Looking for a quality hike in northern New Jersey? While there are definitely more than just 11 great hiking spots in North Jersey, these are some that I chose to highlight in today’s post! Check out these 11 hiking spots in North Jersey that offer many trails at various difficulty levels, amazing views and scenery, and a great trek!
1. Worthington State Forest (Warren County)
Enjoy over 20 miles of various trails throughout Worthington State Forest. Some of the Appalachian Trail passes through this forest, and the hikes range in difficulty here. I recommend hiking to the top of Mount Tammany via the Mt. Tammany Red Dot and Blue Dot Loop Trail. This 3.6 mile moderate hike hits an elevation gain of over 1100 ft. and offers a nice panoramic view of the Delaware Water Gap. It is recommended to take the red dot trail going up, and the blue dot trail going down. I hiked this trail last year and absolutely loved it, and the views it has to offer!
2. Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area (Morris County)
Pyramid Mountain is located in Boonton, and offers various trails with views of the distant NYC skyline. I hiked the blue trail when I visited last year and crossed onto some other pathways during my hike. Check out this article from NJ hiking for a more detailed look at the hikes offered at Pyramid Mountain.
3. High Point State Park (Sussex County)
At the upper west corner of New Jersey is High Point State Park. Enjoy views of NJ, NY and PA from here, numerous trails, and the High Point Monument. The High Point Monument marks the highest elevation in the Garden State at around 1800 feet, and is a memorial to commemorate NJ veterans. Hike the popular 3.5 mile Monument Trail Loop, which is deemed moderate according to AllTrails.
4. Wawayanda State Park (Sussex County)
Wawayanda State Park spreads across a few towns in Sussex County, and includes roughly 20 miles of Appalachian Trails. This park also offers over 60 miles of marked trails. I recommend hiking the Stairway to Heaven trail which is in Vernon, NJ. When I visited last year, I parked in a small lot off of Rt. 94 very close to Heaven Hill Farm. From this lot, you can begin the 2.6 mile Stairway to Heaven loop trail. If you want to add a few extra miles to your hike, you can park off of County Road 517 at the start of the Appalachian Trail Boardwalk. From here you can walk 2.4 miles along the Appalachian Trail Boardwalk and then cross Rt. 94 and begin the Stairway to Heaven hike. The rocky stairway leads up to some beautiful views and photo-ops.
5. Stokes State Forest (Sussex County)
Stokes State Forest has 24 marked trails including over 12 miles of the Appalachian Trail. Popular locations within Stokes State Forest include Sunrise Mountain, Tillman’s Ravine, Buttermilk Falls, Crater Lake, Hemlock Pond and more. While you can basically drive right up to Sunrise Mountain, there are numerous hikes you can take to also get there. Check out this article on Sunrise Mountain before deciding where you want to start your trek.
6. Palisades Interstate Park (Bergen County)
Palisades Interstate Park is roughly 12 miles long and hikes vary from easy strolls along of the water to challenging rock scrambles. Popular hikes at this park include the Shore Trail and Long Trail Loop starting at the Alpine Picnic Area, and the Giant Stairs. The Giant Stairs is a difficult 4.3 mile hike with about a mile of rock scrambles. Check out Palisades Interstate Park on AllTrails to see which trail is best for you.
7. South Mountain Reservation (Essex County)
South Mountain Reservation covers over 2000 acres of land within Essex County. A popular hiking trail at South Mountain is the Hemlock Falls Trail. This trail is 1.6 miles long and gives a beautiful view of Hemlock falls, a waterfall standing at 25 feet tall. Check out this article from Take A Hike for more information on the Hemlock Falls Trail.
8. Ramapo Valley County Reservation (Bergen County)
Ramapo Valley in Mahwah offers hiking trails of all difficulty levels. Many visitors bring their dogs to enjoy the walk and some swimming at the Macmillan Reservoir. This park can get crowded on a nice day, so you may want to come early to secure a parking spot. A popular moderate trail at the Ramapo Reservation is the Vista Loop Trail, which takes you along a 3.5 mile loop marked with yellow blazes. You can enjoy beautiful vistas, fishing (with a permit), the pond and reservoir, and multiple hiking trails at Ramapo Reservation.
9. Norvin Green State Forest (Passaic County)
I recently hiked at Norvin Green State Forest and absolutely loved it. From scenic vistas of a distant NYC skyline to nearby lakes, small waterfalls, foliage etc… this forest has a lot of beauty to offer. We parked at the Otter Hole Trailhead Parking Lot in Bloomingdale, and began the loop from there. This is the route that we hiked while at Norvin Green State Forest, and it hit a lot of the scenic points. This hike is moderate with some steep ascents, and took us around 2.5-3 hours to complete.
10. Hacklebarney State Park (Morris County)
Hacklebarney State Park in Long Valley is a smaller hiking/walking area compared to the other places mentioned on this list, but still has some nice scenery to offer. This is a great spot for a hiker who wants something easy/moderate. The Black River cuts its way through this park, and you can enjoy the 1.8 mile Riverside Trail here. Hacklebarney State Park has kid-friendly hikes/paths, and tends to get crowded on a nice day.
11. Garret Mountain Reservation (Passaic County)
Garret Mountain Reservation in Paterson and Woodland Park offers the 2.9 mile yellow and white loop hiking trail with a nice view of the NYC skyline. While at Garret Mountain, you can see the historical Lambert Castle and Lambert Tower (As of November 2021, the Lambert Castle is temporarily closed).
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