Branch Brook Park in Newark and Belleville has over 5,000 cherry blossoms – a larger and more diverse collection than DC or anywhere else in the country. A great time to visit is during the Cherry Blossom Festival in the spring. The flat paths around Branch Brook Lake are kid-friendly. Do a one mile loop around the southern end of the lake by crossing the foot bridge just north of Park Avenue. Step off the trail a bit and explore the marshy areas near the southeast shore of the lake.
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Breakneck Ridge is an incredibly popular hike so don’t expect to get the trail to yourself. The steep rock scramble ascent will get your heart pumping quickly and you’ll be rewarded with great views of the Hudson River. It’s about a 3 mile loop, but all the action is in the first mile.
Breakneck Ridge is an incredibly popular hike so don’t expect to get the trail to yourself. The steep rock scramble ascent will get your heart pumping quickly and you’ll be rewarded with great views of the Hudson River. It’s about a 3 mile loop, but all the action is in the first mile.
Ricketts Glen is a waterfall wonderland. This is a great loop hike with a huge reward/effort ratio which passes 21 named waterfalls over 4.5 miles of the Falls Trail network.
For those who like to explore or go off the beaten path and discover interesting places, there’s a clear winner when it comes to hiking apps.
The Spizzle Creek Trail is an easy, flat trail with views of the Barnegat Bay and a bird observation blind making it a great place to spot osprey and wading birds attracted to this rich ecosystem.
My First Aid Kit is more than just supplies to fix wounds or other injuries. I carry what I think of broadly as an “Emergency” or “Fix It” kit – it’s a First Aid Kit, but also includes items to prevent or fix other problems I might have on the trail, such as broken gear or a lost piece of gear that’s critical to staying safe.