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Flat & Fast Running Trails in New Jersey

New Jersey has 95 trails with flat, fast terrain in this directory, across 74 cities and towns — Morristown, Princeton, Oakland, Somerset and 70 more. Gentle grades for tempo efforts, goal-pace long runs and steady miles.

Labels come from each trail's own listing, its website and runners' reviews. Conditions change with the weather and the season, and gates and lights follow the park's own hours, so check a recent review before you drive out.

Every one in New Jersey

Use the filters to narrow these by surface, loop, distance, shade, lighting, restrooms, water and parking.

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Cape May Point State Park

4.8 ★★★★★ 4,819 reviews

Cape May Point, NJ

LoopBoardwalkLitScenic

State park featuring a lighthouse & environmental center, plus birding, fishing & hiking.

Watchung Reservation

4.7 ★★★★★ 3,679 reviews

Mountainside, NJ

6 miLoopNatural surfaceScenic

Vast park offering cross-country skiing, fishing, outdoor ice skating, hiking, camping & more.

Raritan Bay Waterfront Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 2,695 reviews

South Amboy, NJ

MixedScenicDog-friendly

136-acre park along the water with sports fields plus a playground, nature study area & gazebo.

Mt Tammany Red Dot Trail

4.8 ★★★★★ 2,431 reviews

Hardwick Township, NJ

LoopNatural surfaceScenicDog-friendly

Challenging but doable hike with a rock-climbing trail up to a summit view of the Delaware River.

Pyramid Mountain

4.7 ★★★★★ 1,153 reviews

Boonton, NJ

4 miLoopNatural surfaceShaded

1,500+ acres of county-owned forests, streams & trails, with a 150-ton boulder perched at the top.

Double Trouble State Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 1,141 reviews

Bayville, NJ

ScenicDog-friendly

State park with cranberry bogs & a preserved 19th-century company town, plus nature trails.

Loantaka Brook Reservation

4.7 ★★★★★ 973 reviews

Morristown, NJ

10 miPavedShadedScenic

Scenic park offering 8 miles of trails, picnic areas, athletic fields & green space.

G. Thomas Donch Nature Preserve (formerly known as Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve)

4.7 ★★★★★ 939 reviews

Franklin Lakes, NJ

11.2 miLoopMixedScenic

A peaceful 120-acre nature preserve surrounding a lake known for fishing, hiking & birdwatching.

Fort Lee Historic Park, Palisades Interstate Park Commission

4.6 ★★★★★ 957 reviews

Fort Lee, NJ

LoopScenic

Cliffside park featuring scenic vistas, a visitor center & reconstructed Revolutionary War camp.

High Point Monument

4.8 ★★★★★ 818 reviews

Montague, NJ

Scenic

Monument with hiking trails and free admission.

Allamuchy Mountain State Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 820 reviews

Stanhope, NJ

Natural surfaceScenic

Sprawling park with trails for hiking & mountain biking, plus fishing, boating & mountain climbing.

Appalachian Trail Boardwalk

4.8 ★★★★★ 769 reviews

Glenwood, NJ

MixedScenic

Scenic boardwalk trails for scenic hikes through a swampy area, plus a suspension bridge.

Lewis Morris Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 764 reviews

Morristown, NJ

MixedScenicDog-friendly

County park featuring miles of trails, picnic areas, sports fields & a sandy beach on Sunrise Lake.

Washington Valley Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 720 reviews

Bridgewater, NJ

2 miLoopNatural surfaceScenic

Expansive historic area featuring 18th- & 19th-century farmhouses & buildings, plus nature trails.

Tourne Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 688 reviews

Denville, NJ

12 miLoopNatural surfaceScenic

Park spanning nearly 550 acres, offering views, an entrance dating from 1759 & wildflower trails.

South Mountain - Fairy Trail

4.7 ★★★★★ 681 reviews

Millburn, NJ

LoopNatural surfaceScenic

Family-friendly path dotted with tiny, handcrafted homes for fairies.

Plainsboro Preserve

4.7 ★★★★★ 644 reviews

Cranbury, NJ

LoopNatural surfaceScenic

A variety of trails, a visitor center & gift shop are offered at this lakefront nature preserve.

Kittatinny Valley State Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 621 reviews

Newton, NJ

LoopScenicDog-friendly

Featuring a restored 19th-century village, this park offers multi-use trails, fishing & boating.

Egg Harbor Township Nature Reserve

4.8 ★★★★★ 606 reviews

Egg Harbor Township, NJ

PavedShadedScenicDog-friendly

220-acre nature preserve offering an educational center, a fishing lake & wooded hiking trails.

Speedwell Lake Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 600 reviews

Morristown, NJ

LoopPavedScenic

Green space with a playground & an open field, plus a waterfall & fishing lake with a walking trail.

Black Run Preserve

4.6 ★★★★★ 562 reviews

Evesham, NJ

ScenicDog-friendly

The Celery Farm

4.7 ★★★★★ 469 reviews

Allendale, NJ

1 miNatural surfaceScenic

A 107-acre wetlands preserve with trails, hosting 53 breeding bird species (with 240 sighted here).

Loantaka Brook Reservation - Recreation Area

4.8 ★★★★★ 458 reviews

Morristown, NJ

10 miMixedShadedScenic

Park with picnic areas and a playground, plus hiking, and biking trails, and a baseball field.

Lord Stirling Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 433 reviews

Basking Ridge, NJ

2.5 miLoopMixedScenic

Equestrian operation offering English-style trail rides & lessons plus frequent showcases in a ring.

6 Mile Run

4.7 ★★★★★ 429 reviews

Somerset, NJ

6 miNatural surface

Trails for hiking, mountain biking, and trail running with a public restroom.

Middlesex County Open Space

4.7 ★★★★★ 388 reviews

Metuchen, NJ

8 miPavedShadedLit

Kid-friendly paved greenway (with a bridge) for walking and biking, as well as roller blading and skating.

Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge

4.7 ★★★★★ 388 reviews

Sussex, NJ

LoopBoardwalkScenicDog-friendly

Wildlife habitat known for its diversity of birds with hunting, fishing, trails & learning programs.

Boundary Creek Natural Resource Area

4.7 ★★★★★ 384 reviews

Moorestown, NJ

1 miLoopBoardwalkShaded

Pond, creek and river views to be had at this clean park that is home to a variety of wildlife and dogs.

Mercer Meadows

4.8 ★★★★★ 370 reviews

Lawrence Township, NJ

Crushed gravelScenic

Scenic park with biking routes through 1600+ acres of meadows & woodlands, plus bodies of water.

Giant Stairs Palisades

4.8 ★★★★★ 364 reviews

Closter, NJ

4 miLoopNatural surfaceScenic

Popular hiking locale featuring trails with cliff views, lizards, and snakes.

Ramapo Lake Trailhead

4.7 ★★★★★ 369 reviews

Oakland, NJ

LoopNatural surfaceScenicDog-friendly

Vistas of a lake and ruins dot this leafy hiking destination featuring a mix of easy to challenging trails.

Anderson Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 342 reviews

Upper Montclair, NJ

Scenic

This park was laid out over 100 years ago by the firm of the famous Olmsted brothers.

Saddle River County Park-Wild Duck Pond Area

4.7 ★★★★★ 315 reviews

Ridgewood, NJ

ScenicDog-friendly

Park featuring a playground and a fenced-in area for dogs, plus benches and picnic tables.

Clayton Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 320 reviews

Cream Ridge, NJ

6 miScenicDog-friendly

County park on 422 acres of rolling farmland, offering trails for hiking, biking & horseback riding.

Continental Soldiers Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 277 reviews

Mahwah, NJ

MixedScenicDog-friendly

Clean field featuring a playground for kids as well as sporting grounds.

Stairway To Heaven

4.8 ★★★★★ 261 reviews

Vernon Township, NJ

MixedScenicDog-friendly

Rock-laden trail, featuring steep ascents and scenic views.

Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve

4.7 ★★★★★ 259 reviews

Princeton, NJ

MixedScenicDog-friendly

Nature preserve featuring several hiking trails in a picturesque setting with woodlands & a lake.

Essex County Park

4.8 ★★★★★ 244 reviews

West Orange, NJ

1.7 miLoopPavedScenic

Kid-friendly park with a playground and a paved trail circling the lake.

Allaire State Park Trailhead

4.7 ★★★★★ 235 reviews

Wall Township, NJ

Loop

Popular, mostly flat park featuring various mountain biking trails as well as running trails.

Mill Creek Marsh Trail

4.6 ★★★★★ 234 reviews

Secaucus, NJ

BoardwalkScenicDog-friendly

Peaceful park offering a looping trail through a marsh that's popular for birdwatching.

Franklin Parker Preserve — Chatsworth Lake Entrance

4.8 ★★★★★ 214 reviews

Chatsworth, NJ

6 miShadedScenic

Pine barrens preserve, with wetlands, hiking, blueberry and cranberry farms and a bridge.

Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park Trail - Mapleton Rd

4.7 ★★★★★ 217 reviews

Princeton, NJ

LoopNatural surfaceScenicDog-friendly

Scenic trail that's good for cycling, bird-watching, fishing, jogging and hiking, as well as dog-walking.

Institute Woods

4.6 ★★★★★ 210 reviews

Princeton, NJ

3.2 miLoopNatural surfaceScenic

589 acres of woods, farmland & wetlands, with serene walking trails & a wooden footbridge.

Hugh Force Canal Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 187 reviews

Wharton, NJ

PavedScenicDog-friendly

Public green space featuring a scenic walk next to the remains of an old boat channel & railroad.

Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park Trail - Amwell Road

4.7 ★★★★★ 181 reviews

Somerset, NJ

Natural surfaceScenic

Popular towpath and scenic trail, perfect for walking, biking, hiking, and horseback riding.

Smith's Woods

4.8 ★★★★★ 169 reviews

Eastampton Township, NJ

LoopShadedScenicDog-friendly

Nature haven, with playgrounds, picnic areas, a butterfly garden and hiking paths.

Ramapo Mountain State Forest (Upper Lot)

4.7 ★★★★★ 171 reviews

Oakland, NJ

LoopScenicDog-friendly

State park offering numerous hiking trails through woods leading to a lake, castle ruins, and scenic views.

Elephant Swamp Nature Trail

4.6 ★★★★★ 158 reviews

Monroeville, NJ

Crushed gravelShadedScenicDog-friendly

Straight, flat rail trail passing farm fields and wooded areas, popular for dog-walking.

Kinkora Trail

4.7 ★★★★★ 152 reviews

Columbus, NJ

PavedShadedScenicDog-friendly

Paved trail through fields and woods offering benches and picnic tables.

Herrontown Woods

4.5 ★★★★★ 151 reviews

Princeton, NJ

Natural surfaceDog-friendly

This 142-acre pine forest has walking trails & more than 30 species of trees, shrubs & flowers.

Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park Trail

4.7 ★★★★★ 137 reviews

Piscataway, NJ

Natural surface

Park featuring 77 miles of canal built by Irish immigrants in 1836, plus hiking, biking, and picnicking.

Skillman Park

4.8 ★★★★★ 128 reviews

Skillman, NJ

25 miLoopPavedScenic

Public park with picnic areas and a restroom, trails, 2 dog parks, and cross-country skiing.

Alcyon Lake

4.7 ★★★★★ 126 reviews

Pitman, NJ

ShadedScenicDog-friendly

Picnic, soccer-, baseball- and softball-friendly, family-oriented park, offering a disc golf course, soccer fields, a playground, clean restrooms, a lakeside boat launch, and an extensive network of trails.

Columbia Trail (High Bridge)

4.8 ★★★★★ 123 reviews

High Bridge, NJ

15 miCrushed gravelShadedScenic

Columbia Trail

4.8 ★★★★★ 119 reviews

Long Valley, NJ

Crushed gravelShadedScenicDog-friendly

Level rail trail that's often shaded and features views of the gorge, plus areas for walking, biking and hiking.

Loantaka Brook Park, Madison, NJ

4.8 ★★★★★ 114 reviews

Morristown, NJ

10 miPavedScenicDog-friendly

Recreation area with trails for walking, running, horseback riding, and biking, plus a public restroom and picnic tables.

Somerdale Nature Trail Park

4.3 ★★★★☆ 120 reviews

Somerdale, NJ

LoopShadedDog-friendly

Short, easy hiking trails and bat boxes through the woods and along a stream.

Weltz Conservation Area

4.2 ★★★★☆ 118 reviews

Oakhurst, NJ

ShadedDog-friendly

This 169-acre undeveloped forested park features a walking trail, birdwatching & more.

St. Michael's Farm Preserve

4.8 ★★★★★ 98 reviews

Hopewell, NJ

ScenicDog-friendly

Site of a former orphanage, now serving as a farm & forested park with hiking trails.

Jonathan's Woods

4.7 ★★★★★ 91 reviews

Denville, NJ

Natural surfaceScenicDog-friendly

Park with a network of trails for walks, birdwatching, and views.

Hunts Mills Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 83 reviews

Clinton, NJ

2 miCrushed gravelDog-friendly

Five Mile Lock - D&R Canal State Park Trail

4.6 ★★★★★ 78 reviews

South Bound Brook, NJ

Natural surfaceScenic

Park with trails for hiking and biking, as well as opportunities for fishing.

South Riverwalk Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 73 reviews

Trenton, NJ

Scenic

Peaceful park along the Delaware River featuring a playground and a statue honoring Trenton's history.

Bicycle Trail Glassboro/Williamstown

4.6 ★★★★★ 70 reviews

Glassboro, NJ

6 miPavedShadedDog-friendly

Flat, paved, straight wildlife space for hiking, cycling and running, along with wooded paths, wetlands and swamps.

Sawmill Creek Trail & Transco Trail

4.7 ★★★★★ 67 reviews

North Arlington, NJ

1.2 miMixedScenicDog-friendly

Park with a 1-mi. trail surrounded by water, good for walking and bird-watching.

Patriots' Path - 1976 Section

4.7 ★★★★★ 66 reviews

Morristown, NJ

PavedScenicDog-friendly

Paved rail-to-trails area featuring flat terrain and scenic stretches of countryside for hiking, biking and dog-walking.

West Essex Trail

4.6 ★★★★★ 63 reviews

Verona, NJ

Natural surface

Woodsy area featuring walking and biking trails, with wildlife sightings.

Hiking Trail

4.4 ★★★★☆ 63 reviews

Somerset, NJ

Dog-friendly

Hiking area with mowed-grass paths, ideal for kids, birding, and wildlife-spotting.

Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 60 reviews

Hamilton Township, NJ

LoopCrushed gravelScenic

Canal-side trail along the Delaware River featuring hiking and bike paths, plus a scenic overview.

Bortons Mill Trails

4.3 ★★★★☆ 63 reviews

Cherry Hill Township, NJ

ShadedDog-friendly

Park with trails for walking and dog-walking.

West Deptford Nature Trail

4.5 ★★★★★ 60 reviews

West Deptford, NJ

1 miLoopShadedScenic

Relaxed preserve with a tree-lined path and picturesque surroundings, as well as ample parking.

Bedminster Hike and Bikeway

4.4 ★★★★☆ 57 reviews

Bedminster, NJ

53 miMixedShadedScenic

Scenic, paved trail for hiking and walking along a river, with playgrounds, bike jumps and a rope swing.

Great Oak Park

4.1 ★★★★☆ 61 reviews

Oakland, NJ

Crushed gravelDog-friendly

Park featuring a former public pool and skatepark, plus trails.

Mahlon Dickerson Reservation

4.5 ★★★★★ 47 reviews

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

27 miMixedScenic

Relaxed park featuring a pond and trails for hiking and biking.

Owens Station Crossing

4.9 ★★★★★ 34 reviews

Sussex, NJ

LoopScenicDog-friendly

Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park Trail, South Bound Brook, NJ

4.5 ★★★★★ 30 reviews

South Bound Brook, NJ

Landsdown Meadow and Trail

4.5 ★★★★★ 30 reviews

Annandale, NJ

Natural surfaceScenicDog-friendly

Florence W. Kuipers Memorial Park

4.3 ★★★★☆ 27 reviews

Hackettstown, NJ

Natural surface

Patriots Path Trailhead

4.7 ★★★★★ 24 reviews

Chester, NJ

Airport Trail

4.2 ★★★★☆ 26 reviews

Brick Township, NJ

Natural surface

Mt. Laurel State Park

4.3 ★★★★☆ 24 reviews

Mt Laurel Township, NJ

Bunker Hill Natural Area

4.5 ★★★★★ 22 reviews

Princeton, NJ

Natural surface

South Branch River Trail

4.5 ★★★★★ 22 reviews

Branchburg, NJ

Scenic

Start Edgar Felix Memorial Bikeway

4.7 ★★★★★ 20 reviews

Manasquan, NJ

Mixed

Ocean City Bike Path

4.9 ★★★★★ 17 reviews

Ocean City, NJ

BoardwalkScenic

Columbia Trail

4.8 ★★★★★ 16 reviews

Long Valley, NJ

D&R Canal State Park

5 ★★★★★ 14 reviews

Fieldsboro, NJ

Natural surface

Finderne Wetlands

4.3 ★★★★☆ 16 reviews

Bridgewater, NJ

ScenicDog-friendly

Pompton Valley Rail Trail - Mountainview Blvd Trailhead

4.7 ★★★★★ 14 reviews

Wayne, NJ

10 miPaved

Everett J. Faber Memorial Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 14 reviews

Wayne, NJ

PavedLit

Menantico Creek Preserve

4.3 ★★★★☆ 12 reviews

Vineland, NJ

Natural surfaceScenicDog-friendly

Pompton Valley Rail Trail - River Drive Trailhead

4.3 ★★★★☆ 9 reviews

Pompton Plains, NJ

Scenic

Barnegat Branch Trail

4.3 ★★★★☆ 6 reviews

Bayville, NJ

Middlesex Greenway, Metuchen Trailhead

4 ★★★★☆ 3 reviews

Metuchen, NJ

PavedDog-friendly

Middlesex Greenway, Woodbridge Trailhead

3.5 ★★★★☆ 2 reviews

Fords, NJ

Dog-friendly

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