Department of Environmental Protection

New Jersey State Park Service

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New Jersey State Parks Celebrates National Trails Day Saturday, June 1, 2024

National Trails Day, founded by the American Hiking Society, is a day of public events aimed at advocacy and trail service. The New Jersey State Park Service invites you to explore, discover and volunteer at the trails at YOUR state parks. We are hosting many volunteer work projects and guided hikes through out the state.

In addition to these opportunities, you can find a hike to do on your own by visiting NJ Trail Tracker or take advantage of some our self-guided hikes.

Volunteer Trail Work Projects

These events offer opportunities to lend a hand in creating and maintaining the over 1,000 miles of trails within New Jersey State Park Service public lands. Some projects require pre-registration.

Guided Hikes

Join our talented groups of volunteers and NJ State Park staff on guided hikes or if you feel like exploring on your own, visit our webpage for self-guided hikes.

Bass River State Forest - Leave No Trace

Time: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Meeting Place: Bass River Park Office - 762 Stage Road Bass River Twp, NJ, 08224
Registration: Please call 609-296-1114 to register.

National Trails Day Hike : To celebrate National Trails Day, we will hike over 5 miles throughout Bass River State Forest and learn the importance of "leaving no trace" in our environments. Bring a bag and some gloves if you'd like and help pick up litter along the way! Ages 6+ Dress appropriate for the weather, bring bug spray, a snack and some water.

Bass River State Forest - Volunteer Trail Clean Up

Time: 9:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Meeting Place: Bass River Park Office - 762 Stage Road Bass River Twp, NJ, 08224
Registration: Please call 609-296-1114 to register.

National Trails Day Hike: Please join us for trail clean-up along three trails. Each Trail is approximately 1-mile long.

Cape May Point State Park - Nature Walk

Time: 9:00 AM & 2:00 PM
Meeting Place: Cape May Point Park Office - 303 County Hwy 629 Cape May, NJ, 08204
Registration: Just show up! Call 609-884-2159.

National Trails Day Hike : Come learn about park history, the Lighthouse, birds and much more on this ½ mile hike.

Double Trouble State Park - National Trails Days Hike at Double Trouble: Sweetwater Trail Cleanup

Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Meeting Place: Double Trouble State Park : 581 Pinewald-Keswick Rd, Bayville, NJ 08721. Meet near the restrooms by the parking lot.
Registration: Register by email! Include your full name and email address. 100 maximum slots. Please note in your email if you wish to receive volunteer hour documentation.

National Trails Day Hike : Please join us at Double Trouble State Park to assist in the clean-up of our beautiful park. We will be cleaning the 2.5 mile Sweetwater trail. Pickers and buckets are provided. Be aware if you feel you cannot walk the entirety of this trail. Wear appropriate clothing and bug spray for this event.

High Point State Park - Challenge Hike

Time: 9:30 AM - 2:30 PM
Meeting Place: Appalachian Trail Parking lot on Route 23 Appalachian Trail Parking /Trailhead Parking on Google Maps here!
Registration: Email here to register!

National Trails Day Hike : Come and join NJ Search and Rescue members for our Annual High Point National Trails Day Challenge Hike. This will be a great way to start off the warmer weather hiking season and get some exercise. The first, more rugged half of the hike will be on the Appalachian Trail (AT) in scenic High Point State Park. The return will be on the easier Iris Trail, a well-graded, old wagon road. There will be numerous scenic views along the AT on the ridge. Maximum elevation =1600 ft Minimum elevation =1300 ft. Members of NJ Search and Rescue will be along to assist. 6-miles!

High Point State Park - National Trails Day from A to Z

Time: 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Meeting Place: High Point State Park, 1480 State Route 23, Sussex, NJ 07461 Please meet at Life Trail across the road from the Beach lot.
Registration: Registration via Eventbrite is optional: Click here!

National Trails Day Hike : We'll take an easy walk (less than two miles) on one of High Point's trails in search of things in nature that start with every letter of the alphabet. "A" is for acorn. What will we find for "Z"? Suitable for families with children ages four and up. Meet at the Life Trail trailhead located across the road from the Beach Parking Lot. Registration via Eventbrite is optional.

Island Beach State Park - National Trails Day

Time: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Meeting Place: Island Beach Nature Center 2401 Central Ave. Seaside Park, NJ 08752 Seaside Park, NJ 08752
Registration: Email here to register!

National Trails Day Hike : For National Trails Day, we will be holding a family-friendly event to help to rejuvenate and beautify the grounds surrounding the IBSP Interpretive and Nature Centers. Volunteers will conduct trail maintenance and clean-up. If available, please bring rakes, loppers, pruning shears, shovels, trowels, 5-gallon buckets, and work gloves.

Kittatinny Valley State Park - National Trails Day Hike to Burgers & Books

Time: 11:00 AM - 2:30 PM
Meeting Place: Sussex Branch Trail parking area on Augusta Hill Road, Augusta, NJ
Registration: Register here!

National Trails Day Hike : For adults. Celebrate National Trails Day with this easy walk along the Sussex Branch Rail-Trail! Our first stop is The Barnyard in Branchville to enjoy a pay-your-own-way lunch. Afterwards, we'll visit Broad Street Books to peruse their selection. Then we will walk the same length of trail back to Augusta Hill Rd., learning about railroad history along the way. Please bring enough cash to cover your meal/purchases!

Parvin State Park - Historic and Natural Interpretation of Thundergust

Time: 9:30 AM - 11:00 PM
Meeting Place: 701 Almond Rd Pittsgrove NJ
Registration: Just show up!

National Trails Day Hike : Curious about the history of Parvin State Park? From the New Deal to displaced persons from WWII, Parvin has hosted visitors and nature enthusiasts from around the world. Learn about the ways national and local histories interact at our local park with this historic trail hike that will utilize our new Interpretive Trail Guide for our Thundergust Lake Trail!

Rancocas State Park - GRAND REOPENING OF THE TRAILS AT RANCOCAS STATE PARK

Time: 10:00 AM
Meeting Place: Meet at Spencer Field which is off of Rancocas Boulevard, Westampton, NJ 08060
Registration: Just show up!

National Trails Day Hike GRAND REOPENING OF THE TRAILS AT RANCOCAS STATE PARK: hike one or all of the three newly restored trails at the Mount Laurel Section of Rancocas State Park.

Stokes State Forest - Evening Exploration at Tillman's Ravine

Time: 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM
Meeting Place: Stokes State Forest: Tillman Ravine Lower Parking area. Off Struble Road. (41.1569713, -74.8622262)
Registration: Register here!

National Trails Day Hike Join our naturalists for an evening exploration of a beautiful, deeply wooded area. We will keep our eyes peeled and our ears open to see what we can discover and identify as the sun sets and darkness rolls in. Headlamp required for this hike, please bring your own and come prepared with appropriate footwear and layers for the elements! The trail will be rocky and uneven, ~4 miles and moderate. Ages 8+ welcome with guardian. Rain or shine. We will cancel due to inclement weather and/or unsafe conditions.

Wallace House & Old Dutch Parsonage State Historic Sites - Arabella Barlow's Somerville in Street & Stone

Time: 1:00 PM - 2:15 PM
Meeting Place: 71 Somerset Street, Somerville, NJ 08876
Registration: Just show up!

National Trails Day Hike Civil War heroine Arabella Barlow, a great-granddaughter of the Wallace family of Wallace House and Hardenbergh family of Old Dutch Parsonage, was born in Somerville 200 years ago in 1824. Stroll 2.5 miles the streets of Somerville for an introduction to the town and transportation in Arabella's childhood and adult life. Conclude at Arabella's historic gravestone in Somerville's Old Cemetery with the story of Arabella's service on the battlefields ofthe Civil War, death in a Union hospital in Washington, D.C. and burial back home in Somerville. For more information please click here!