From wildflowers and Osprey to Peregrine falcons and river otters, New Jersey’s 4,500-plus miles of trails offer plenty of springtime adventures for hardcore hikers, nature enthusiasts, and warm-weather walkers. Where to begin? We asked Dawn McClennen, owner and curator of njHiking.com, a site with 200-plus detailed hike guides across NJ. “We’ve personally hiked, biked or kayaked everything on the site at least once, but often multiple times,” she says. Visitnj.org and njHiking.com are great resources, and so is the book AMC’s Best Day Hikes in New Jersey. In the meantime, we’ve narrowed it down to a sampling of some of our favorites.
PALMYRA COVE NATURE PARK
1335 Rte. 73, Palmyra
Prepare to be en-raptored! This hidden gem is an urban oasis along a developed area on the Delaware River, across from Philadelphia.
“It’s an outstanding birding site,” says Executive Director John D. Moore. It’s also a place where observation and technology come together to teach visitors about nature, space exploration and conservancy, he says.
There are 250 acres to explore, including one mile of beachfront, and an Environmental STEM Center open Monday through Friday.
Spring is peak migration season, drawing hundreds of bird watchers. “More than 300 species of birds have been sighted here in general, but during that particular time, it’s an amazing place to see warblers,” says naturalist Mason Kramer. These rare migratory birds sport plumage in beautiful colors.
Bald Eagles and Osprey are often spotted overhead, and there’s a Peregrine Falcon nest on the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge with a bird cam that can be accessed online and in the Environmental STEM Center. In the cove, two massive beaver lodges can be viewed from the observation decks. “We also have mink here and we’ve had river otter sightings,” Kramer adds.
ISLAND BEACH STATE PARK
S. Bayview Ave. & 24th Ave., Seaside Park
Island Beach State Park’s 10-mile-long ocean and bayfront reserve on the tip of the Barnegat Peninsula is a wonderful place year-round to hike, bike or walk to observe wildlife and natural beauty. One of the park’s most iconic plants are beach plums, which bloom in late April and early May, and have beautiful, white flowers. Every September the park hosts a festival featuring beach plum-flavored ice cream, says Paul Lang, trustee of the Friends of Island Beach State Park. “One unique little plant, the pear cactus, has a beautiful yellow flower when it blooms,” he says. Along the trails on the western side of the park, hikers may spot warblers, wrens and sparrows.
Along Barnegat Bay it’s possible to catch a glimpse of the Great Blue Heron and white egrets. “If you’re lucky you can see some of the Osprey fishing,” Lang adds. Every March, male Osprey arrive in Island Beach State Park to establish their territory. “The female comes a few weeks later. It’s the same pair. They mate for life,” he says. The nest is visible by an Osprey cam on the Friends of Island Beach State Park website. There are wheelchair-accessible ramps to the ocean and bay.
At Parking Lot Number 7, Fisherman’s Walk, and from the southernmost tip of the park, visitors are rewarded with a spectacular view of the inlet and Barnegat Lighthouse on Long Beach Island.
DUKE FARMS
1112 Dukes Pkwy. W., Hillsborough Twp.
Duke Farms is a nature preserve with over 5 miles of wheelchair- and stroller-accessible trails that wind around 10 lakes. It’s a wonderful place for families to experience nature, says Lauren Guastella, communications manager. There are more than 500 species of plants and more than 300 species of birds.
In the spring, visitors can expect to see native wildflowers in bloom. In the grasslands behind the Farm Barn, visitors can see birds up close. A pair of Bald Eagles live in a nest in a sycamore tree on the property and the website has an Eagle cam. As a living lab, Duke Farms focuses on conservation and habitat restoration and visitors can see the American Kestrel, which is threatened, and the Northern Harrier, which is endangered, and witness conservation efforts firsthand. The Farm Barn Café serves nutritious options from locally sourced ingredients.
JAKES BRANCH COUNTY PARK
1100 Double Trouble Rd., Beachwood
Known as “The Gateway to the Pine Barrens,” this Ocean County park provides a great introduction to New Jersey’s famous Pinelands, McClennen says. “I like to suggest this park for kids because of the play trail and nature center,” she says. The Jakes Branch Nature Center has informational exhibits, live animals and environmental programs. A five-story observation deck offers a panoramic view of the Pine Barrens. There is a short play trail that features playground equipment along the route. There are eight miles of trails, McClennen says, but none are too difficult. The 3.9-mile Tindey Trail Loop is considered easy, with a surface of packed dirt and pine needles. On average, it takes more than an hour to complete and is popular with bikers, hikers and runners. Dogs too! As long as they’re leashed.
ESSEX COUNTY BRANCH BROOK PARK
115 Clifton Ave., Newark
Forget Washington, D.C.—did you know Essex County Branch Brook Park has the largest collection of Japanese blossoming cherry trees in the springtime in the United States? Located in Newark, with portions extending into Bellville, Branch Brook was the first county park in the nation. Each April, when the cherry trees are in full bloom, tens of thousands of visitors descend upon the park with its 5,300 cherry trees in 18 varieties to see the beautiful pink and white blossoms.
The cherry trees are located throughout the 360-acre park, with the densest concentration near the Cherry Blossom Welcome Center. Essex County Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs annually hosts a series of events in the park during the cherry blossom season, including a 10K run, bike race and family day. There are also historical and horticultural walking tours at various times throughout the year.
SOUTH MOUNTAIN RESERVATION
Fairy Trail: Locust Grove Parking Lot, 197 Glen Ave., Millburn
Hemlock Falls: 64 Cherry Ln., West Orange
Do you believe in fairies? After visiting South Mountain Reserve, you might! Covering 2,112 acres and located in West Orange, Millburn and Maplewood, the nature reserve is part of the Essex County Park System. There are six marked trails but McClennen says the Hemlock Falls Loop and the Fairy Trail are great for kids. “Each are short hikes with an interesting destination,” she says. Hikers can combine both hikes in a 5.9-mile loop, but this may be more challenging for little ones. The Hemlock Falls Loop has two waterfalls and a stream. The Fairy Trail is a one-mile loop combining nature and whimsy. Miniature fairy houses with tiny ladders, doors and furnishings are tucked along the trail, the work of former New Jersey resident Therese Ojibway. All the houses are made from natural, biodegradable materials.
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