New Jersey

Getting to the Great Falls of the Passaic River is a relatively straight shot. It is located off exit 57B on Route 80 which is also accessible from highway 287. Parking is located on McBride Avenue across the street from the park's welcome center.Typically during autumn park rangers offer 45 to 1 hour long tours of the historical points in the park, and of course, the waterfalls. Be sure to cal...

Drive 5.2 miles north on Route 29 from the center of Stockton, NJ and you will come across a very small parking lot on the left side of the road. If you park your car there, walk back south on Route 29 about 50 feet, and cross over to the woods-side of the road. There you will find the trailhead to this rewarding hike. You have two options when you begin. You can either take the trail all t...

The parking lot is a big dirt lot, so if it's raining or has rained, be prepared. The immediate falls are located mere steps from the parking lot, so on holiday weekends, be prepared for crowds. But if you walk around, up the stairs and over the bridges, you'll get different angels of the falls AND you'll link up with Buttermilk Falls trail (BLUE). From here you can connect with the trails to t...

One of New Jerseys best kept secrets has to be the Ken Lockwood Gorge. If you are looking for a relaxing, beautiful, and nature packs place then this area is perfect for you. You can access the gorge from two different points, either by driving down Raritan River Rd. and parking right before you enter (you can also driving part of the way through to the larger parking areas but the road is extr...

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 ...

If you're on Kingwood Stockton Road, there will be a dirt road with a Lockatong Nature Preserve sign before it (going north on Kingwood Stockton Road, the sign will be on your left. If you're driving south, the sign will be on your right). Just drive all the way until the end of the dirt road and park where you wish. There will be one trail and you have to follow the trail all the way until you...

This is a short but strenuous hike to a bluff overlooking the Delaware River and surrounding mountains and hills. The summit makes a good spot for a picnic or just for relaxing and watching the sunset. The entire hike also has plenty of beautiful photo ops, especially in the Fall. Find the trailhead by the entrance to the parking lot, you will be following the Tammany Trail (also known as the R...

Nestled within the more urban and suburban communities in Northern New Jersey, you can escape back to nature at Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. The name says it all - this place is the perfect opportunity to get up close to a variety of different wildlife that call this protected land home. Commonly seen animals include fox, deer, muskrat, turtles, fish, and frogs. There are also more tha...

Begin at the MacEvoy Trailhead (blue blazes), at the end of the parking lot. A moderate uphill climb and stream crossing will take you up towards Ramapo Lake. Following the blazes, take two left turns, then a right, as the trail approaches the shoreline. Feel free to explore the area along the lake, or take the short loop around the water. When you reach the end of the lake, take a right away f...