Beyond the Turnpike: Your Guide to New Jersey’s Many Natural Wonders

Those who’ve never visited New Jersey beyond a taxi ride between Newark Airport and New York City may forget that the Garden State is a place of agriculture and natural wonders. And no, experiencing nature in New Jersey isn’t restricted to going down the seaside for sand and surf (although the Jersey Shore holds beloved memories for all who visit, locals and out-of-towners alike).

Jersey is home to dozens of lakes, rivers, waterfalls, giant woodland areas, marshes, and mountains — it’s even graced with a section of the Appalachian Trail (AT). So grab your Jersey State Parks Passport, hop on the NJ Turnpike or Garden State Parkway, find your exit, and explore the many natural wonders the state has to offer.

WATERFALLS CLOSER THAN YOU THINK

Buttermilk Falls

In Sussex County, in the wilderness of New Jersey’s northwest, lies a waterfall with a frothy white appearance as it cascades down a tiered rockface: the aptly named Buttermilk Falls. At over 75 feet tall, it’s the tallest waterfall in the state, surrounded by green moss and foliage — except in autumn when crimson and auburn hues take over.

You can view the base of the falls from a parking-lot-accessible platform that creates a perfect perch for looking up and marveling at Buttermilk’s height. Want to get even closer? Get your steps in on the stairs leading up to the top of the falls and be rewarded with unreal vistas of the valley below.

Paterson Great Falls

In New Jersey, you don’t need to venture far out of an urban center for scenic cascades. Right in the middle of the historically industrial city of Paterson, co-founded by Alexander Hamilton in 1791, lies the Paterson Great Falls — so great they’re maintained by the National Park Service.

As the biggest set of waterfalls on the Passaic River, they once served as a hydraulic power source for mills and manufacturing. Today, they’re still roaring as the centerpiece of the eponymous national historical park that’s a true natural oasis within urban terrain.

MILE-WIDE VIEWS

Appalachian Trail in High Point State Park

The storied AT spans from Georgia to Maine and, in doing so, cuts across New Jersey for 72.4 miles. While comparatively speaking this doesn’t seem like much, it’s still quite a feat to hike it all — the segment is the second longest trail in the state — and those doing so will be treated to the elevated views of northwestern New Jersey’s Skylands Region.

The AT passes through High Point State Park, so called for having the state’s highest elevation: 1,803 feet. When you look down at the greenery around you from Monument Tower, you’ll know you’re at the very top of the Garden State.

The Giant Stairs in Palisades Interstate Park

In Bergen County, just across the Hudson River from northern New York City, lies a park that holds the dramatic natural cliffs known as the Palisades. This impressive landscape evaded riverside real estate development thanks to the Rockefellers. The 700 acres around the precipice were purchased by the oil-rich American family to preserve their natural beauty (specifically, the views from the Rockefeller family mansion).

Ultimately, the land was donated to an interstate New York/New Jersey parks commission, which has maintained its natural wonders and small waterfalls and also created a network of hiking trails. These include the Giant Stairs, a challenging but achievable rock scramble at the base of the Palisades. It’s worth the hike for the views of the river as it expands out to the Hudson Valley.

ADVENTURES ON, IN, AND BY THE WATER

Lake Hopatcong

With 45 miles of shoreline, Lake Hopatcong has been a getaway destination luring city folk since the heyday of railway travel in the 19th century. Today, New Jersey’s largest freshwater lake continues to entice roadtrippers and daytrippers to the state park that bears its name.

There are plenty of ways to enjoy its 2,500 acres (four square miles) of freshwater, be it sailing, kayaking, jet skiing, waterskiing, or paddleboarding. There’s also great fishing, with the waters full of trout, perch, catfish, and freshwater bass. If floating on the water isn’t your thing, go for a hike on one of the many trails around the lake — an activity that’s made more rewarding with a post-trek dip on a hot summer day.

Delaware Water Gap

Named for the Delaware River, the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area spans most of the northwestern natural boundary between New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Run by the National Park Service, it provides many opportunities for weekend warrior adventures along the water: fishing, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, sunbathing on the shore, camping, or hiking one of its many trails.

The views from the Mount Tammany Red Dot Trail yield spectacular details of this grand geological gap, carved by prehistoric water running through the Kittatinny Range of the Appalachian Mountains. The other big to-do here is inner tubing down the river in summer, an activity facilitated by private operators like Big Bear Gear near Frenchtown.

MORE THAN MEADOWLANDS

New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve

Known colloquially as the Pine Barrens, the New Jersey Pinelands is the country’s first national reserve. Established in 1978, it comprises over one million acres of woodlands and wetlands. That’s 22 percent of New Jersey’s landmass, taking up much of the state’s southeast interior.

Some suburban towns exist within its domain, but the Pine Barrens are mostly known for rivers and cedar swamps to paddle and woodsy trails to hike — plus bogs, forests, and farmland where you can explore this diverse biosphere of New Jersey and its flora and fauna (including the elusive Jersey Devil, if you believe you can spot the urban legend). While the Pinelands are managed by the National Park Service, you can sign up for kayaking, hiking, or nature tours with local outfitters like Pinelands Adventures.

The Columbia Trail and Ken Lockwood Gorge

In the central New Jersey county of Hunterdon lies a lesser known but undoubtedly beautiful slice of nature, perfect for hiking or gravel biking. Starting in the quaint town of High Bridge, hikers and bikers journey along the Columbia Trail — a rail trail where trains once traveled — as it cuts through scenic woods and grass fields, paralleling the Raritan River on its way to Chester in Morris County.

However, the most scenic part of the trail comes when it passes Ken Lockwood Gorge, a scenic, woodsy section of the South Branch Raritan River where boulders of all sizes dot the riverbed, standing stoically amid the relaxing sounds of trickling water. The area is a must for nature enthusiasts, especially those who enjoy fly fishing — you’ll see many doing so, holding their rods and standing waist deep in the river.

BEYOND THE BOARDWALK

Cape May Point State Park

You’d be remiss to visit New Jersey and not go down the shore as the locals do. The stereotypical beach day conjures images of boardwalks, amusement rides, cotton candy, and other human-made attractions. However, there are also sections of the New Jersey coast that serve as nature reserves, including parts of the state’s southernmost tip, the Cape May Peninsula. While the city of Cape May is unique on its own, preserving historical Victorian architecture, the rest of the cape is another departure from the expected Jersey Shore.

Cape May Point State Park is where you’ll find an iconic lighthouse and a reserve for easy nature walks, fishing off the shore, and birdwatching. Spring and fall are when many migratory birds, particularly hawks, find their way here for a pit stop before or after flying over Delaware Bay. It’s also a common stop for migratory monarch butterflies, and horseshoe crabs come ashore to lay their eggs in the sand.

Island Beach State Park

Another pristine stretch of Jersey shoreline is Island Beach State Park, which spans 10 miles of undeveloped beach habitat on the southern end of a narrow barrier island between Barnegat Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. This protected, undeveloped environment is one of the last remaining barrier beaches on the North Atlantic seaboard, and it harbors over 3,000 acres of coastal dunes and more than 400 plant species. It’s become the sanctuary of New Jersey’s largest osprey colony, along with peregrine falcons and other waterfowl. Since it’s a barrier island that shields the mainland from ocean swells, the adjacent bay is an ideal place for windsurfing, kayaking, fishing, and crabbing.

For the fourth-smallest state in the US, New Jersey is jam-packed with an impressive number of scenic spots to stretch your legs, soak up views, and appreciate the Garden State in its truest sense. Next time you’re in New Jersey, don’t just drive through — dive in.