New Jersey: Forests, Coast and History

New Jersey reveals itself through vast natural areas, its coastline and places with a complex history. At Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, the landscape spans more than 70,000 acres and offers more than 150 miles of hiking trails with varying difficulty levels. Hikers can find trails here to suit a range of abilities.

Hiking Trails and Natural Areas

The New Jersey Pinelands cover more than one million acres of farmland, forests and wetlands. One specific route to consider when planning is the BATONA Trail: about 50 miles long, it connects Brendan T. Byrne, Wharton and Bass River State Forests. The area around Batsto Village also has easy-to-walk trails.

The New Jersey section of the Appalachian Trail offers woodland and sweeping views. The Pochuck Boardwalk is the longest elevated boardwalk along the entire Appalachian Trail. At its northern end, a 144-foot suspension bridge crosses the main branch of Pochuck Creek. Both the long boardwalk and the clearly identified bridge are notable features of this section of the trail.

The waterways and their surroundings offer their own highlights: Great Egg Harbor National Wild and Scenic River is one of the best bird-watching areas in the United States. Gateway National Recreation Area spans New Jersey and New York. Its landscapes include green spaces and beaches, as well as historic structures and cultural landscapes.

Historic Sites and Museums

Historic Batsto Village is located on Batsto Lake. Dozens of historic buildings remain there, including a sawmill and Wharton Mansion, also known as Batsto Mansion. The village and trails in the area offer different ways to explore the history of the place and the surrounding landscape.

Thomas Edison National Historical Park offers a glimpse into Thomas Edison’s home and laboratory. Visitors can explore both; the Edison family home can be visited with a guided tour ticket. The Black Maria is part of film history: it was the first building constructed for making motion pictures.

In Paterson, urban history meets striking landmarks. Paterson was founded in 1792 as America’s first planned industrial city. At Paterson Great Falls, visitors can take part in self-guided outdoor activities and join guided tours. The Great Falls on the Passaic River in Paterson is a National Natural Landmark; the Raceway system at Paterson Great Falls is a National Engineering Landmark.

Ellis Island and Morristown also tell different chapters of history. The Main Immigration Building on Ellis Island was the center of one of the largest migrations in modern history. Morristown National Historical Park commemorates sites associated with General Washington and the Continental Army’s winter encampment, which lasted from December 1779 to June 1780.

The New Jersey State Museum houses more than two million artifacts in collections covering natural and cultural history, archaeology, ethnography and fine art. General admission is free. The museum offers another perspective on New Jersey, encompassing natural and human history as well as archaeology and art.

Coast, Wine Trails and Trip Planning

The New Jersey coastline stretches 130 miles from Sandy Hook to Cape May. The beaches of Cape May on Delaware Bay have pebbles and notably coarser sand. The Two Bridges Wine Trail passes through eight towns in four counties; it can be reached via the New Jersey Turnpike and Routes 295, 40 and 55. The statewide Wine Trail Weekends offer a chance to visit multiple wineries each year. Participating wineries and schedules vary.

If bus, rail or light rail is part of your plans, you can use the NJ TRANSIT app to plan trips, buy and activate tickets, and check real-time arrivals and departures.

Discover more destinations: Cape May, Atlantic, Cumberland, Camden, Burlington, Ocean, Mercer, Monmouth, Middlesex, Union, Hudson, Essex, Morris, Bergen, Warren, Passaic, Cape May, Middlesex, Somerset, Salem, Gloucester County, Hunterdon County, Sussex County, Morris County.

For the main travel overview: USA.