I'm looking for recommendations for picturesque hiking trails within New Jersey. Which trail have you found to offer the most rewarding visual experience, and what specific features made it stand out?
Category: Food & Lifestyle
person
brightness_auto
Category: Food & Lifestyle
2 Answers
The Stairway to Heaven trail in Vernon, without a doubt. The hike itself offers so much variety, starting on the long Pochuck Boardwalk that cuts across a beautiful marshland. You even pass through a working farm with cows before getting to the main event. That final, steep rock scramble up Wawayanda Mountain is a challenge, but the payoff from Pinwheel Vista is what makes it the best for me. The view just opens up completely, giving you a clear look across the entire Kittatinny Valley over to High Point. It's that combination of the unique walk-up and the stunning final panorama that puts it at the top of my list.
The Stairway to Heaven trail in Wawayanda State Park is definitely the one for me. It's such a diverse hike. You start on a long, beautiful boardwalk that cuts right through the Pochuck Creek marsh, which feels completely unique for a mountain trail. After crossing a suspension bridge, the path changes entirely as you begin the rocky climb up Wawayanda Mountain. The final reward is Pinwheel Vista, an incredible lookout with panoramic views stretching across the entire Vernon Valley. That contrast between the serene, flat marshland and the challenging, rewarding climb makes it the most scenic hike I've done in the state.