Mapleton Preserve Trail
Deer, wild turkeys, foxes, eagles…. they’ll be startled by you in this tranquil, precious collection of trees and pathways. Several building relics and countless intriguing tree species stand tribute to…
Princeton Highlands / Griggstown Native Grassland Preserve Trail
For someone who is ever in search of the English countryside, these tree-lined rolling meadows come quite close. From the parking lot, there’s a trail leading in every direction and…
Rockingham Loop Trail
A short path loops from Rockingham’s parking lot down through the woods to the D & R Canal path, back up the hill and returning through the Rockingham grounds –…
Oxbridge Footpath
Some of the most enchanting adventures hide among “the in-betweens” – like this pretty, wooded one, in-between Montgomery Park and the Oxbridge neighborhood, cloaking Back Brook. A gravel, paved path…
Oak Creek Canyon Whole Access Trail
Braille signage and a guide cable running the full length of the level, half-mile Oak Canyon Whole Access trail help those with impaired vision find their way – and the…
Farrington Lake (Lower Trail)
Narrow Farrington Lake and Davidson’s Mill Pond are connected by Lawrence Brook – and you can walk along all three. We’re calling this portion of the trail the lower end…
Colonial Park Rose Garden Trails
From the first day of spring to the Sunday after Thanksgiving, the Rudolf W. van der Goot Rose Garden is not only open, but BLOOMING! We visited just before Halloween…
Natirar Trail
One of the Garden State’s most majestic rambles, the grounds of Natirar include a hilltop English manor and sweeping meadows with enchanting, hidden away nature trails at opposite ends. Each…
Allaire Village Trail
Pretty wooded and riverside trails are spun around the pristinely restored early 19th century Allaire Village and Howell Iron Works Company. As you stroll past the row houses, blacksmith shop…
Pine Creek Railroad at Allaire State Park
The New Jersey Transit Museum has made its captivating home here since 1952, showcasing turn of the century railcars and locomotives. Its Pine Creek Railroad is one of the oldest…
Cross Estate Gardens & Trails
A secret garden. Right here in New Jersey – and complete with ivy-covered stone walls, trellised passageways, a romantic estate, rolling meadows and even a Rapunzelesque stone tower. No doubt…
Loveless Preserve Trail
A curtain of evergreens surrounds the trail head, revealing a long, beckoning corridor through the woods – a fitting welcome since the Loveless family formerly ran a Christmas tree farm.…
Watershed Blue Trail (Moore’s Mill Mt. Rose Rd. to Crusher Rd.)
Bridging the beginning and end sections of The Watershed Blue Trail, this is a lovely amble through thickets and woodlands with a delightful and unexpected clearing in the middle. LEARN…
Autumn Hill Reservation Trail
Tucked between Herrontown Woods and the Blue Spring Road development, Autumn Hill Reservation has quietly lingered under the radar for a long, long time. Quirky relics point to its history:…
D & R Canal Trail – Kingston
Kingston is an ideal portal into the wonderful D & R Canal towpath world, with ample parking and so much to see. Scenically and/or historically, it offers the Locktender’s House,…
Ringing Rocks & Falls Creek Waterfall
Bring your hammers – and keep your kids close! Nature has really outdone herself here, serving up not one, but two distinctly magnificent spectacles. Just a few yards from the…
Silver Maple Trail
From the humble wooden sign marking its beginning for about 50 feet, you’ll feel like you’ve rediscovered a lost tail. After that, it will be lost to you, too –…
Stony Brook Trail at Johnson Park School
It’s just a nudge downstream of Greenway Meadows, and yet the Stony Brook trail transforms again here – rising along higher bluffs, up a dramatic staircase and through a long…
Stony Brook at Greenway Meadows Trail
Perfectly idyllic and picturesque with pebble beaches, an easy meandering pathway and the adjoining Greenway Meadows’ playground, meadows and toilets. CONNECTING FOOTPATHS: Stony Brook at Johnson Park School, Greenway Meadows,…
Mountain Lakes Preserve, Tusculum Meadows & Johnson Boardwalk Trails
In the middle of Princeton, Mountain Lakes Open Space Area encompasses five distinct natural worlds, one more enchanting than the next. Mountain Lakes Preserve sits in the middle, surrounded by…
Iron Mike’s Trail
From the artisanal carved archway marking it’s beginning (on either end), this trail takes you by the hand and leads you on a sweet tour, curving through airy woods surrounding…
Community Park North & Pettoranello Gardens Trails
A paved pathway ambles around Pettoranello Garden’s pond, passing scattered picnic benches and a charming amphitheater on its way. As you head North, asphalt gives way to a footpath that…
Butler Road Natural Area Trail
Though this preserve feels sweet and discrete, it’s actually quite large. The tight, snaking purple trail is jam packed with lovely vignettes, mini pastures, creeks and cedar passageways and it’s…
Institute Woods Trail
Timeless pathways for Sunday promenades connect vast prairies, historic landmarks, a wild life refuge and the D & R canal – not to mention the Institute for Advanced Studies. Technically,…
Brearley Great Meadow Trail
At the end of a country lane, settled in meadow, sits the home of John Brearley, one of the signers of the U.S. Constitution (now home to the Lawrence Historical…
Carson Road Woods Trail
These are the things footpathing dreams are made of – all in one demure and lovely place. You’ll find a clear, level bike path, endless meadow, towering forest, subway-like tunnels…
Kunkel Park & Pennington Loop Nature Trail
Two charming wooden archways act as portals between the wonderworld that is Kunkel Park – with its large sandbox, play structure, covered picnic benches and rolling meadows – and the…
Charles Rogers Wildlife Refuge Trail (a.k.a. “The Swinging Bridge Path”)
Even without the swinging bridge, this would be a worthy adventure. In fact, technically, the Charles Rogers Wildlife Refuge doesn’t encompass the swinging bridge – but it’s our favorite gateway.…
Pond View Trail
This sweet wisp of a trail clings to the edge of the pond in the margins of Woodfield Reservation, sheltering some lovely views and vignettes. Passaging north, you’ll feel like…
Woodfield Reservation Trail
Trails scamper throughout this broad ridge, often across long planks and artisanal bridges with landmark destinations (like Counsel Rock or Pond View) that do not disappoint. You can spend a…
Maidenhead Meadows Trail
There’s the straightforward route along the spacious meadow and lollipopping through the woods – which is lovely – and then there are the wispy footpaths less traveled that lead to…
Rocky Hill Knoll Footpath
This teeny trail on a mini hill is perfect for picnicking, Easter egg hunts, pretending you’re on an island, rolling or sledding down the hill, and hide-and-seek (especially if you…
Carnegie Lake Trail
Even this well-groomed portion of Lake Carnegie tucks away a secret little wilderness, complete with a treehouse. Spanning the stretch of shoreline between Washington and Harrison, this footpath is as…
Grey Farm Footpath
This inconspicuous little footpath along the bluffs of Carnegie Lake and eventually down to the water’s edge hides beautiful views and wildlife watching opportunities. The path is lovingly cared for…
Children’s Discovery Trail
Educational, mindful and conscientious, this is an ideal adventure trail for Kindergarteners and up (many stretches of planks and some rock cascades might be tough for younger feet). Lots of…