Kid Friendly

The Dorris Duke Trail is a nice hike somewhat off the beaten path that offers several views of the surrounding mountains and passes a marsh.

Hawk Mountain offers some of the greatest views on the east coast, plus an Ice Age boulder field and a chance to see rattlesnakes.

This is a great loop hike with a big reward to effort ratio featuring two waterfalls – including the tallest in Pennsylvania – and dramatic views along a cliff of the winding Delaware River, Kittatinny Mountain, and even High Point in New Jersey.

This out-and-back hike in Harriman State Park provides some great views and can be done as a day hike or a relatively easy and kid-friendly overnight backpacking trip.

9 great kid-friendly hikes in New Jersey

An easy, kid-friendly 1-mile hike that follows a cascading stream to a waterfall with plenty of opportunities for climbing boulders.

A 4 mile hike through forest and swampy areas that features Tripod Rock, a 180-ton boulder that appears almost impossibly balanced on three smaller boulders, and several other interesting large glacial erratics.

An easy out-and-back hike that passes remnants of Thomas Edison’s old mining complex to an overlook of the Sparta Mountain wetlands.

An easy, kid-friendly hike around Liberty Marsh – an impoundment that attracts migratory shorebirds, waterfowl and raptors – with an optional 1 mile extension through puncheon walkway through swamp.

The 3.9 mile Castle Loop trail visits the Van Slyke Castle ruins and Ramapo Lake and provides great views of the Ramapo and Wyanokie Mountains. The shorter out-and-back hike to the ruins is a kid-friendly favorite.