New Jersey is not often associated with hiking, however, there are many trails and hiking opportunities in the over 50 state and county parks within the state’s borders.
Highest Point
The Appalachian Mountains cut through northeastern New Jersey, giving this region the highest elevations in the state. The aptly named High Point stands at 1,804 ft., located within High Point State Park.
Delaware Water Gap
The Delaware Water Gap is a river valley where the Kittatinny Ridge is cut by the Delaware River, with one side of the ridge extending into Pennsylvania. This is a very popular hiking destination for NJ hikers, and the Appalachian Trail travels through the area.
Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian Trail enters New Jersey at the Delaware Water Gap and travels through the state’s northeastern corner, hugging the border of NY until eventually entering the state after about 70 miles. The NJ section of the AT passes through Worthington State Forest, High Point State Park, Stokes State Forest, and Wawayanda State park.
Pine Barrens
The NJ Pine Barrens, aka the Pinelands consists of multiple forest areas in the southern section of the state. The hiking is extremely flat with almost no elevation gain or loss to speak of. The terrain can be sandy as the area was covered by an ancient shallow sea, and is home to many types of pine trees.
Long Distance Trails / Thru-Hikes
- Appalachian Trail
- Batona Trail
