Best Hikes in NJ: 15 Trails From the Water Gap to the Pinelands

People tend to forget that New Jersey has mountains, and that's lucky for everyone who hikes here. The best hikes in NJ include ridges with views into three states, a glacial pond up on the Appalachian Trail, the tallest waterfall in the state and fifty sandy miles of pine barrens. You can be on most of them within ninety minutes of Manhattan or Philadelphia, which is part of the charm.

This guide is for the slow weekender. Maybe you want one good climb and then a long lunch, or a lake you can walk around while your friend talks about her breakup. The hikes are grouped by region, so you can build a day around whichever corner of the state you're already headed to.

A small promise: the distances, difficulty ratings and elevation figures below come from the people who maintain these trails, not from guesswork.

How I picked these

Every hike here comes from official sources: the National Park Service's Delaware Water Gap pages, the New York–New Jersey Trail Conference's published hike descriptions (its volunteers build and maintain many of these trails), and the county and state agencies that run each park. Where the agency publishes a figure, it's included. Where it doesn't, the number is left out. Closures were checked against the managing agency's current alerts in November 2026. I aimed for a mix: two hard classics, some easy lake loops, a few hikes you can reach without a car, and one long walk through the Pinelands.

The Kittatinny Ridge and the Delaware Water Gap

This is New Jersey's wild northwest corner, with the long Kittatinny Ridge above the Delaware River and the Appalachian Trail running along its spine. The hikes here are the state's most rugged, and its most rewarding.

Mount Tammany (Red Dot Trail)

trail · Hardwick Township

Known for Red Dot Trail: 1.2 miles one way, difficult, 1,201-ft elevation change (NPS); Trail Conference loop 3.7 miles, strenuous; Delaware Water Gap views.

Dunnfield Creek Natural Area parking, off I-80, Hardwick Township, NJ

• Dog-friendly
• restrooms

WebsiteDirections

Checked against official sources Nov 2026

Mount Tammany is the hike New Jersey hikers brag about. It starts at the Dunnfield Creek Natural Area lot off I-80, right at the Water Gap, and the Red Dot Trail goes straight up. The National Park Service rates it difficult: 1.2 miles one way with an elevation change of 1,201 feet. It calls this one of the most challenging hikes in the park. The Trail Conference's loop, up the Red Dot and back down the Blue Dot past Dunnfield Creek, comes to 3.7 miles. It rates the loop strenuous and suggests about three and a half hours.

The reward comes early. About 400 vertical feet up, open rocks look up and down the Delaware River toward Arrow Island, with Mount Minsi directly across the river in Pennsylvania. Higher up there's a rough talus slope. Then, at the top, comes a panoramic view of the Gap with rolling Pennsylvania hills behind it. The Park Service suggests going up the Red Dot and down the Blue, since most people find that the easier way round. There's a restroom at the trailhead. The lot fills quickly on summer weekends, and the state tickets or tows cars parked outside marked spaces, so this is a pick for an early start or a weekday off.

Sunfish Pond via Dunnfield Creek Trail

trail · Hardwick Township

Known for Green-blazed Dunnfield Creek Trail: 3.5 miles one way, moderate, 966-ft elevation change, ending at a glacial lake (NPS).

Dunnfield Creek Natural Area parking, off I-80, Hardwick Township, NJ

• Dog-friendly
• restrooms

WebsiteDirections

Checked against official sources Nov 2026

Sunfish Pond starts at the same Dunnfield Creek lot as Mount Tammany but feels like a different hike. The green-blazed Dunnfield Creek Trail follows a designated Wild Trout Stream up through a mature hemlock and hardwood ravine, past numerous small cascades. It ends at Sunfish Pond, a natural glacial lake high on the ridge. The Park Service lists it as moderate: 3.5 miles one way with a 966-foot elevation change. Expect numerous stream crossings.

This is the hike for someone who likes the walk more than the summit. You hear water the whole way up. Many hikers make it a longer loop by returning on the Appalachian Trail. The Park Service notes that more than twenty miles of trail connect in the Worthington State Forest area, enough to fill a whole day. Pack lunch and good shoes. Your feet will get wet at the creek crossings either way.

Buttermilk Falls Trail

trail · Walpack Township

Known for One of the tallest waterfalls in New Jersey; trail climbs 1.4 miles one way, 1,104-ft elevation change, moderate to difficult (NPS).

Mountain Road near Walpack Center, Walpack Township, NJ

• Dog-friendly

WebsiteDirections

Checked against official sources Nov 2026

Buttermilk Falls sits on a gravel road near Walpack Center, deep in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. It's one of the tallest waterfalls in New Jersey, and the trail begins right at its base. You climb beside the falls to the top, then keep going steeply up to the Appalachian Trail, where there are wide views over the valley. The Park Service lists it at 1.4 miles one way, rated moderate to difficult, with an elevation change of 1,104 feet. To make a longer day of it, follow the A.T. south to the Crater Lake and Hemlock Pond loop trails.

Getting there takes a little planning in 2026. The Park Service says the Main Street bridge in Walpack, between Walpack Center and Mountain Road, remains closed because of structural damage. To reach the falls, you drive Struble Road through Stokes State Forest to Mountain Road. Swimming and wading aren't permitted in the waterfall or within 50 feet upstream of it. If you just want the falls, the view from the bottom is lovely on its own.

Monument Trail, High Point State Park

trail · Montague Township

Known for Loop from the 1930 monument on New Jersey's highest point (1,803 ft); 3.7 miles, moderate; passes an Atlantic white cedar swamp.

High Point Monument parking area, High Point State Park, NJ

• Dog-friendly

WebsiteDirections

Checked against official sources Nov 2026

High Point is literally the top of New Jersey. The obelisk at the summit was built in 1930 on the highest point in the state, at 1,803 feet, and it stands 220 feet tall. The Trail Conference's Monument Trail Loop starts at the monument parking area and circles 3.7 miles, rated moderate and estimated at about two and a half hours.

The loop has one quietly wonderful feature. It passes a swamp of Atlantic white cedar, a tree normally found near the coast. The Trail Conference notes this wetland is believed to be the highest elevation in the world where the species grows. For a longer, gentler outing, the Trail Conference also describes a 5-mile Monument Trail loop from the Steeny Kill Lake boat launch, rated easy to moderate. In fall, the drive up Route 23 is part of the fun, so make a day of it.

Jenny Jump Mountain (Summit and Swamp Trails)

trail · Frelinghuysen Township

Known for 2.5-mile loop, easy to moderate, with views of the Great Valley and the Delaware Water Gap.

Jenny Jump State Forest, NJ

• Dog-friendly

WebsiteDirections

Checked against official sources Nov 2026

Jenny Jump State Forest is the gentle one in this group. The Trail Conference's loop on the Summit and Swamp Trails is 2.5 miles, rated easy to moderate, and still has a remarkable number of views. From open rocks among the cedars you look across the farmland of the Great Valley to a cone-shaped hill called The Pinnacle. Farther along there's a clear view of the Delaware Water Gap and Kittatinny Mountain.

The name comes with a legend. In the folklore, a young woman named Jenny jumped from a cliff on the mountain while fleeing danger, though one version says she lived to tell the tale. Look for glacial scratches on the rock at the first viewpoint, and two big erratic boulders left by the Wisconsin Glacier about 15,000 years ago. It makes a good first mountain for kids.

The New Jersey Highlands

The Highlands run in a band of rocky hills and reservoirs from the New York line down through Passaic, Morris and Hunterdon counties. You'll find rhododendron tunnels, glacial boulders and iron-mining history here, and a lot of good hiking within an hour of the city.

Stairway to Heaven (Appalachian Trail to Pinwheel's Vista)

trail · Vernon Township

Known for 2.6-mile out-and-back, strenuous, 900-ft ascent of Wawayanda Mountain to Pinwheel's Vista.

Appalachian Trail parking area, NJ Route 94, 0.6 mile north of Maple Grange Road, Vernon Township, NJ

• Dog-friendly

WebsiteDirections

Checked against official sources Nov 2026

Stairway to Heaven is the Appalachian Trail at its most photogenic. From a small parking area on Route 94 in Vernon, the A.T. crosses open fields and an old stone wall, then makes a 900-foot climb up Wawayanda Mountain on rocky switchbacks. The final stretch is a set of steep rock steps, which gave the hike its nickname. At the top, a blue-blazed spur leads to Pinwheel's Vista. The Trail Conference lists the out-and-back at 2.6 miles, rated strenuous.

Two small details make it special. The overlook is named for Paul DeCoste, nicknamed "Pinwheel," who helped build this section of trail around 1990. Trail Conference crews rebuilt the climb between 2016 and 2019. From the vista you look straight down on Vernon Valley, with Pochuck Mountain and the Kittatinnies beyond, and on a clear day the Shawangunks and Catskills to the north. Partway up, Annie's Bluff overlooks Heaven Hill Farm. The parking area is small and fills early, and nearby residential streets are permit-only, so park only in marked spaces and have a backup plan.

Terrace Pond Loop

trail · West Milford

Known for 5.2-mile loop, moderate to strenuous, through a rhododendron grove and over puddingstone outcrops.

Clinton Road trailhead, Wawayanda State Park, West Milford, NJ

• Dog-friendly

WebsiteDirections

Checked against official sources Nov 2026

Terrace Pond is the Highlands hike people keep to themselves. The Trail Conference's 5.2-mile loop from Clinton Road in Wawayanda State Park is rated moderate to strenuous. It starts on a rocky footpath through mountain laurel, hemlock and white pine, and within half a mile it passes through a rhododendron grove so big the branches arch over the trail. Later you climb onto outcrops of reddish-purple puddingstone, a conglomerate rock with quartz pebbles set in it like nuts in a brownie.

Expect beaver activity along the swamps and wet sections crossed on rocks and planks. Give it about four hours and wear proper boots. In early summer, when the rhododendron and laurel are in bloom, it's one of the prettiest walks in the state.

Ramapo Lake Loop

trail · Oakland

Known for 4.0-mile loop, easy, around Ramapo Lake with views of the Foxcroft mansion ruins.

Skyline Drive lower parking area, Ramapo Mountain State Forest, Oakland, NJ

• Dog-friendly

WebsiteDirections

Checked against official sources Nov 2026

The Ramapo Lake Loop is the easy-going pick, and a lovely one. From the lower lot on Skyline Drive in Oakland, a spur climbs beside a brook to the dam at Ramapo Lake. From there the loop follows a wide gravel road all the way around the water. The Trail Conference lists it at 4.0 miles, rated easy, at about two hours.

Look north across the lake for the hilltop ruins of Foxcroft, a mansion built in 1910 that fell into disrepair in the 1950s. The white-blazed Castle Loop leads up to the stone remains if you're feeling curious. The Trail Conference notes that the Skyline Drive lots often fill early on weekends, and no-parking signs on the shoulders leave no overflow room. Arrive early, or use the Back Beach Park trailhead in Wanaque, which the Trail Conference says has more than 100 spaces.

Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area

park · Montville Township

Known for Glacial erratics including Tripod Rock and Bear Rock; over 19 miles of trails; Trail Conference loop #2 is 4.1 miles, easy to moderate.

472 Boonton Avenue, Montville Township, NJ 07045

• Dog-friendly

WebsiteDirections

Checked against official sources Nov 2026

Pyramid Mountain is a park full of giant boulders. Morris County's natural historic area in Montville covers more than 1,600 acres and over 19 miles of trail. Its best-known feature is Tripod Rock, a huge boulder balanced on three smaller stones, left by the retreating glacier. Bear Rock and Whale Head Rock are other glacial erratics, and the park's highest point, at 934 feet, has a view of the New York City skyline.

The Trail Conference's Loop #2 links Tripod Rock, Bear Rock and Taylortown Reservoir in 4.1 miles, rated easy to moderate. Along the way you get a rock ledge over the reservoir, a ridge thick with mountain laurel, and a final stop at Tripod Rock itself. The visitor center runs public programs and guided hikes. It's a fine half-day out from Morristown's cafés, so the drive home can end with a latte.

Hacklebarney State Park

state park · Washington Township (Morris County)

Known for Black River gorge lined with hemlocks; nine trails totaling about five miles, the longest 1.8 miles.

State Park Road, Washington Township (Morris County), NJ

• Dog-friendly

WebsiteDirections

Checked against official sources Nov 2026

Hacklebarney is small, shady and very cozy. The Black River tumbles through a hemlock-lined glacial gorge here, joined by Rinehart and Trout brooks. The Trail Conference's park listing says the gorge stays cool and refreshing even in the heat of midsummer. The park has nine trails totaling about five miles. The longest is 1.8 miles and the rest are each under a mile, so you build your own loop.

The trails along the river are narrow and rocky, while most of the others follow gravel or paved roads. Of the park's 1,186 acres, 465 are set aside for hiking and the rest is open to hunting in season, so stay on the trails in fall. Chester's little main street is a short drive away for an afternoon wander after.

Ken Lockwood Gorge and the Columbia Trail

trail · High Bridge

Known for 7.5-mile lollipop, easy, on a former iron-ore rail line through the South Branch Raritan gorge; NJ Transit to High Bridge.

The Commons parking lot, Main Street, High Bridge, NJ

• Dog-friendly

WebsiteDirections

Checked against official sources Nov 2026

The Ken Lockwood Gorge walk is an easy one with plenty to see. The Trail Conference's route starts in the little town of High Bridge and follows the Columbia Trail, a former rail line that once carried iron ore from the Morris County mines. It drops into the gorge along the South Branch of the Raritan River and loops back, 7.5 miles in all, rated easy.

Along the way you can detour to an overlook of Solitude Dam and pass under the Ken Lockwood Gorge Bridge. That metal bridge went up in 1891 to replace a wooden one that collapsed in 1885 under a 46-car ore train. And High Bridge has weekday NJ Transit service on the Raritan Valley Line, which makes this one of the few hikes in the state you can reach by train.

Near the city and in central Jersey

You don't need a mountain range for a proper hike. These three are an easy drive from Manhattan, Princeton and the Shore.

Palisades Interstate Park: State Line Lookout trails

park · Alpine

Known for Over 30 miles of clifftop and riverfront trails; Peanut Leap Cascade Loop about 2.5 miles from State Line Lookout. Giant Stairs closed to all use (2026).

State Line Lookout, Palisades Interstate Parkway, Alpine, NJ

• Dog-friendly

WebsiteDirections

Checked against official sources Nov 2026

The Palisades are the cliffs you see from the Hudson, and walking them feels a bit unreal, with forest and waterfalls just minutes from the George Washington Bridge. The Palisades Interstate Park in New Jersey has more than 30 miles of trails. The aqua-blazed Long Path runs 11 miles along the clifftop, and the white-blazed Shore Trail follows the river below.

One important update: as of 2026, the park lists the famous Giant Stairs as closed to all use. That's the mile-long boulder scramble north of State Line Lookout, so skip any older trip report that sends you there. The park lists other hikes from the same lookout. The Peanut Leap Cascade Loop is about 2.5 miles round-trip, roughly two hours, running from the summit down to the riverfront. The Women's Federation Monument hike is an easy back-and-forth of about two miles. For a longer moderate day, the Huyler's Landing History Hike from the Alpine Picnic Area runs about five miles. Conditions can change without notice, so check the park's site before you go.

Sourland Mountain Preserve

park · Hillsborough Township

Known for Somerset County preserve; 5.4-mile loop, easy to moderate, past the Devil's Half-Acre boulder field.

East Mountain Road, 0.6 mile south of Amwell Road (CR 514), Hillsborough, NJ

• Dog-friendly

WebsiteDirections

Checked against official sources Nov 2026

Sourland Mountain Preserve is central Jersey's woodland secret, a long forested ridge where the land was too rocky to farm. The Somerset County preserve in Hillsborough is the largest protected stretch of it. The Trail Conference's loop runs 5.4 miles, rated easy to moderate, with a climb of about 400 vertical feet at the start. The name is thought to come from "sorrel-land," after the reddish-brown soils the early German farmers found.

The highlight is the Devil's Half-Acre, a field of enormous boulders. Some overhang the trail, some have rocks balanced on top, and in one spot the path squeezes between two of them. Afterward, you're a short drive from Princeton's coffee shops and Lambertville's antiques.

Hartshorne Woods Park

park · Middletown Township

Known for Hilly 831-acre park above the Navesink River, among the highest elevations on the Atlantic Coast; about 16 miles of trails; WWII Battery Lewis.

307 Navesink Avenue, Locust, NJ 07716 (Buttermilk Valley Entrance)

• Dog-friendly

WebsiteDirections

Checked against official sources Nov 2026

Hartshorne Woods might be the Shore's most surprising hike. This Monmouth County park overlooking the Navesink River is, in the county's words, among the highest elevations along the Atlantic Coast. It has about 16 miles of trails, the county's most extensive and challenging. The Trail Conference's 6.0-mile Grand Tour and Laurel Ridge loop from the Buttermilk Valley entrance is rated easy to moderate for hikers, through oak, laurel and holly so thick the trail tunnels under it.

History lovers should head to the Rocky Point section. It was a coastal-defense site, and the restored World War II Battery Lewis now displays a 16-inch gun barrel from the Battleship New Jersey. Most trails are shared with bikes and horses, so keep your ears open. One 2026 note: the county says the park closes to all outdoor activities for deer hunting until noon on November 24, and on December 8, 10, 16 and 18. Plan around those dates, and pair the park with a day in the Shore towns.

The Pinelands

South Jersey's hiking is flat, sandy and strangely beautiful: pitch pines, cedar swamps and rivers the color of tea.

Batona Trail (from Batsto Village)

trail · Washington Township (Burlington County)

Known for Pink-blazed, about 50 miles through three Pinelands state forests, established 1961 by the Batona Hiking Club; 12-mile Mullica River loop from Batsto.

Batsto Village Visitor Center, Wharton State Forest, Washington Township (Burlington County), NJ

• Dog-friendly

WebsiteDirections

Checked against official sources Nov 2026

The Batona Trail is South Jersey's long walk. Marked with pink blazes, it runs about 50 miles through the heart of the Pinelands, from Ong's Hat in Brendan T. Byrne State Forest through Wharton State Forest to Lake Absegami in Bass River State Forest. The Batona Hiking Club of Philadelphia established it in 1961 and still maintains it. It's mostly level, but the Trail Conference warns that about 20 percent of the tread is soft sand, so progress can be slower than you expect.

For a day hike, the Trail Conference describes a 12-mile loop from Batsto Village. It follows the yellow Mullica River Trail upstream, crosses the Batsto River at Quaker Bridge, then returns south on the Batona. It's rated moderate to strenuous, at about six hours. The streams run tea-colored from tannins and natural iron. Batsto itself is a restored 19th-century iron and glassmaking village. Watch the pink blazes carefully where sand roads cross, because it's easy to wander off into the pines. Camping along the trail requires a state forest permit.

When to go

Fall is New Jersey's hiking season. Ridges are clear, the air is crisp, and the Kittatinnies and Highlands turn red and gold. Spring brings full waterfalls at Buttermilk Falls and along Dunnfield Creek, and the rhododendron and laurel at Terrace Pond bloom in early summer.

Late fall and early winter overlap with hunting seasons. Some parks close on set days, like Hartshorne Woods in November and December 2026. Others, like Hacklebarney, share land with hunters in season. Wear something bright orange and check the park's notices the morning you go. Popular lots like Mount Tammany, Stairway to Heaven and Ramapo fill early on weekends, so a weekday or a sunrise start makes a big difference.

Getting there and parking

Most of these hikes need a car, and several trailheads have small lots. The Trail Conference's hike pages and the Park Service's trail pages include driving directions. Use them, especially for Buttermilk Falls while the Walpack bridge is closed.

A few work without a car. High Bridge, the start of the Ken Lockwood Gorge walk, has weekday NJ Transit service on the Raritan Valley Line. NJ Transit bus #194 runs to Butler, under a mile's walk from Pyramid Mountain's Blue Trail, and bus #197 runs to Wanaque, near Ramapo Mountain State Forest's Back Beach trailhead. Transit schedules change, so check NJ Transit before you set out.

Bring water, a paper or downloaded map, and shoes with real grip. The northern hikes are rockier than most visitors expect. Then reward yourself: browse our things to do in New Jersey, turn a hike into a weekend getaway, or end the day with a paperback from one of the state's cozy bookstores.

Every place in this guide, on the map

1. Mount Tammany (Red Dot Trail)Dunnfield Creek Natural Area parking, off I-80, Hardwick Township, NJ
2. Sunfish Pond via Dunnfield Creek TrailDunnfield Creek Natural Area parking, off I-80, Hardwick Township, NJ
3. Buttermilk Falls TrailMountain Road near Walpack Center, Walpack Township, NJ
4. Monument Trail, High Point State ParkHigh Point Monument parking area, High Point State Park, NJ
5. Jenny Jump Mountain (Summit and Swamp Trails)Jenny Jump State Forest, NJ
6. Stairway to Heaven (Appalachian Trail to Pinwheel's Vista)Appalachian Trail parking area, NJ Route 94, 0.6 mile north of Maple Grange Road, Vernon Township, NJ
7. Terrace Pond LoopClinton Road trailhead, Wawayanda State Park, West Milford, NJ
8. Ramapo Lake LoopSkyline Drive lower parking area, Ramapo Mountain State Forest, Oakland, NJ
9. Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area472 Boonton Avenue, Montville Township, NJ 07045
10. Hacklebarney State ParkState Park Road, Washington Township (Morris County), NJ
11. Ken Lockwood Gorge and the Columbia TrailThe Commons parking lot, Main Street, High Bridge, NJ
12. Palisades Interstate Park: State Line Lookout trailsState Line Lookout, Palisades Interstate Parkway, Alpine, NJ
13. Sourland Mountain PreserveEast Mountain Road, 0.6 mile south of Amwell Road (CR 514), Hillsborough, NJ
14. Hartshorne Woods Park307 Navesink Avenue, Locust, NJ 07716 (Buttermilk Valley Entrance)
15. Batona Trail (from Batsto Village)Batsto Village Visitor Center, Wharton State Forest, Washington Township (Burlington County), NJ

Questions people ask

What is the hardest hike in New Jersey?

Of the hikes in this guide, the steepest climb is Mount Tammany's Red Dot Trail. The National Park Service rates it difficult, with an elevation change of 1,201 feet in 1.2 miles. Buttermilk Falls climbs 1,104 feet in 1.4 miles. For sheer length, the Batona Trail runs about 50 miles through the Pinelands, though it is mostly level. The Palisades' Giant Stairs scramble, often named here, is closed to all use as of 2026.

What is the most popular hike in NJ?

Mount Tammany in Worthington State Forest is one of the most heavily used hikes in the state. The Trail Conference names its summit, along with Sunfish Pond, as the forest's most popular destinations, and the National Park Service notes that the trailhead lot fills quickly on summer weekends. Stairway to Heaven on the Appalachian Trail in Vernon is also busy, so plan an early start for either one.

Where can I hike in NJ without a car?

A few good hikes are reachable by public transit. The Ken Lockwood Gorge walk starts in High Bridge, which NJ Transit's Raritan Valley Line serves on weekdays. NJ Transit bus #194 stops in Butler, under a mile's walk from Pyramid Mountain's Blue Trail. Bus #197 runs to Wanaque, within walking distance of the Ramapo Mountain State Forest trails. Check schedules before you go, because transit service changes.

When is the best time to hike in New Jersey?

Fall is the favorite season: cooler air, clear ridgetop views and changing leaves from the Kittatinnies to the Highlands. Spring brings full waterfalls, and Hacklebarney's hemlock gorge stays cool even in midsummer. In late fall and early winter, hunting seasons close or share some parks. Hartshorne Woods, for example, closes for deer hunting on set dates in November and December 2026. Wear blaze orange and check the park's notices before you go.

Are dogs allowed on New Jersey hiking trails?

On every hike in this guide, the New York–New Jersey Trail Conference's listing says dogs are allowed on a leash. Rules can differ by park and by season, so check the managing agency's page before you bring a dog. Bring water for them too. Rocky routes such as the Mount Tammany talus and the Stairway to Heaven steps are hard on paws.

Spot something out of date, or know a place we should add? Tell us. Corrections are read first.