Trail conditions and closure resources for hiking trails in New Jersey and the surrounding area.
Hiking trails can change due to damage from storms or flooding or can be closed for other reasons. We’ve gathered some resources that list conditions as well as closures for major trails and parks.
This page is for reference only. Trail situations should be reported to the individual State/County/Local park office directly.
We’ve attempted to have the most current info here, but the best course is to check the park’s site before heading out.
Current Situation:
Updated: 5/29/20; 1pm.
Hike local. Hike with immediate family – no groups. Remain at home if sick. Check these Hike Safe guidelines before heading out.
Are New Jersey parks open?
*** New Jersey State parks are OPEN.
County parks are allowed to reopen at their discretion. ***
Parking limited to 50% allowed capacity at all state, county, and local parks.
- Popular lots are filling and closing quickly. Hike early or during the week if possible.
- Use our Hike Finder Map to find nearby alternates. And many of our hike guides list nearby suggested hikes (generally less than a 20 minute drive away).
Maintain distancing, mask up when near others. Masks required at NJ State Parks at toll booths, trails and beach access, parking lots, restrooms, park buildings as they re-open (5/29/20).
Bathrooms: Are reopening as cleaning procedures and staff are in place. NJ State Parks has a list. Usually open from 11am to 3pm. Otherwise, expect closures and go before you go.
Buildings and playgrounds remain CLOSED for all parks. No gatherings or groups.
Picnics with blankets and coolers are allowed – find a spot away from other people. Picnic areas, tables, and grills remain CLOSED.
Note: Parks may be closed again if guidelines aren’t followed.
To our knowledge the status of the parks below is accurate but the situation is ever-changing. Status has been taken from the park’s web site and social media – parks do not notify us.
PLEASE check the state park site or their Facebook before heading out, popular or narrow trails are getting closed, there are likely more than we have here.
NEW JERSEY STATE PARK and FORESTS:
OPEN as of sunrise on Saturday May 2. WMA’s (Wildlife Management Areas) remain open.
**State Park NOTES and CLOSURES**
** Worthington State Forest: **
- CLOSED: All Appalachian Trail parking areas along Route 80, in order to reduce parking by 50%. [This includes the Dunnfield Creek Parking Area that is used for Mt. Tammany, Sunfish Pond, and the Appalachian Trail].
- OPEN: Parking lots off Old Mine Road. “The Appalachian Trail and the Mount Tammany trail can still be accessed at other parking lots in Worthington State Forest and the Delaware Water Gap Recreation Area”.
- Camping prohibited at Worthington backpacker site.
** Mt. Tammany (Worthington S.F.) **
- Trails OPEN (As per the Worthington FB page. Was closed due to fire 5/17 and 5/18).
- Kittatinny Point Visitors Center is reaching capacity very early in the day; have an alternate hike in mind or hike during the week if possible.
- “The Dunnfield Creek and Mt. Tammany parking areas are still closed, but you can park at the Kittatinny Point Visitors Center and take the underpass beneath Route 80 to reach the trailhead.” (5/6/20 via Facebook).
- Mt. Tammany Trails are one-way only. Hike up RED DOT and down BLUE DOT (now called Pahaquarry). (This is the route our hike page uses, as it’s our recommended direction anyway).
NEW JERSEY COUNTY PARKS:
Allowed to open at the discretion of county governments. Visit county park sites at the bottom of this page, most have posted OPEN status.
LOCAL PARKS:
Remain at the discretion of municipal governments.
Palisades Interstate Park:
OPEN: Trails (such as The Giant Stairs and Alpine to Forest View etc). Vehicular access to the park will be limited; new traffic patterns. Some restrooms open.
Preserves, nature centers:
OPEN: Apshawa Preserve, Black Run Preserve, Franklin Parker Preserve, Rutgers Ecological Preserve, Tenafly Nature Center (1-way trails, $2 fee to hike in order to support the center), Schiff Nature Preserve.
CLOSED: Duke Farms, Helyar Woods at Rutgers Gardens, High Mountain. These are just ones we’ve noticed.
Natural Lands properties:
OPEN (NJ: Peek Preserve, Glades Wildlife Refuge).
New Jersey Audubon properties:
OPEN (Plainsboro Preserve etc).
National Parks in NJ:
These are parks not run by the State of New Jersey. Status has been taken from the park’s web site and social media. Check for updates.
Appalachian Trail (N.J. contains 72 miles):
- Updated guidance from the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, 5/20/20. While the Appalachian Trail is not entirely closed, they recommend hikers to stay away even for day hikes. The increased use is making it difficult to practice social distancing.
- Regarding Wawayanda SP and Stairway to Heaven / Pochuck Boardwalk sections: The NJ State Park Wawayanda page has removed these closures while the ATC page still shows them.
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area:
- Park trails and parking areas remain OPEN except for those at Kittatinny Point and Dunnfield Parking Area on Rt. 80 which is CLOSED (used for Mt. Tammany, Sunfish Pond, and Appalachian Trail).
- Restrooms remain CLOSED.
- PEEC (P.A.) Trails OPEN [5/29/20]; buildings/restrooms closed.
Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge: Trails and wildlife drive OPEN; except for Cedar Bonnet Island Trail and the deCamp Wildlife Trail which are CLOSED.
Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge: Trails OPEN except for Observation center which is CLOSED.
Morristown National Historical Park: Jockey Hollow & NJ Brigade grounds and trails are OPEN. Access to Jockey Hollow is thru Tempe Wick Rd entrance. Buildings and restrooms remain CLOSED. [5/20/20]
Paterson Great Falls: Grounds OPEN [5/22/20]. Buildings and restrooms remain CLOSED.
Sandy Hook – Gateway National Recreation Area: OPEN with restrictions [5/9/20]. Most trails open. Restroom facilities remain closed; portable units available. Bathroom facilities will be available May 30.
Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge – Trails OPEN.
Before heading out, check the park’s web site or social media for the most current info. Our hike pages have links to the park site and there are state and county sites listed below.
Resources / Park Site Links
New Jersey State Parks
- NJ State Park Advisories – The NJ Parks and Forestry page lists individual park advisories. Check this for the latest updates. Individual park pages may also have updates.
- New Jersey State Parks Facebook page. Updates also posted here.
- Most state parks have their own Facebook pages as well. Go to our njHiking FB page or the NJ parks FB and select “Pages liked by this page” to find individual parks.
NY-NJ Trail Conference
Organization that builds and maintains trails across northern New Jersey and into New York.
- Trail Alerts page.
- Trail Conditions Forums – Recent trail conditions for trails that are maintained by the conference.
- NY-NJ TC Facebook page.
New Jersey – Federal Parks
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
This area is at the border of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, near Rt 80 W and continuing north along the Delaware River.
It includes areas such as Mt. Tammany, the Appalachian Trail, Buttermilk Falls, and Van Campens Glen as well as Dingmans Falls, Raymondskills Falls, and Childs Park on the Pennsylvania side.
- List of OPEN/CLOSED trails.
- General list of Area and Road Closures
- Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Facebook page
Appalachian Trail
New Jersey contains 72 miles of this long distance trail, from the Delaware Water Gap at Rt 80, along the Kittatinny Ridge past Sunfish Pond to High Point, then along the Pochuck Boardwalk up Stairway to Heaven and on to Bearfort Ridge before heading into N.Y.
- For the entire trail, check The Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s trail updates page.
Morristown National Park
- Check the park page for alerts.
Palisades Interstate Park – New Jersey Section
- Check the Palisades Interstate Park site for updates. The right side of the site has each area’s status.
New Jersey County Parks
Atlantic County Parks
- Check the park site for info.
Bergen County Parks
- Check the park site for info.
Burlington County Parks
- Check the park site for info.
Camden County Parks
- Check the park site for info.
Cape May County Parks
- Check the park site for info.
Essex County Parks
- Check the park site for info.
Gloucester County Parks
- Check the park site for info.
Hunterdon County Parks
- Check the park site for info.
- Hunterdon County Parks Facebook.
Mercer County Parks
- Check the park site for updates.
Middlesex County Parks
- Check the park site for updates.
Monmouth County Parks
- Check individual park pages for closure updates.
- Monmouth Parks Facebook page
Morris County Parks
- Check the park site site for current info.
Ocean County Parks
- Check the park site for the latest info.
- Ocean County Parks Facebook page
Passaic County Parks
- Check the park site site for current info.
Somerset County Parks
- Check the park site site for the latest info.
- Somerset County Parks Facebook page
Union County Parks
Warren County Parks
- Check the park site site for the latest info.
- Warren County Parks Facebook page