Suppose you love the allure of nature and live or travel a lot in the state of New Jersey, America. In that case, you will probably appreciate the beautiful scenic sites that accompany the best hiking trails in New Jersey. The state has four distinct physical regions comprising the valley and ridge section in the North West, the highlands, central Piedmont, and the coastal plains that border the Atlantic Ocean.
How to pick the best hiking trails in New Jersey?
If you want to satisfy your craving for a nature experience in the state of New Jersey, then you have to ensure that you pick the most suitable hiking trails among the available plethora of options. However, choosing the best nature trail can prove overwhelming due to the beauty and promise of surreal experiences that each option offers, leading to second-guessing your decisions. Below encompasses the ways you can pick a suitable hiking trail.
- Personal preference. Go for a hiking trail that suits your inclination, whether it involves steep climbing and descent or the plains coastal trails.
- The hiking trail ratings. Most hiking trails will have ratings online from previous experiences by individuals, and these can prove useful in gauging the quality of the trail.
- Recommendation from trusted allies. Get a recommendation from friends and family who have experienced the nature trails to get first-hand feedback on how good or poor the nature trail proves.
Attributes of an excellent hiking trail in New Jersey
What defines a brilliant hiking trail?
- Technical and challenging sections. An excellent hike should have challenging sections that will make you care when it comes to your footing as you ascend the trail.
- Few people. A brilliant hike should have very few individuals with whom you will have to trail-share. The off and beaten path mostly prove the best.
- Excellent summit view. Pick a trail with a brilliant summit view that will convince you of the worthiness of the whole hiking hustle.
- Viewpoint and scenery. The trail should have magnificent views of different varieties before reaching the summit to qualify as a brilliant trail.
- Camping spot. Excellent hiking trails should prove those that can guarantee you at least more than a day of hiking, and as such, it should have a right camping spot to facilitate your rest.
- Multiple routes. The best hiking trail should have diverse pathways that lead to the trail’s summit to reduce monotony and increase the thrill.
- Wildlife. The best trails should also have fascinating wildlife such as eagles, black bears, deer, marmots, etc.
- Water. Water bodies such as streams, lakes, or creeks can prove great additions in making a hiking trail brilliant. Such bodies will ensure maximum rehydration besides providing a cooling zone when the trail takes more than a day.
The best hiking trails in New Jersey
#1. White shore and long path loop trail
The rugged hiking trail in New Jersey encompasses a loop distance of 6.6 kilometers near the Alpine. The trail rates as brutal and has various features such as a waterfall, among others. You can use the trail for different activities such as nature trips, rock climbing, and hiking around April to November.
Trail features
- Magnificent views
- Two hiking paths
- Rocks for rock climbing
- Forest with diverse tree types
- River and a waterfall
- Beach
- Wildlife
- Wildflowers
- Ruins
- Elevation gain of 234 meters
Advantages
- The rocky nature and elevation gain makes it difficult enough to challenge the most ardent of hikers.
- The ruins, river, waterfall, and beach make up for beautiful scenery as you make your ascent up the trail.
- Two hiking paths to increase the variety and eliminate monotony
- The wildlife and wildflowers accentuate the trail and increase the quality of the hiker experience.
- Diverse options for activity as you can do a nature hike, climb rocks, and nature climbs.
Disadvantage
- The rail has traffic
Deduction
The rugged trail proves an awesome hike pick with a moderately easier hike part and a more complex part, besides having brilliant views.
Google map link
#2. Mount Tammany: blue and red dot loop trail
The loop trail has a distance of 8.7 kilometers, near the Pahaquarry, and comes rated as moderate. You can access the path all year and tag along with your dog for a nature trip or hike.
Trail features
- Beautiful views
- Trail length of 8.7 kilometers
- Forest
- Elevation gain of 377 meters
- Wildlife
- Rocky trails
- River
- Dog friendly
Advantages
- The trail proves dog-friendly, and you can hike with your pet dogs as you enjoy the scenery.
- The rocky nature and the elevation gain gives it a reasonable difficulty level that you can enjoy.
- The forest and wildlife give the trail a serene feel that will relax you and increase your experience.
- Beautiful views to aim for while hiking
- The river provides a refreshing feel, and you can use it to cool off your feet.
Disadvantages
- Heavily trafficked loop
- No alternative parking within the trail
Deduction
The trail proves ideal for hiking, especially with dogs. However, the parking lot fills fast, and you have to become careful as no alternative parking exists within the trail.
Google map link
#3. Stairway to Heaven trail
The New Jersey trail encompasses a distance of 4.7 kilometers, and you can always find it near Vermont Township. The trail has a rating of moderate and had diverse activities that you can partake in when you decide to indulge.
Trail features
- Kid and dog friendly
- Elevation gain of 272 meters
- Length of 4.7 kilometers
- Out and back route
- Beautiful views, including birdwatching
- Wildlife and wildflowers
- Forest
- Rocky trails
Advantages
- The trail proves friendly for kids and pets such as dogs and therefore perfect for hiking as a family.
- The two routes give the trail more appeal.
- The beautiful views, such as birdwatching and the Vermont valley, among others, once at the summit, can prove memorable.
- Diverse activity types all year round
- Nature that includes trees, wildflowers, and wildlife gives the trail a serene feel.
Deduction
The Stairwell to Heaven trail proves ideal for hikers and starts as a steep ascent with large boulders that prove pivotal in offering you a platform to view the magnificent scenery beneath, such as the Vernon valley, Catskills, etc.
Google map link
#4. Black river trail
The heavily trafficked trail loop comes as a 10.3 kilometer stretch near the Chester area in New Jersey. The trail provides diverse activities and has a waterfall to complement it. Further, the course gets rated as moderate with a provision for walking dogs when leashed.
Trail features
- Trail length of 10.3 kilometers
- Uses the loop when it comes to the route type
- Elevation gain of 210 meters
- Kid and dog-friendly trail
- Diverse activities, such as fishing, hiking, running, birdwatching, etc.,
- Partially paved hiking trails
- River and a waterfall
- Forest and wildflowers
Advantages
- Diverse activities increase the things you can enjoy on this trail, making it very satisfactory.
- Impressive views that can last in the memory forever, including the waterfall, the birdwatching site, among others
- You can hike with kids or pet-dog without any limitation provided the dog has a leash
- The serene feel of the forest trees and wildflowers while hiking
- Moderate level of difficulty which can prove perfect for you and family as you walk along the black river
- Well-marked trails
Disadvantage
- Can prove a little slippery under wet conditions
Deduction
The beautiful trail can prove perfect for a whole family hiking expedition. However, you have to take care of the slippery paths, especially with kids.
Google map link
#5. Buttermilk Falls, hemlock pond, and Crater Lake trail
The 7.2 kilometers trail takes you from New Jersey’s highest fall- the buttermilk falls, through the hemlock pond, and finally, the Crater Lake. The trail features some rocky patches and manageable wood sections.
Trail features
- Beautiful views of the waterfall, crater lake, and the hemlock pond
- 7.2-kilometer trail
- Rocks
- Trees
- Adequate packing albeit unmarked
- Alternate parking
Advantages
- Brilliant scenic views of the crater lake, waterfall, and the hemlock pond
- Adequate parking, including alternate parking
- Moderate difficulty level when it comes to the hike
Google map link
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Conclusion
New Jersey has beautiful hiking trails that can prove perfect for your hiking needs, and all you have to do entails picking a suitable option from above when in the state.
Topics
- How to pick the best hiking trails in New Jersey?
- Attributes of an excellent hiking trail in New Jersey
- The best hiking trails in New Jersey
- #1. White shore and long path loop trail
- #2. Mount Tammany: blue and red dot loop trail
- #3. Stairway to Heaven trail
- #4. Black river trail
- #5. Buttermilk Falls, hemlock pond, and Crater Lake trail