJ. This route takes in Ramapo Lake, Van Slyke Castle ruins, plus views of the surrounding area and of NYC. It’s easy to create loops of any length here, and there is a lot to see, even on a short loop.
This is a very, very popular area, especially going to and around the lake. But the further you hike away from the lake area, the less crowded this park becomes.
Bearfort Ridge/Surprise Lake
Complete hike details on our Bearfort Ridge/Surprise Lake page.
Trail Summary: This pretty trail follows the ridge of Bearfort Mountain, located in Abram S. Hewitt State Forest in West Milford, NJ (near Greenwood Lake).
It features a little bit of everything you find hiking in Jersey: a mix of rugged and easy trail surface, including long patches of exposed rock, some short scrambling sections, nice views from the ridge, a rhododendron tunnel, and several wet areas/streams. Surprise Lake makes for a pleasant break spot, and the return is on a woods road.
Sunfish Pond - Worthington State Forest
Complete hike details on our Sunfish Pond Hike page.
Trail Summary: About 7.5-8 miles roundtrip. Sunfish Pond is another hugely popular hike, but rightly so. You arrive at pretty Sunfish Pond, a glacial lake 1,000 feet ABOVE the surrounding area. There are several ways to get there but most usually take the AT (Appalachian Trail) there and back, starting from the Dunnfield lot on Rt. 80.
Black River Trail - Cooper Mill Park, Chester Township
Complete hike details on our Black River Trail page.
Trail Summary: 4.6 miles roundtrip. This is a great starter hike through a very pretty area along the Black River.
Starts at Cooper Mill and follows the Black River until arriving at Kay Environmental Center.
Also available, a 6.7 mile loop and a 14.8 mile loop.
Cheesequake State Park - Green Trail
Complete hike details on our Cheesequake State Park page.
Trail Summary:Located in Central Jersey, the Green Trail at Cheesequake State Park is pleasant hike with a fair amount of diversity. In just under 3 miles you will hike over rolling hills and through beautiful marshlands with the assistance of numerous boardwalks.
Four Birds Trail (South) - Wildcat Ridge
Complete hike details on our Four Birds Trail page.
Trail Summary:Located in the Highlands region in the Wildcat Ridge Wildlife Management Area, this hike is a challenging loop that starts at the southern terminus of the Four Birds trail.
It’s a rugged trail through a very pretty area, with several stream hops and one larger crossing. There are views at the hawk watch area and returning on the Split Rock loop, as well as at the Reservoir itself.
Norvin Green State Forest - High Point, Chik Falls, Otter Hole Loop
Complete details on our Norvin Green State Forest page.
Park Summary: Located in the New Jersey Highlands region just west of the Wanaque Reservoir, Norvin Green offers a variety of rugged hikes. There are short hikes with outstanding views, and longer, challenging loops for the experienced hiker.
Areas of interest include: multiple viewpoints including High Point (360° views of the area, including NYC on a clear day), Roomy Mine and Blue Mine, Chik Falls and Otter Hole. There is also Weis Ecology Center, part of the NJ Audubon Society.
Hacklebarney State Park - Chester, NJ
Complete details on our Hacklebarney State Park page.
Park Summary: This is a gorgeous park in Chester, NJ that has the Black River as it's centerpiece.
The trails here are good for beginner hikes, or just taking a quick, short, easy hike; hiking with kids or anyone who wants to experience a wonderful outdoor setting without a lot of hiking or effort.
Jockey Hollow - Grand Loop Trail
Complete details on our Jockey Hollow page.
Park Summary: Easy trails on wide footpaths, along gurgling streams and rolling hills in a very beautiful area that is part of Morristown National Historical Park.
The trail network crosses the park from two central trail parking areas as well some near the Visitor Center, and it’s easy to makes loops of all lengths. A portion of the Patriot’s Path is here as well. The park is also popular with joggers and dog walkers.
Pyramid Mountain - Tripod Rock, Whale Rock, Bear Rock
Complete details on our Pyramid Mountain page.
Park Summary: Variety of short to medium trail loops with moderate elevation gains, rocky footpaths, several streams, interesting glacial erratics (Tripod Rock, etc) in a very pretty setting conveniently located in central New Jersey.
The trail system here is good for beginning hikers, but interesting enough for experienced ones.
Jenny Jump - Ghost Lake
Complete details on our Jenny Jump page.
Park Summary: Small, very pretty park located in Warren County. Jenny Jump packs a lot of nice hiking in a compact route, and is a good intro for the beginning hiker. Trails offer views of the surrounding mountains and valleys, and end at Ghost Lake.
High Point State Park - Monument Trail
Complete details on our High Point page.
Park Summary: Located in Sussex County - all the way up in the northwest corner of NJ - this park is worth a visit even without doing a hike.
This loop travels the AT, the Monument Trail and through Cedar Swamp. There are tons of views along the way of NJ, PA and NY. It also climbs up High Point Monument.
