Best hikes and trails around Sussex County, NJ

Appalachian Trail

The Appalachian Trail runs 72.4 miles in New Jersey, running from the Delaware Water Gap to the New York State Line. Famous hikes include the Stairway to Heaven, a 2.6-mile hike where hikers scale a series of rock slabs to the top of the Wawayanda Mountain.

The Pochuck Boardwalk is an easy, flat, and wheelchair-accessible, 2-mile boardwalk. Hikers can also take the total 7.3-mile trip from the Pochuck Boardwalk to Pinwheel Vista at Wawayanda Mountain.

Parking:

Stairway to Heaven: 443 Vernon Warwick Rd., Vernon Township, NJ

Pochuck Boardwalk: 893 County Rd 517, Vernon, NJ

Paulinskill Valley Trail

This trail runs 27 miles from Knowlton in Warren County to Sparta, NJ. The trail allows for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. The surface of the trail varies from ballast, cinder and crushed stone, to dirt and grass. The trail passes under the Paulinskill Viaduct, built in 1909 and towering 115 feet over the Kill; at one time it was the world’s largest concrete structure. Hikers can turn around at any point. Angry Erik Brewing can be accessed right from the trail.

Parking:

Warbasse Junction Rd., Lafayette, NJ

Sparta Junction, Sparta, NJ

High Point Monument Loop

This approximately 3.5-mile loop circles New Jersey’s highest elevation before climbing to the 220-foot High Point Monument, which sits 1,803 feet above sea level. Along the route, hikers travel through rocky forest sections and scenic overlooks before reaching sweeping views into New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania from the summit.

Parking: High Point State Park, 1480 Route 23, Sussex, NJ

Buttermilk Falls Trail

This 1.4-mile trail, which is part of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, begins with a climb to the top of Buttermilk Falls, one of the tallest waterfalls in New Jersey. From there, the trail continues to make a steep climb up to the Appalachian National Scenic Trail for spectacular views of the valley below. This a “moderate to difficult” hike, with an elevation change of 1,104 feet.

Parking: Mountain Rd., Layton, NJ