The NJ Park Service is offering 28 hikes and one lighthouse climb as an activity to start off 2022 and as a way to appreciate New Jersey’s beautiful state parks and forests.
The State Park Service began participating in First Day Hikes after the program became a nationwide event in 2012. First Day Hikes began more than 20 years ago at the Blue Hills Reservation, a state park in Milton, Mass. The program was launched to promote healthy lifestyles and year-round recreation at state parks.
The DEP’s Division of Parks and Forestry manages nearly 450,000 acres of land, including 40 state parks and forests. Last year, the State Park Service did not host any formal guided first-day hikes due to COVID-19 outdoor gathering restrictions, but still encouraged park users to go for a hike with their immediate family. In 2020, more than 2,000 hikers traveled 5,625 miles on First Day Hikes throughout New Jersey’s vast network of trails.
Here are a few suggestions and there are more at nj.gov/dep/ at different difficulty levels. All events are free, and some require preregistration. Some events also are weather-dependent.
At an easy beginner level, take a 1.5-mile walk through the New Jersey State Tree Farm and Trails within the Pine Barrens at the Forest Resource Education Center in Jackson Township, Ocean County, starting at 11 a.m. Hikers will see the headwaters of the Toms River and the center’s Maple Sugar Shack and are advised to dress appropriately for the weather. Leashed dogs are welcome. Call (732) 928-0987 to register.
A step up to a moderate difficulty can be a three-mile guided walk around Somerville in Somerset County to learn about the borough’s 18th century Tunison’s Tavern and Gen. George Washington’s passage through the area 245 years ago following battles in Trenton and Princeton. The walk meets at the Wallace House and Old Dutch Parsonage parking lot, starts at 2 p.m., and is open to all ages. Registration is required and may be made by calling (908) 725-1015 or emailing wallacedutch@dep.nj.gov.
It you're up for a more difficult day hiking a rugged 16 miles on the Warren Highlands Trail between Phillipsburg and Ragged Ridge in Warren County, that hike begins at 8:30 a.m. Children at least 10 years old who can hike 16 miles in the winter and are accompanied by parents or guardians are welcome, as are leashed dogs. Hikers should bring water, snacks and lunch. There are no restrooms or stores along the hike route. Registration is required by calling hike leader Mike Helbing at (908) 343-8374 or emailing sneezehorse@hotmail.com. The hike will be canceled only in the event of severe inclement weather.
For a complete list of hikes and related details, visit njparksandforests.org/firstdayhikes
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