The best time of the year to enjoy hiking in NJ is in the fall when the leaves are in full color and in the spring or after a heavy rainfall when the waterfalls and rivers are at their best
Difficulty - Moderate, some rocks, and steep sections. 5.3 miles. . This hike offers takes you along a diversity of habitats and beautiful vistas in the heart of the Highlands of northern New Jersey. The Butler Reservoir is a scenic attraction for hikers and birdwatchers, and the Apshawa Brook flows through the preserve to the Pequannock River. The Apshawa Preserve is open year round from dawn to dusk for recreation, and can be accessed from Macopin Road in West Milford. Directions to the Apshawa Preserve from Route 287 - Take Route 287N to Exit 52 - Route 23 North. Continue on Route 23 North for 5.6 miles to Germantown Road, turn right onto Germantown Road and travel east for 2.5 miles. Torn right onto Macopin Road and travel for 1.6 miles. Turn right turn onto Northwood Road and immediately look to the right for "Apshawa Preserve, New Jersey Conservation Foundation" sign. There's plenty of parking in the lot there.
Buttermilk Falls Loop
Mountain Road
Walpack Township, NJ
GPS Parking: N41 08.221 W74 53.350
Website
The best time to come is in the Spring or after a heavy rain. From the falls, you can follow markers to the blue trail, which leads to the white Appalachian trail.
Difficulty: Moderate. The entire loop covers 7.5 miles R/T and includes 3 waterfalls, cascades, and good views. As a note of caution, trails are not well marked. Buttermilk Falls is NJ's highest waterfall at 200' high. It requires virtually no hiking to see it, though there are other short stair climbing and trails to get to see other views. For the shortest loop, climb up the stairs around the falls and continue on the Blue trail at the top. At the beginning there is a steep climb, though the views at the top are well worth it. Consider stopping at Tillman Ravine on the way to the Falls and doing a couple mile hike around there, and then stopping at Buttermilk for a look.
Parking/Trail head: To get there: From Branchville, take Rt. 206 N, past Culver's Lake, make a left onto Struble Road where it becomes Dimon Road. Continue on past two parking areas on the left for Tillman Ravine. At the intersection, turn left onto Mountain Road, past Walpack Cemetery. Continue on Mountain Road until you see a large dirt lot on your right, the falls on are the left right next to the road and can't be missed. Note: Restrooms are the two Tillman Ravine parking lots on Mountain Rd.
Hacklebarney State Park
Chester, NJ
Website
892 acres of a glacial valley with gorges carved by the Black River and two tributaries that feed it. There are over 5 miles of overlapping trails. This is an easy hike. Good for kids. There are a number of bridges and picnic tables throughout the park. Anyone who wants to experience a wonderful outdoor setting without a lot of hiking or effort Fishing - the water is stocked with trout. Note this is a very popular place without much solitude.
Parking/Trail Head: Rt 206 to 513 W. Just past Cooper Mill make a left onto State Park Road. (There are signs) Continue for about 2 miles and make a right onto Hacklebarney Road. Park entrance on your left.
Mt. Tammany - Delaware Water Gap
Worthington State Forest
Kittatinny Point Visitor center
908-496-4458
Website
Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult. One of the most popular trails in New Jersey. It traverses the Appalachian Trail and offers great panoramic views of the Delaware Water Gap and Mt. Minsi across the Delaware River in Pennsylvania. The Red Dot Trail is the more steeper at 1.2 miles to the summit. The Blue Dot Trail is more gradual and a little longer at 1.4 miles. At the top of the summit you will reach Indian head be rewarded with an awesome, much photographed panoramic view of the Gap.
Parking/Trail head: Begin your journey by first stopping at the Kittatinny Point Visitor center. In early fall it's open only 3 days a week. Take Route 80 west to Exit 1 and bear left 1/4 mile. On the right there is a sign for Dunnfield Creek Natural Area. There is a parking lot on the right, then a large main lot in the center.
Pyramid Mountain – Tripod Rock
472 A Boonton Avenue
Montville Township, NJ
Website
Difficulty; Moderate but interesting for experienced hikers. 4.6 miles R/T with a variety of short to medium trail loops with moderate elevation gains, rocky footpaths, several streams, interesting glacial erratics in a beautiful setting. For nice views of the NYC skyline take the blue trail. It crosses a stream and power lines and then ascends on a short, but steep climb to the top of Pyramid Mtn.
Parking/Trail head: Rt 287 to exit 45. 472 A Boonton Avenue, Montville Township, NJ
Ramapo Mountain State Forest & The Van Slyke Castle
973-962-7031
Website
GPS Coordinates DMS 41° 01' 58.10" N 74° 15' 06.57" W
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. The entire 9.8 mile loop is recommended for experienced hiker in decent shape.
For less experienced hikers that are easier, shorter and flatter trails.
Take Rt 287 to Exit 57, north on Skyline Drive Access on Skyline drive at the "upper" lot with parking. The trails from that will lead to the lake area via Hoeferlin in yellow, Schuber in orange, or Todd in white and head north. There are several short trails from 1.1 to 1.6 miles that can take you to the Van Slyke Castle and Ramapo Lake.
Ramapo Mountain State Forest - Wanaque Ridge Trail
6 miles, moderate difficulty hike covering Ramapo Lake with views from Wanaque ridge of the reservoir and surrounding mountains. There are a few steep climbs with some easy wooded road sections around Ramapo Lake.
Parking/Trail head: Rt 287 to Exit 57, north on Skyline Drive. The "lower" parking lot is on the left. Take caution for low-clearance vehicles: The entrance is rocky and rutted.
Stony Lake
Interactive map
Fee: Free access, except
from Memorial to Labor day
Two trails, 2.5 or 1.3 miles. This is an easy hike around Stony Lake with an option to view two small waterfalls. The trails have some rocks and tree roots with little elevation change.
For the best experience, take in both waterfalls, and the beaver dam on the lake --- do the whole loop. The parking lot is in the middle of the hike , if you feel one trail is enough, you can just do one of the two.
For detailed directions, click here
Parking/Trail head:
N41.20292° W74.77338° Take 206 North until you enter Stokes, pass Rt 636 and then turn right for the park entrance. Drive down Coursen Rd and make a right at the end to get to the trail lot. (Follow signs for Stony Lake)
Sunrise Mountain & High Point
Stokes State Forest
973-948-3820
Website
This very popular 7 mile R/T Appalachian Trail hike with easy difficulty takes you to the northern Kittatinny Ridge with a climb to the highest point in NJ to an elevation 1803 feet at High Point. Here you can experience beautiful vistas along jagged ledges and views of the High Point Monument, Normanook Fire Tower, and the Sunrise Mountain Pavilion over the Walkill River valley and Delaware River.
Parking/Trail head: Route 15 north to Route 206 North. Go past Culvers Lake and shortly past turnoff for Sunrise Mountain Rd, make right onto Coursen Rd. Follow to day use area at Stony Lake.
Terrace Pond South
West Milford, NJ
Parking N41 08.573 W74 24.446
This 4.5 mile moderate difficulty loop offers some attractive forest walking with rocky scrambles. The ascend is a little rocky with some easy wooded sections over a gradual climb to Terrace Pond, a secluded lake on top of Bearfort Mt. There are some cool cliffs around the lake. Along the rout you pass some neat rock formations and glacial erratics. There a a few small waterfalls off the Terrace Pond South trail. Take the Blue Terrace Pond North, to White Terrace Pond, to Yellow Terrace Pond South.
Parking/Trail head: Take Rt. 23 North into West Milford. Make a right onto Clinton Road past Clinton Reservoir. Trail head is on left on Clinton Road, just before the pipe Line. If you go to Warwick Turnpike you went to far.
Torne Mountain - Osio Rock Norvin Green State Forest
DMS 41° 04' 08.00 " N 74° 19' 32.37" W
Bloomingdale
Website
This 3.5 miles R/T moderate difficulty trail takes you to the top of Torne Mountain along the ridge for great views on the way up to Osio Rock for a 360 degree view of the Wanaque Reservoir, the Ramapos and on a clear day, the NYC skyline.
Parking/Trail head: Take Rt 287 to exit 53, turn left onto Hamburg Turnpike, right onto Glenwild Ave. Pass a hiker parking area for Wyanokie Crest on the right, shortly after that is limited parking for Otter Hole (8-10 cars, The trail head is across the road. This route starts from the "Otter Hole" parking area of Norvin, not at the Weis Ecology Center.
Wawayanda Mountain, Wawayanda State Park
Hewitt, NJ
973-853-4462
Website
This 6-mile hike through Wawayanda State Park takes the hiker through 13,000 acres of remote trails, cliffs, plateaus, bogs, ravines,streams, and beautiful vistas. The mountain contains some of oldest bedrock along the entire Appalachian Trail dating back over 12,000 years.
Parking/Trail head: From Route 23, take Route 94 North for about 1 mile into New York and turn right on Moe Road. This road becomes Warwick Turnpike in New Jersey; the park entrance will be to your right, well marked. Start at one of the two access points on the Warwick Turnpike.
The Lockwood Gorge Wildlife Management Area and the Columbia Trail
High Bridge, NJ
GPS Coordinates 40.669490, -74.896492
(973) 383-0918
Website
7.5 miles of an easy trail that can be completed in 3 hours. Hikers can enjoy a stroll along the unpaved road that parallels the river without interruption by vehicular traffic, It parallels the South Branch of the Raritan River through a deep gorge, one of the most beautiful spots in New Jersey. The Columbia Trail crosses over the Ken Lockwood Gorge Bridge, a metal bridge constructed in 1891. Mileage posts are located every quarter of a mile on the Columbia Trail, ascending in the direction you are headed, descending in the opposite direction.
Parking/Trail head: Take I-78 to exit 17 (westbound) or exit 16 (eastbound) for Route 31 towards Washington. Drive about 2 miles on Route 31 then turn right on Main Street. In 1.1 miles turn right on Bridge Street, proceed 390 feet, then left on Main Street. Continue for .2 mile through town then turn left at The Commons sign to the parking lot.