The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection invites the public to get outside and connect with nature during National Trails Day this Saturday, June 6, by participating in one of 22 guided hikes throughout state parks, forests and historic sites.
 Events range from guided hikes through the vast woodlands of Brendan T. Byrne State Forest and Stokes State Forest to a walk along the Sensory Awareness Trail, specifically designed for those with mobility and visual impairments, at the Forest Resource Education Center. There is also a one-mile walk and community visioning session along the future Bloomfield segment of New Jersey’s newest state park, a nine-mile greenway traversing Essex and Hudson counties. In addition to the 22 hikes at state properties, eight events are scheduled at locally owned or managed parks, for 30 events total statewide.“National Trails Day provides an opportunity for people of all ages and abilities to experience New Jersey’s beauty and the benefits of hiking and being outdoors,” said Department Environmental Protection Acting Commissioner Ed Potosnak, who will participate in National Trails Day festivities.“Despite being the most densely populated state, New Jersey offers an abundance and diversity of trails at state parks and forests, county and local parks, greenways, and lands managed by nonprofit groups. Get out and enjoy.”Celebrating LocallyAn initiative of the American Hiking Society, National Trails Day was first celebrated in 1993. Since that time, New Jersey has become a national leader in planning and coordinating a wide variety of events, with the DEP being named National Trails Day Champion three years in a row.This year, 30 events are planned throughout the state to bring communities together for a variety of trail-related activities, including opportunities to hike, ride, run, and help maintain New Jersey’s trails. Among them:Help to shape New Jersey’s newest state park with a Walk and Visioning Session in Bloomfield;Engage the senses with a guided walk along the Sensory Awareness Trail at the Forest Resource Education Center in Jackson;Learn about New Jersey’s natural and historic resources with guided hikes at Whitesbog Village Historic Site, D&R Canal State Park, Dr. James Still Office Historic Site, or Parvin State Park;See the beauty of nature with a guided hike at Liberty State Park, Cape May Point State Park, Voorhees State Park, Cheesequake State Park, Brendan T. Byrne State Forest, Tall Pines State Preserve, or Stokes State Forest;Challenge yourself to join in on the 27th Annual D&R Canal Towpath “Train”ing Run from Trenton to Piscataway, the Rugged Rail Trail ride along the Paulinskill Valley and Sussex Branch trails, or the Stoked for National Trails Day 6.5-mile hike at Stokes State Forest;Volunteer for trail enhancement projects at D&R Canal State Park in Trenton, Washington Crossing State Park, Island Beach State Park, and Double Trouble State Park;Many of the events at state parks and forests are family-friendly and free.To view DEP-hosted National Trails Day events, visit dep.nj.gov/parksandforests/national-trails-day/Enhancing Trails for AllWith more than 4,200 miles of existing, publicly accessible trails throughout the state, opportunities abound for people of all abilities to enjoy the restorative effects of nature while deepening their connection to the natural world, community, and each other.“New Jersey trails provide opportunities to see wildlife, different plant and tree species, and spend quiet time in nature,” said John Cecil, Assistant Commissioner for State Parks, Forests & Historic Sites. “For these reasons, it is important that we continue to ensure that people of all abilities can both access and experience New Jersey’s amazing natural resources.” |
 In 2025, DEP’s State Parks, Forests & Historic Sites program launched a nation-leading initiative to assess trail accessibility throughout state parks and forests with funding provided by the Federal Highway Administration’s Recreational Trails Program. The assessment aims to identify trails and trailheads that meet Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Standards and US Forest Service Trail Accessibility Guidelines, in addition to identifying trail improvements that will increase accessibility for all users.To date, 110 miles of trails in central and southern New Jersey have been assessed, including data collection on cross slope, slope, surface type, trail width and length, and trailhead facilities, all of which are important factors for park visitors to consider before exploring trails.The collected data is being incorporated into New Jersey trail maps, park webpages, and the online Trail Tracker app, so visitors can decide if a trail meets their individual accessibility needs. Additional trail assessments are planned in the northern part of the state later this year.Expanding AccessibilityThe assessment also included the recently revitalized quarter-mile Sensory Awareness Trail at the DEP’s Forest Resource Education Center in Jackson, Ocean County, where visitors of all abilities may use multiple senses to explore forest and habitat along the out-and-back route.Sensory Awareness Trail upgrades, also funded through the Federal Highway Administration’s Recreational Trails Program, include an improved permeable surface and an upgraded guide rope for visitors with visual impairments, with wooden markers identifying interpretive exhibits.In addition, benches have been added at regular intervals for rest stops, and a new trailhead kiosk provides information on the trail’s accessible features. The kiosk includes a slanted interpretive panel for wheelchair users, a 3D topographic relief map, trail details in print and Braille, photographs of trail highlights, and a hand-crank audio player with commentary from natural resource experts.Connecting Trails to Every CommunityOutreach from New Jersey’s Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan, entitled Outside, Together!, found that 75% of residents primarily use their local parks and trails. The DEP has been working to improve support for outdoor recreation facilities and natural resource preservation throughout the state, with a focus on areas that have historically experienced underinvestment in these assets.“Our goal is to support high-quality open space and recreational opportunities for all New Jersey residents and visitors,” said Elizabeth Dragon, Assistant Commissioner for Community Investment and Economic Revitalization. “Trails and greenways are often an opportunity to connect to open space, but in many cases, they are linear parks themselves – serving as economic engines that allow communities to safely walk and bike to their destinations while experiencing the restorative power of nature.”In July 2025, the DEP broke ground on the nearly one-mile Newark segment of New Jersey’s newest state park, a nine-mile greenway in Essex and Hudson counties. The former rail corridor was acquired in 2022 to create a linear state park through the most densely populated area of the state. Community engagement has been central to the project’s planning process, with visioning sessions held in the eight municipalities along the greenway to gather input from residents. A walk and community visioning session for the park is planned on National Trails Day in Bloomfield.ResourcesFor a full list of National Trails Day events, visit the American Hiking Society at americanhiking.org/national-trails-day/find-an-event/To learn more about New Jersey’s state parks, forests and historic sites, visit stateparks.nj.gov. State Parks, Forests & Historic Sites’ accessibility initiatives are available at dep.nj.gov/parksandforests/get-outside/accessibility/More about the New Jersey Trails Program may be found at dep.nj.gov/greenacres/trails-program-find-a-trail/. |