New Jersey: Parks, Forests and other places to hike

[somers515]

I live in New Jersey and I am looking for help adding to my bucket list of places to hike in New Jersey. So please post below any places that have hiking trails that you like that this tentative list is missing. I think I did a decent job of listing of listing the state parks and forests but I'm sure there are a lot of great county parks, preserves and reservations that I'm missing. I've broken it down into 3 groups: North Jersey (ie north of 80), Central Jersey (between 80 and 195) and Southern Jersey (south of 195).

Long Trails in New Jersey: AT, Highlands, Long Path, Batona and Liberty-Gap

NORTH JERSEY:
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge
Morristown National Historical Park
Patterson Great Falls National Historical Park
Abram S. Hewitt State Forest
Allamuchy Mountain State Park
Farny State Park (and Split Rock Reservoir)
High Point State Park
Hopatcong State Park
Kittatinny Valley State Park
Long Pond Ironworks State Park
Norvin Green State Forest
Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Ringwood State Park
Stokes State Forest
Swartswood State Park
Wawayanda State Park
Worthington State Forest
Palisades Interstate Park (and Fort Lee Historic Park)
Mahlon Dickerson Reservation
Apshawa Preserve


CENTRAL JERSEY:
Gateway National Recreation Area
Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
Thomas Edison National Historical Park
Bull's Island Recreation Area
Cheesequake State Park
Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park
Hacklebarney State Park
Jenny Jump State Forest
Liberty State Park
Monmouth Battlefield State Park
Princeton Battlefield State Park
Round Valley Recreation Area
Spruce Run Recreation Area
Stephens State Park
Vorhees State Park (and Ken Lockwood Gorge WMA)
Washington Crossing State Park
Washington Rock State Park
Duke Farms
Sourland Mountains Preserve
Manasquan Reservoir


SOUTHERN JERSEY:
Cape May National Wildlife Refuge
Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge
Supawana Meadows National Wildlife Refuge
New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve
Allaire State Park
Atsion Recreation Area
Barnegat Lighthouse State Park
Bass River State Forest
Belleplain State Forest
Brendan T. Byrne State Forest
Cape May Point State Park
Corson's Inlet State Park
Double Trouble State Park
Fort Mott State Park
Island Beach State Park
Parvin State Park
Penn State Forest
Rancocas State Park
Warren Grove Recreation Area
Wharton State Forest

[SilentBob]

Central you have all Allaire state park in Wall township & Turkey Swamp Park in Freehold.

[danil411]

How are you prioritizing where to go when? I would prioritize Waywayanda, Stokes and High Point over Kittatiny Valley (for hiking). Unique places: the Atlantic Cedar Swamp sections of Waywayanda and High Point. In Waywayanda the trail really goes through a swamp--on bog bridges but better done during drier times of year. Easier to do the Atlantic Cedar Swamp boardwalk in High Point at any point of year. (It's shorter and you walk around outskirts rather than through it.

I love the grassy ridges of Worthington as you leave the Gap going North any season but wouldn't want to be up there on a really windy day. I haven't been through the Gap since the recent fire.

The hemlock forests of Stokes are a great way to beat the summer heat.

Have fun.