Department of Environmental Protection

New Jersey State Park Service

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New Jersey State Parks Celebrates National Trails Day Saturday, June 3, 2023

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. All 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 the Trail Better

Time: 10:00 AM
Meeting Place: Bass River Park Office
Registration: Please call 609-296-1114 to register.

National Trails Day Hike : Join our Naturalist, Lisa, for an easy 2 to 3 mile hike with a purpose. Take a pledge to “leave the trail Better”. Stay to create art from all natural materials we find in nature.

Cheesequake State Park - Guided Kayak Ecotour on Cheeseqauke Creek Water Trail

Time: 11:00 AM
Meeting Place: Pavilion at Hooks Creek Lake
Registration: Contact Nature Center at (732-566-3208) or Email here!

National Trails Day Hike : The Cheesequake Creek Water Trail is a 3-mile water pathway beginning just west of the Route 35 drawbridge and leading to the creek headwaters near Dock Road in Old Bridge Township. Cheesequake Creek was a formidable waterway in the 1800’s and early 1900’s. Prior to European inhabitation of the area, Native American settlers used this pathway to Raritan Bay during summer months. European settlers also used this waterway to navigate up the headwaters to transport goods onto Dock Rd and into surrounding villages and towns. The waterway is located on the largest protected salt marsh in the Bayshore region and is grounds for over 150 different bird species. There is a $25 per person fee.

Double Touble State Park - National Trails Day Nature Walk

Time: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Meeting Place: Village restrooms
Registration: NOT REQUIRED – YOU CAN JUST SHOW UP. For additional information call 732-341-6662.

National Trails Day Hike : Join a park naturalist for a 1-2 mile nature walk. Ages 10 and up. Held sun or very light drizzle. Steady rain or thunder cancels. No pets. Walk will start outside village restroom building

D&R Canal State Park - Trenton D&R Trail Day of Service

Time: 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Meeting Place: Trenton Battle Monument, at the intersection of Route 206 and Route 31 in Trenton. Parking is available on both sides along the Trenton Battle Monument plaza. We will begin walking to the trail by 3:10pm, so please try to arrive on time, but please call 609-322-9723 if you need to reach the event coordinator day of!
Registration: Register here!

National Trails Day Hike : Celebrate this National Trails Day through a day of service, giving back to one of New Jersey’s signature trails – the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park! Participants will join the NJDEP for a 2-mile there-and-back walk from Trenton Battle Monument along the D&R trail, picking up litter along the way. Garbage bags, gloves, and trash pickers will be provided. Email here

for further questions.

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: Please call (973)-903-3496 or Email here!

National Trails Day Hike : Come and join us for our 6 Mile 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 HighPoint State Park. The return will be on the easier Iris Trail, a well-graded, oldwagon road. There will be numerous scenic views along the AT on the ridge. Hike is for ages 12 and up, dogs on leash are welcome and please bring water/snack and wear sturdy shoes, Maximum elevation =1600 ft Minimum elevation =1300 ft. Members of NJ Search and Rescue will be along to assist.

Island Beach State Park - Nature Center Beautification and Trail Maintenance

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

National Trails Day Hike : We will be helping to rejuvenate and beautify the grounds surrounding the IBSP Interpretive and Nature Centers, which are about 7 miles into the park. We will be sprucing up the gardens and Emily De Camp Herbarium, fixing split rail fencing and conducting basic trail maintenance on the Johnny Allens Cove trail. There is limited parking at the Nature Center, so we suggest you park at the A-15 beach access parking lot and walk over to the Nature Center, which is approximately 0.2 miles away.

Kittatinny Valley State Park - National Trails Day Hike to Branchville

Time: 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM
Meeting Place: Sussex Branch Trail crossing on Augusta Hill Rd., Frankford Twp., Sussex County
Registration: Register here!

National Trails Day Hike : Brisk 4-mile round-trip hike on the Sussex Branch Trail to Branchville. You will have almost an hour in town to do as you please - grab a quick lunch at The Barnyard, peruse the offerings at Broad Street Books, stroll around town - it's up to you! For more information about this free hike please call the Kittatinny Park Office at (973) 786-6445.

Round Valley State Park - Lost In The Woods

Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Meeting Place: Round Valley Recreation Area meet at South Lot 1220 Stanton-Lebanon Road Lebanon, NJ 08833
Registration: Register here!

National Trails Day Hike : With summer adventures just ahead, we will celebrate National Trails Day by hiking on a one mile loop trail at Round Valley to learn how to *not get lost in the woods* and discover what to do if we are lost. This event is open to all ages and is free of charge.

Stokes State Forest - Strawberry Moonrise Hike

Time: 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Meeting Place: Stokes State Forest, 1 Coursen Road, Branchville, NJ at the Sunrise Mountain Pavilion parking lot
Registration: Register here!

National Trails Day Hike We'll embark on a 2.5-mile round-trip hike down the paved road and up the Appalachian Trail, arriving back at the pavilion just in time to watch the moonrise.Flashlights/headlamps REQUIRED. For teens & adults.

Stokes State Forest - Beware of the Unicorn

Time: 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Meeting Place: Stokes State Forest, 1 Coursen Road, Branchville, NJ at the Stony Lake Parking Lot
Registration: Register here!

National Trails Day Hike Come celebrate National Trails Days at Stokes. Enjoy a 8.5 mile hike around a portion of the Blue Mountain Loop. We can’t wait to share the magic of the forest with you.

Wharton State Forest - National Public Lands Day

Time: 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM & 3:00 PM
Meeting Place: Batsto Visitor Center
Registration: Register here! *Hikes are capped at 30 people* For additional information: 609-561-0024

National Trails Day Hike Join us on June 3 for National Trails Day 2023 at Wharton State Forest and the one-year anniversary of the opening of the 1808 Trail! In celebration we will be offering semi-guided hikes of the 1808 Trail which will include historic interpretation of the relationship of the 1808 road (now our 1808 Trail) to Batsto Village and a visit to the state's largest known Post Oak (Quercus stellata). The semi-guided hike will be about 2.5 miles and cover only a small portion of the 1808 Trail before the hike leader returns to Batsto to lead the next hike.