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Vernon Township, New Jersey
Hike the Stairway to Heaven
7.4 Miles Total - 1050 ft gain - Out-and-Back Trail
Originally added by Catherine Elena Callari
Hike part of the AT through marshlands, forest, and meadow to a beautiful lookout above the mountains and valley.
This popular hike starts out on the Appalachian Trail (AT, white blazes). You begin on a boardwalk that crosses over a marsh, then you leave the boardwalk and enter a forested area. At around 1.4 miles, follow a bicycle path, Canal Road, then turn right, cross over a bridge, and take a left through a gate.
At 2.2 miles you begin the climb up Wawayanda Mountain – to get there, you will need to cross over a number of stiles, as well as the railroad tracks, as you head to a parking lot across Route 94.
Once you enter a large boulder field, the trail becomes more difficult and pick up elevation. When you see the rock steps, you will have reached the “Stairway to Heaven”!
At 3.6 miles, turn left onto the Blue Spur Trail, marked by a “Lookout 100ft” sign. Continue to the Pinwheel Vista, a rock outcropping, where you can enjoy the views.
This hike can also be shortened by driving up to the parking lot on Route 94, to complete only the Stairway of Heaven (2.5 mile roundtrip).
Tags
Reviews
Overall rating:
Easy And Fun
Easy trial. Good for a walk not a hike
4.0
Pet friendly!
My friend and I did this hike on new years day 2017 with our two miniature poodles who fared just fine (even though they were muddy messes by the end). I carried my senior pup up the mountain due to the conditions (icy), but it was a great hike. There were a lot of other people with pups on the trail too. Definitely recommend!
5.0
Must Hike
Hike can be split in half, but the boardwalk to Pinwheel Vista is one of my favorite hikes. The boardwalk is an interesting feature and let's you relax for the steep ascent to the Vista, a stretch of it even goes straight through a cow pasture. The views from the top are more than worth the work! Recommended to everyone looking for a hike in NJ.
5.0
Stay Nearby
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