This One Easy Hike In New Jersey Will Lead You Someplace Unforgettable

Hiking season is finally here in full force. Flowers are blooming, temperatures are rising, and it’s time to lace up your boots. The hardest choice I plan on making this week filled with wonderful weather is where to hike first. The sweeping views from High Point sound spectacular, but I’d also enjoy a Pinelands adventure. To make it easier on everyone, today, I’m featuring a centrally located hiking trail. It’s easy enough for most people to traverse!

Flickr/Miguel Viera

While North Jersey offers some amazing waterfall hikes and South Jersey has the beautiful Pine Barrens, I wanted to feature a centrally located hike. Cheesequake State Park in Matawan is easily accessible to everyone in New Jersey. About 90 minutes from Wantage in Sussex County and under two hours from Cape May, the park makes for a fantastic day trip.

Image/NJHiking.com

The park offers 5 trails, ranging from 1.5 to 3.5 miles in length. While most are hiking trails, the White Trail is a multi-use trail which allows biking. You'll also find a playground, picnic area, camping, crabbing, fishing and swimming at Hooks Creek Lake. Admission is charged between Memorial Day and Labor Day - $5 per carload on weekdays and $10 per carload on weekends/holidays (for New Jersey residents).

Advertisement

Related Stories

One Of The Oddest Geological Wonders Is Located Right Here In New Jersey

This Quaint Little Trail Is The Shortest And Sweetest Hike In New Jersey

The Easy Trail In New Jersey That Will Take You To The Top Of The World

Image/NJHiking.com

The Green Trail is the longest hiking trail at Cheesequake State Park, but still comes in at just 3.5 miles. The scenic loop is mostly flat terrain with some inclines, and is made easier through the use of sturdy boardwalks and stairways.

Advertisement

Image/NJHiking.com

The trail will delight hikers with forest, marshland, a cedar swamp and stunning old growth white pine. Over 180 species of birds can be spotted here throughout the year.

Image/NJHiking.com

Before or after your hike, be sure to stop at the interpretive center. It features live animal exhibits and information about the ecosystems that can be found at the park. The center itself is handicapped accessible and offers weekly nature programs. Past activities at the park have included kayak eco-tours, crab racing and tree identification hikes.

If you’re interested in the Green Trail, check out this fantastic walk-through by www.njhiking.com:

For an even easier hike, or to add to your trip, try the 1.5-mile Red Trail, which will bring you past the lake, or the 2.5-mile Blue Trail which passes by Perring Pond. For other easy hiking ideas in the Garden State, check out my previous post, 15 Incredible Hikes Under 5 Miles Everyone In New Jersey Should Take. What is your favorite short hike in New Jersey?