New Jersey Between Nature, History and Coast

New Jersey combines expansive natural areas, historic sites, coastal landscapes and regional culinary routes. The range extends from more than 150 miles of hiking trails in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area to historic places such as Paterson, Morristown and Batsto Village.

Trails and landscape: The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area covers more than 70,000 acres and offers more than 150 miles of hiking trails of varying difficulty.

Forest route: The BATONA Trail is approximately 50 miles long and connects Brendan T. Byrne, Wharton and Bass River State Forests.

Special footbridge: 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.

Pinelands: The New Jersey Pinelands encompass more than one million acres of farmland, forests and wetlands. Recreational activities such as canoeing are also offered there at various locations and by various organizations.

Coast: The New Jersey coast stretches 130 miles from Sandy Hook to Cape May. The beaches of Cape May on Delaware Bay feature pebbles and noticeably coarser sand.

History and industry: Paterson was founded in 1792 as America’s first planned industrial city. Paterson Great Falls is open for self-guided outdoor activities and guided tours.

Museum: The New Jersey State Museum houses more than two million artifacts relating to natural and cultural history, archaeology, ethnography and fine art; general admission is free.

Nature, forests and trails

For hiking enthusiasts, the New Jersey section of the Appalachian Trail offers forested areas and expansive views. The Pochuck Boardwalk adds a distinctive feature: As the longest elevated boardwalk along the entire Appalachian Trail, it passes through a unique trail landscape, while the suspension bridge at its northern end crosses the main branch of Pochuck Creek.

The New Jersey Pinelands are characterized by 1.1 million acres of dense forests. Within this natural area, the Pine Barrens Byway runs from the Mullica River southwest and south to the Maurice River and Delaware Bay through the southern part of the Pinelands. The route therefore connects several landscape features without requiring a specific starting point or a particular length of stay.

The Great Egg Harbor National Wild and Scenic River is also one of the defining natural attractions: It is considered one of the best bird-watching areas in the United States. Gateway National Recreation Area offers green spaces and beaches alongside historic buildings and cultural landscapes. Those who would like to experience nature without taking long hikes will also find easily accessible trails in the Batsto Village area.

Historic sites and engineering history

Batsto Village is located on Batsto Lake and preserves dozens of historic buildings. These include a sawmill and the Wharton Mansion (Batsto Mansion). Its lakeside location and easily accessible trails offer various ways to tailor a visit according to personal interests and the desired trail length.

Paterson combines natural and industrial history. The Great Falls on the Passaic River are a National Natural Landmark, while the raceway system at Paterson Great Falls is designated a National Engineering Landmark. In addition, Paterson’s founding in 1792 recalls the development of a planned industrial city. During your stay, you can therefore combine views of water, engineering and urban history.

At Thomas Edison National Historical Park, you can immerse yourself in Thomas Edison’s home and laboratory. The Black Maria was the first building constructed for filming motion pictures. Visitors can tour the Edison family home with a guided-tour ticket. This combination makes the site particularly interesting for travelers who want to connect the history of invention, film and everyday life at a historic location.

Morristown National Historical Park also offers a glimpse into American history. It commemorates the sites associated with General Washington and the Continental Army’s winter encampment from December 1779 to June 1780. Another historical perspective extends to the Main Immigration Building on Ellis Island, which was the center of one of the largest migrations in modern history.

Coast, wine country and regional routes

The coastal landscape changes in character along the 130 miles between Sandy Hook and Cape May. At the beaches of Cape May on Delaware Bay, pebbles and noticeably coarser sand shape the scenery. Together with the green spaces and beaches of Gateway National Recreation Area, this creates a coastal theme that includes historic buildings and cultural landscapes in addition to stretches of beach.

New Jersey’s wine country can be experienced each year by visiting several wineries during statewide Wine Trail Weekends. The Two Bridges Wine Trail passes through eight towns in four counties. The Two Bridges Wine Trail is accessible via the New Jersey Turnpike and Routes 295, 40 and 55.

Travel information

For regional transportation, you can use the NJ-TRANSIT app to plan journeys by bus, train and light rail, purchase and activate tickets, and check real-time arrivals and departures. This is particularly helpful when organizing your daily itinerary between historic sites, natural areas and other destinations.

Hudson, Essex, Bergen, Passaic and Sussex County.

For the higher-level travel overview: Usa.

More destinations

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Wyoming, South Dakota, California.