12 Spots In Central or South Jersey To Take A Hike or Walk

Fall is here and is arguably the best season to go hiking in New Jersey! Fall foliage and cooler temperatures offer vibrant scenery and more comfortable weather for treks. Last year, I shared 11 of the best hiking spots in North Jersey. In this blog post, I’m sharing 12 spots in Central or South Jersey to take a hike or walk! These are just 12 of MANY spots throughout the lower and middle portion of the Garden State, and they are worth checking out!

1. Sourland Mountain Preserve (Somerset County)

Lot: 421 East Mountain Road, Hillsborough, NJ

Sourland Mountain Preserve is situated within Hillsborough and Montgomery, NJ. The perimeter of the trails total 5.4 miles. Bouldering is also offered on some of the trails here if you are into that. The trails here are rocky with a slight elevation gain. While there aren’t any major panoramic views at this preserve, you can still enjoy a peaceful trek through the woods and foliage. If you are interested in hiking the 5.4 mile perimeter, which includes some of each trail offered, then check out this blog post from NJ Hiking.

2. Baldpate Mountain & Fiddler’s Creek Preserve (Mercer County)

Lot: 29 Fiddlers Creek Rd, Titusville, NJ 08560

You can access trails for Fiddler’s Creek Preserve and The Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain from the same parking lot. There is another lot down Fiddlers Creek Road as well. Fiddler’s Creek is a short, but worthwhile hike that is relatively easy. If you want to extend your hiking, you can add in some trails within Baldpate Mountain.

3. Goat Hill Overlook (Mercer County)

Lot: 20 George Washington Rd, Lambertville, NJ 08530

The Goat Hill Overlook Trail in Lambertville is a short hike that offers stunning views of the Delaware River. You can enjoy this brief 1-mile loop in under 30 minutes, depending on your pace. There is a very small parking lot, and people tend to come and go quickly. If there isn’t a spot, you may be able to get one if you wait for a little bit. Goat Hill Overlook also has a few other trail options with additional overlooks you can consider. You can check out the trail map here.

4. Cheesequake State Park (Middlesex County)

Cheesequake State Park is a great hiking spot in Central Jersey, suitable for beginners! I hiked here two years ago and loved the colorful scenery and trails. There is an entrance fee charged between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Refer to this trail map for additional info on parking, trails and more. A list of trails at Cheesequake State Park can be found here as well.

5. Washington Crossing State Park (Mercer County)

Multiple Parking Lots Available, reference map to pick which works best for you.

Go back in history as you hike the trails at Washington Crossing State Park alongside the Delaware River. There are numerous trail options here, so reference their trail map to see which work best for you.

6. Hartshorne Woods Park (Monmouth County)

If you are looking for more of a hiking vibe in the Monmouth County area, then Hartshorne Woods Park is worth checking out! With scenic views of the water, and 14 miles of marked trails, Hartshorne Woods Park is great for varied scenery and terrain! When I visit, I like to park in the Rocky Point lot, but there are three lots throughout this park. From Rocky Point, you can begin your trek along the easy to moderate Battery Loop Trail. For more information, refer to the Hartshorne Woods Park official map.

7. Thompson Park (Monmouth County)

Multiple Lots (I recommend putting in 805 Newman Springs Road, Lincroft, NJ into google maps. That’s where you will see an entrance sign with access to lots. You can also park at Cross Farms Park and begin your walk from that direction.)

Thompson Park in Lincroft/Holmdel is by no means a hiking spot, but rather a peaceful county park for a long walk through nature. This is a great spot if you are interested in a laid-back walking trail. There are many surrounding playgrounds and fields, and this is a family-friendly park. Most of the popular trails are flat and paved, and there are many options here. Check out the official park map here.

8. Wharton State Forest (Multiple Counties)

Wharton State Forest is the largest single tract of land in the NJ state park system, and is located within the Pinelands. With 50 miles of marked hiking trails, there is plenty to explore at Wharton State Forest! Learn more about what Wharton State Forest has to offer here. Also, check out this page on NJ Hiking for some in-depth articles on how to hike some of the trails there. One of the more popular options is combining the Batso Lake Trail with exploring the Batso Village.

9. Cattus Island County Park (Ocean County)

Lot: Cattus Island Road, Toms River, NJ (one minute drive south of the Cooper Environmental Center)

Cattus Island County Park is suitable for a casual walk. Enjoy coastal and verdant scenery as you walk along all or some of their seven miles of trails. Cattus Island County Park features nature trails, scenic boardwalks, a conservation area, environmental education, cross-country skiing, picnic area, playground, scenic overlooks, and an accessible environmental center with restrooms. The boardwalk path spans 1,000ft and is wheelchair accessible. I visited here about two years ago, and enjoyed a leisurely stroll to their small beach and throughout the rest of the park! I featured Cattus Island County Park in my instagrammable photo spots NJ blog post that you can read here!

10. Black Run Preserve (Burlington County)

Lots: small lot on Kettle Run Road and another on Borton’s Road

Black Run Preserve spans 1300-acres and is located in Evesham. Black Run is 1 of 120 preserves throughout the state of NJ. It offers hiking/running trails, mountain biking, birdwatching, nature photography and more. The hiking trails are generally easy and flat. Learn more about Black Run Preserve here.

11. Rancocas State Park (Burlington County)

Rancocas State Park offers 8.3 miles of total trails with connectors from the Rancocas Nature Center or Powhatan Indian Reservation Drive lots. This park consists of mainly easy trails, and makes for a leisurely trek through the woods.

12. Maurice River Bluffs Preserve (Cumberland County)

Maurice River Bluffs Preserve in Millville spans 500+ acres and offers hilly terrain which is rare for South Jersey. Visitors can be entertained by the preserve’s many offerings, including 5+ miles of hiking trails with a bridge, steps for steeper inclines, benches & picnic tables, a bird blind enclosure, floating dock and a separate mountain biking trail. All Trails has mapped the popular 5.3 mile Maurice River Bluffs loop trail here.

Comment below your favorite spot in Central or South Jersey to take a hike or walk!