Highlands, New Jersey

Mills Reservation is over 150 acres of wooded area located off of Normal Ave. near the Cedar Grove reservoir. Parking space is limited due to the small size but there is another hidden lot towards the back if you make a right out of the parking lot and then the first right turn onto Highland Ave....

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....

An 8-mile network of maintained trails traversing this Preserve, Mountain Lakes North, John Witherspoon Woods,parts of Tusculum (private) and Community Park North makes a variety of loop hikes possible. Pathways include a boardwalk (over wetlands) and paved bicycle roads. Click here for a trail...

To find this bridge, you essentially park at the Princeton Battlefield Park and walk all the way down towards the woods (you'll pass an old house if you're going the right way). When you enter the woods there will be a tight trail but it will quickly open up. When it does, you want to take a left...

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...

This is a very easy hike, and a great day trip to take if you're looking for something simple and relaxing, but still want beautiful scenery and wildlife.For quick access to the cranberry bog trails, the lot on Double Trouble Road near the Historic Village is where you'll want to start. Entering ...

The easiest way to access this loop hike is by parking at the Palisades State Park Headquarters.  This is just off exit 2 from the Palisades Interstate Parkway.  Parking here is free and it is a short walk down a road to the Closter Dock Trail.  The Closter Dock Trail is more of a wide fire road ...

Starting at about 520 feet, the White path takes you along the Stateline Lookout which is a small stone building overlooking the Hudson River. The initial descent is your average hike through the woods and across a couple of wooden bridges until you reach the Giant Steps. The Giant Steps take you...

Located along the Long Island Sound, this 147-acre conservancy is home to a plethora of different birds, including marsh wrens, seaside sparrows, and American woodcocks. The conservancy has 3 miles of trails, all easy to navigate. Starting out from the visitor's center, take the trail to the rig...

The Sourland Mountain Preserve stretches from Hunterdon County all the way into Somerset County. The trails referenced here are on the southwest side of the preserve in Hunterdon County. They are accessible from an on site parking lot at 233 Rileyville Road in Ringoes NJ.There are several trails ...

Barnegat Lighthouse is located on the northern tip of Long Beach Island and offers some great views and awesome photography opportunities!   Explore the area, take in the beach views and get some photos!  This is also a lighthouse that you can climb to the top! 

This is a relatively easy hike through Hacklebarney State Park that is great for families with younger children, rock scrambling, photography, and just hanging out in nature. There are two different ways to explore Hacklebarney, either by staying on the packed gravel path or by following the bank...

The parking lot on Pleasant Valley Road provides access to the trailhead for this 1.25 mile loop hike.Starting at the trailhead, take the Ridge Trail (white) going West. The ridge trail is wide and flat, and branches off to many other smaller trails throughout the preserve.After about 0.25 miles...

The trailhead parking is at the end of Timberbrook Road, before the road enters Camp Winnebago (Boy Scouts). I hiked this in a clockwise directions starting on the Timberbrook Trail (yellow markers).  After about 1 mile the trail ends at a junction with the Four Birds Trail (white markers).  Turn...

This short trail runs alongside a small creek, and is a perfect spot for mountain biking and running. There is a small parking lot right at the trailhead, making this spot very convenient to access. It is not a very challenging ride, although there are a few ruts that can be messy if it has recen...

There are multiple places to pick up the Columbia Trail (High Bridge, Califon, Long Valley, Flanders) but this post is for biking or running from Califon to High Bridge and back. The best place to park is at the old town railroad station on, of course, Railroad Ave. You will be able to see the en...