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Kid Friendly

9 Kid-Friendly Hikes in New Jersey

by Juan Melli March 25, 2021
by Juan Melli March 25, 2021 0 comment

Trying to get the kids out for a hike? Looking for an easier trail that the whole family can enjoy that’s also appealing to kids? We’ve got you covered.

These are our favorite kid-friendly hikes that feature interesting destinations and features, and mostly have small elevation gain.

Overview Map

The map below shows the locations of our favorite kid-friendly hikes.

    Schooley’s Mountain

    A 1-mile hike along a cascading stream to a waterfall with plenty of boulders for the kids to climb on. See the Schooley’s Mountain trail guide.

    Distance: 1 mile

    Elevation gain: +300 feet

    Schooleys Mountain waterfall
    Waterfall at Schooley’s Mountain

    Tripod Rock

    A giant boulder moved by glaciers and left seemingly-impossibly balanced on three small rocks. Get creative posing for pictures. See the Tripod Rock trail guide.

    Distance: 2.7 miles out-and-back

    Elevation gain: +600 feet

    Tripod Rock
    A fun pose at Tripod Rock

    Van Slyke Castle

    • Van Slyke Castle ruins
    • Water tower ruins

    Kids can explore the Van Slyke Castle ruins (a home abandoned in 1940) and enjoy views of Ramapo Lake and the Wyanokie Mountains. See the Van Slyke Castle trail guide.

    Hike Length: 2.6 miles

    Elevation gain: +700 feet

    Swinging Bridge

    Swinging Bridge – Institute Woods

    An easy stroll through the Institute Woods in Princeton takes you to a swinging bridge over a stream. As a bonus, the woods are next to Princeton Battlefield State Park, featuring canons, other Revolutionary War history, and a big lawn that’s great for a picnic. See the Swinging Bridge trail guide.

    Hike length: 2.5 miles

    Elevation gain: minimal

    Pochuck Boardwalk

    • Turtles
    • Heaven Hill Farm
      Heaven Hill Farm
    • Appalachian Trail Pochuck Boardwalk
      Appalachian Trail Pochuck Boardwalk

    This easy, kid-friendly stroll in Vernon is one of New Jersey’s hidden gems. Pochuck Boardwalk is a mile-long stretch of the Appalachian Trail and a 110-foot suspension bridge through sensitive wetlands full of wildflowers and wildlife, including plenty of turtles. The hike can be extended an extra 1.5 miles to Heaven Hill Farm where you can treat the kids to ice cream. For those looking for a more intense challenge, you can hike even further up the famous Stairway to Heaven for a view over the Vernon Valley. See the Pochuck Boardwalk trail guide.

    Hike length: 1.8 miles

    Elevation gain: +25 feet

    Fairy Trail

    A great way to get the little ones out and exploring nature, the Fairy Trail in South Mountain Reservation is an easy half mile path inhabited by fairies who have built homes along the trail. See the Fairy Trail guide.

    Hike length: 1.2 miles

    Elevation gain: minimal

    Lord Stirling Park

    Boondocks Boardwalk

    This kid-friendly walk through marshes and swamps in Lord Stirling Park features boardwalks, ponds, and what might be the oldest tree in New Jersey. See the Lord Stirling Park trail guide.

    Hike length: 3.5 miles

    Elevation gain: negligible

    Hemlock Falls

    Hemlock Falls
    Hemlock Falls

    This kid-friend 1.6-mile hike to the dramatic 25-foot Hemlock Falls in the South Mountain Reservation is also one of our favorite hikes in New Jersey. See the Hemlock Falls trail guide.

    Hike length: 1.6 miles

    Elevation gain: +300 feet

    Governor Mountain

    • Governor Mountain glacial erratic
      Governor Mountain glacial erratic
    • Governor Mountain
    • View of Wanaque Reservoir from Governor Mountain
      View of Wanaque Reservoir from Governor Mountain

    More off the beaten path and only a little more challenging than most of the other options on this page, the loop hike up Governor Mountain features a great view of the Wanaque Reservoir and surrounding mountains and passes plenty of glacial erratics that make for fun boulder climbing opportunities. See the Governor Mountain trail guide.

    Hike Length: 2.1 miles

    Elevation gain:  430 feet

    High Mountain and Waterfall

    • View from the summit of High Mountain Park Preserve
      View from the summit of High Mountain Park Preserve
    View from the summit and a bear in a tree!

    For a slightly longer but still kid-friendly hike (at least maybe for bigger kids) that’s close if you live in the highly populated NYC metro area, consider a hike to the summit of High Mountain. You might even spot a bear in a tree.

    Hike Length: 4.6 miles

    Elevation gain:  715 feet

    So many more options

    These are some of our favorites, but there are countless other kid-friendly options out there. If you’re looking for some more ideas, check out all of our kid-friendly hike guides.

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    Juan Melli

    Juan lives in Hoboken, New Jersey with his wife and two boys. He likes to explore the great Garden State and other equally nice states.

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    Schooley’s Mountain
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    Wyanokie Traverse

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    About Me

    About Me

    Juan

    I love the outdoors. Over the years, friends would ask me for tips on where to hike, so I started this website as a way to help others discover nature.

    Through the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, I'm a volunteer maintainer of a section of the Appalachian Trail (Garvey Springs to Kaiser Road) - which includes the beautiful Raccoon Ridge - in the Delaware Water Gap. I'm also a Trustee and Vice President of the Board of Team Wilderness, a non-profit with a mission of growing teamwork, leadership, and character within our urban youth through wilderness excursions.

    Questions? Angry Rants? Jell-O recipes? I can be reached by using this form.

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    Take a Hike!
    • Best Hikes in NJ
    • Find a Hike
      • Hike Map
      • Most Popular Hikes
      • Best Kid-Friendly NJ Hikes
      • NJ Hikes
      • NY Hikes
      • John Muir Trail
        • Part 1: Reds Meadow to Yosemite Valley
        • Part 2: Duck Pass to Bishop Pass
        • Part 3: Bishop Pass to Mt. Whitney
      • Appalachian Trail
      • Other
        • Barataria Preserve
        • Coconino National Forest
        • Grand Canyon National Park
        • Great Smoky Mountains National Park
        • Inyo National Forest
        • John Muir Trail
        • Shenandoah National Park
        • Yellowstone National Park
        • Yosemite National Park
    • Tips & Essentials
      • Hiking for Beginners
      • Packing a First Aid Kit
      • Best NJ & NY Hiking Books & Resources
      • Best Hiking Apps
      • Hiking Gear
      • AllTrails vs GaiaGPA
      • Winter Hiking Tips
      • Pequannock (Newark) Watershed Permits
      • Trail Maintenance Gear
      • Leave No Trace
    • Contact