Highlight Hiker
Photo Gallery
From Campgaw to Pequannock, I’ve hiked hundreds of miles in Northern New Jersey and plan to hike hundreds more! Here is the photo journal I kept, arranged by park.
Campgaw Mountain Reservation
Here’s where my hiking began. It’s easy to fall in love with this county park that is filled with trails, not tourists. Four-season hiking at it’s finest. Perfect place for the beginning hiker, and a really great place for the expert to try new boots. Bergen County, NJ
Ramapo Valley County Reservation
Tons of trails of all different levels and people, people, people! If you want to hiker here, be prepared for a full parking lot on the weekends, and college students throughout the week. To get away from the hustle and bustle, head further up the hill and into the woods. Dog friendly park.
Jungle Habitat
Jungle Habitat is an interesting place. A short lived zoo run by Warner Bros. it was abandoned in the 1970’s. Now it is encompassed in the Long Pond Ironworks State Park, but administered by Ringwood State Park. These are primarily mountain biking trails so you’ll have to to give way on weekends, but weekday hiking here is incredibly memorable with artifacts and remnants of the former amusement center still found. My tip for enjoying Jungle Habitat: use your favorite GPS app for accurate trails rather than the 2017 trail map: it’s far more accurate as new trails are carved by bikers all of the time.
Ringwood State Park
Ringwood State Park has some of the best hiking around, the only drawback is: everyone knows it. You’ll find it nearly impossible to find parking on weekends, but weekday hiking is exceedingly better. All types of terrain, beautiful scenic viewpoints, lush forest, well maintained trails… everything a hiker looks for! You can connect with nature in one hour, or ten with the extensive trail system.
The Historic Cannonball Trail
My first 10+ miler trail was the Historic Cannonball trail, which spreads over two counties and through three different parks. One of my favorite trails in Northern NJ!
Long Pond Ironworks State Park
The historic buildings are in disarray, but the state park trails are beautiful and friendly. Gaining in popularity over the past three years, Long Pond Ironworks connects with Sterling Forest/Tranquility Ridge and Monksville Reservoir.