Enjoy A Long Walk At This Underrated State Preserve In New Jersey

Hiking through the Garden State is always great, but many of our top parks are usually pretty crowded. Is there anywhere to go for a long walk in New Jersey where you can truly clear your head, take in the beauty of nature, and maybe not encounter anyone for miles around? It's possible, especially in winter, at Maurice River Bluffs Preserve. This natural area is a haven for fishing, birding, and hiking, and it's located near the unique arts-driven town of Millville. So when you're done exploring the museums in the area, head to the Maurice River Bluffs Trail, a 5.3-mile loop trail. It's considered an easy route that takes close to two hours to complete on a sustained hike, but it has some surprisingly unique terrain along the way. Come with us and discover why this might be your new favorite adventure!

The Maurice River Bluffs Trail is a unique adventure on a plot of land well-maintained by the Nature Conservancy.

The terrain here is varied, with some heavily wooded areas that are truly beautiful.

While the trail is rated easy, be prepared for a bit of climbing along the way and some unique terrain.

The highlight is a bridge that is completely stable but provides great views!

The hike will take you past some amazing castle-like ruins as well - one of the best photo ops on a hike.

The trail is great during all weather conditions. It's uniquely haunting during foggy weather...

And truly beautiful during the sunset, so you'll definitely want to make a day of this excursion.

While most of the trail will usually be pretty quiet, the pier is one of the busiest areas - it's a top fishing area!

Have you walked the Maurice River Bluffs Trail? What's your favorite spot for a long walk in New Jersey? Let us know in the comments section! You can find out more about the trail and see over a thousand photos on the official AllTrails trail page, and check out the webpage of The Nature Conservancy to learn more about this gorgeous nature area. Make sure to visit Millville to discover why it's New Jersey's arts capital, and if you've got a lot of hiking ahead, you might want to subscribe to AllTrails + - the perfect way to stay connected when you're headed off the beaten path.