Ready to Hike New Jersey

Image by Hermann Traub from Pixabay

Are you ready to hike some of New Jersey? NJ is ready for you with hikes of all lengths and difficulties. A great resource is njhiking.com with information like directions, maps, and photos. Here are just a few different hikes around the state.

Washington Valley Reservoir, East Branch Reservoir, Buttermilk Falls and a hawk watch. 6.4 miles, total round trip. Easy to moderate trail surface. Hard-packed and rocky, but with loose, smaller rocks. 

Rutgers Ecological Preserve is a small parcel of old-growth forest with a network of easy, scenic trails near the Rutgers New Brunswick campus. 3.8 miles, compact red clay/shale, roots. Somewhat hilly with a few somewhat steep ones. A rock hop over a small stream on the blue trail but there are alternate trails and lengths. Well-maintained trails.

Rattlesnake Swamp – Catfish Fire Tower Loop This is tougher than some trails but, as always, you can do alternatives. Nice views from the Appalachian Trail and Catfish Fire Tower. 4.9 or 2.0 miles. Rocky and rugged, steep up to the A.T. and it can be muddy on Rattlesnake Swamp.