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Hilly Trails & Hill Workouts in New Jersey

New Jersey has 104 trails with hills and elevation in this directory, across 83 cities and towns — Princeton, Closter, Oakland, Boonton and 79 more. Climbing and vert — hill repeats, and the strength flat running never builds.

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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Garret Mountain Reservation

4.7 ★★★★★ 5,859 reviews

Woodland Park, NJ

LoopShadedScenic

Hilltop 568-acre park around Lambert Castle, featuring rich bird life & trails with city views.

Palisades Interstate Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 5,817 reviews

Alpine, NJ

30 miShadedScenic

2,500-acre riverfront park offers 30 miles of hiking & ski trails, playgrounds & a nature sanctuary.

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.

Cheesequake State Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 3,880 reviews

Matawan, NJ

Scenic

1,610-acre park with a nature center & camping area offering biking/hiking trails & a fishing lake.

Laurel Acres Park

4.8 ★★★★★ 2,592 reviews

Mt Laurel Township, NJ

PavedScenicDog-friendly

Community park with a small fishing lake & a nature trail, plus baseball, volleyball & a dog run.

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.

Ramapo Valley County Reservation

4.8 ★★★★★ 2,006 reviews

Mahwah, NJ

80 miScenicDog-friendly

Vast park on 3,313 acres with rugged trails & dog-friendly walking paths, a pond, reservoir & views.

Hartshorne Woods Park

4.8 ★★★★★ 1,336 reviews

Highlands, NJ

MixedShadedScenicDog-friendly

Forested park home to WWII-era bunkers, popular for 14 miles of hiking, biking & equestrian trails.

Gloucester Township Community Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 1,254 reviews

Sicklerville, NJ

PavedLitScenicDog-friendly

Large park with playgrounds and a baseball field as well as areas for hiking and mountain biking.

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.

Hedden Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 1,106 reviews

Randolph, NJ

PavedScenicDog-friendly

Park provides picnic areas, riverside paths, a 6-acre lake, trout streams, trails & a playground.

State Line Lookout, Palisades Interstate Park Commission

4.7 ★★★★★ 1,095 reviews

Closter, NJ

Scenic

Rancocas State Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 994 reviews

Westampton Township, NJ

2 miScenicDog-friendly

Forest lands with trails for hiking, running & cycling, plus a nature center with outdoor programs.

Hemlock Falls

4.6 ★★★★★ 972 reviews

South Orange Village, NJ

ScenicDog-friendly

Park with kid-friendly hiking trails, tree markings, and a waterfall.

Mill Creek Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 920 reviews

Willingboro, NJ

LoopPavedScenic

This 14-acre park offers nature trails, playgrounds, a pavilion & picnic tables.

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.

Maurice River Bluffs Preserve

4.8 ★★★★★ 701 reviews

Millville, NJ

LoopMixedScenicDog-friendly

5 mi. of forested trails with picnic spots, river views & a bird blind on 535 protected acres.

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.

Sourland Mountain Hiking Trail Hillsborough

4.7 ★★★★★ 641 reviews

Hillsborough Township, NJ

LoopNatural surface

Park featuring boulder formations as well as hiking trails, a few of which are easy and a few of which are steep.

Norvin Green State Forest

4.7 ★★★★★ 636 reviews

Ringwood, NJ

LoopNatural surfaceScenic

Bird & wildlife sanctuary with trail system for hiking & scenic views, plus boating & fishing.

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.

Rifle Camp Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 623 reviews

Woodland Park, NJ

Natural surfaceScenicDog-friendly

A 225-acre park with hiking trails, an amphitheater, fitness course & an astronomical observatory.

Schooley's Mountain Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 584 reviews

Long Valley, NJ

4.4 miNatural surfaceScenic

Large park with a lake, floating bridge, horse trails & sports fields, plus fishing & ice-skating.

Connolly Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 538 reviews

Voorhees Township, NJ

ScenicDog-friendly

Community park offering a playground, a gazebo & separate fenced areas for large & small dogs.

High Mountain Park Preserve

4.6 ★★★★★ 537 reviews

Wayne, NJ

2 miMixedLitScenic

Scenic trails for hiking & mountain biking plus skyline views of Newark & Manhattan from the summit.

Tall Pines State Preserve

4.4 ★★★★☆ 487 reviews

Sewell, NJ

MixedScenicDog-friendly

A former golf course, this 110-acre nature preserve offers hiking/biking trails & bird watching.

Mill Hill Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 486 reviews

Trenton, NJ

ShadedScenic

City park with a walking path, bridge, and vendors, plus events such as a farmers market.

Crystal Lake Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 475 reviews

Bordentown, NJ

MixedShadedScenicDog-friendly

This rustic locale with forests, trails & a lake offers fishing, horseback riding & bird-watching.

Walters Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 468 reviews

Phillipsburg, NJ

Lit

Spacious park with a playground, sports courts and a pool, plus picnic tables.

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.

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.

Palisades Interstate Park Trail

4.8 ★★★★★ 355 reviews

Closter, NJ

30 miLoopNatural surfaceScenic

Scenic outdoor experience destination offering hiking trails, picnic areas and lookout points.

Baldpate Mountain

4.6 ★★★★★ 349 reviews

Titusville, NJ

LoopNatural surfaceShadedScenic

Network of trails for hiking and mountain biking featuring varying difficulty, views, and a public restroom.

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.

Sunrise Mountain Overlook

4.9 ★★★★★ 292 reviews

Branchville, NJ

8 miScenicDog-friendly

Scenic hiking destination and picnic spot with trails and a mountain overlook offering panoramic vistas.

Memorial Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 311 reviews

Cinnaminson, NJ

LitDog-friendly

Hofstra Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 298 reviews

Prospect Park, NJ

ScenicDog-friendly

Wood Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 297 reviews

Cinnaminson, NJ

Public park featuring athletic facilities such as baseball fields and basketball and tennis courts, plus a playground.

Ceres Park Back Lot

4.6 ★★★★★ 285 reviews

Sewell, NJ

MixedLitScenicDog-friendly

Popular park with tree-filled trails, for hiking, mountain biking and dog-walking.

Stairway To Heaven

4.8 ★★★★★ 261 reviews

Vernon Township, NJ

MixedScenicDog-friendly

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

Apshawa Preserve

4.5 ★★★★★ 276 reviews

West Milford, NJ

LoopScenic

Relaxed nature preserve with well maintained walking paths, beautiful lakes, waterfalls, and a reservoir.

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.

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.

Chimney Rock Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 230 reviews

Martinsville, NJ

Natural surfaceScenic

Relaxed park featuring wooded trails for hiking & biking, along with several softball fields.

Polifly Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 221 reviews

Hackensack, NJ

PavedScenic

Park, playground and tennis courts, plus a splash park with water spray features.

Blueberry Hill Trail

4.8 ★★★★★ 187 reviews

Gibbsboro, NJ

MixedScenicDog-friendly

Nature area with paved paths, biking options and benches, plus views from the hill.

Winter's Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 195 reviews

Mahwah, NJ

ShadedScenic

Popular park, many say, featuring a playground with swings and slides, plus a pond with ducks and geese.

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.

Mountainside Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 191 reviews

Pompton Plains, NJ

LoopNatural surfaceScenicDog-friendly

Park with trails and Boy Scout encampments leading to a summit offering NYC views on clear days.

Nichols Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 181 reviews

Nutley, NJ

ShadedScenic

Relaxed park featuring a playground, basketball court and a baseball field.

Hilltop Reservation

4.6 ★★★★★ 176 reviews

Verona, NJ

LoopPavedScenic

County park offering multiple woodland trails & hillside lawns frequented by migrating birds.

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.

Sparta Glen Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 166 reviews

Sparta, NJ

MixedScenicDog-friendly

Family-friendly hiking area with steep climbs and views of Lake Mohawk.

Mountain Way

4.6 ★★★★★ 161 reviews

Morris Plains, NJ

Natural surface

Mountaintop recreational area providing a playground, trails & volleyball & basketball courts.

D & R Canal - Rocky Hill

4.8 ★★★★★ 151 reviews

Kingston, NJ

LoopNatural surfaceScenic

Nature preserve offering biking and walking paths along the Delaware and Raritan Canal.

Wyanokie High Point

4.8 ★★★★★ 149 reviews

Wanaque, NJ

LoopScenic

Hiking area with a well-marked 2.3-mile trail leading to a scenic overlook of New Jersey.

Quarry by Blueberry Hill Trail

4.7 ★★★★★ 151 reviews

Gibbsboro, NJ

PavedScenic

Hiking, jogging and biking spot with a quarry and wooded areas.

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.

Hartshorne Woods Park, Buttermilk Valley Entrance

4.9 ★★★★★ 136 reviews

Atlantic Highlands, NJ

LoopNatural surfaceLitScenic

Bike-friendly park with walking paths and hiking trails.

Tatum Park, Holland Activity Center

4.7 ★★★★★ 134 reviews

Middletown Township, NJ

6.5 miScenicDog-friendly

Kid-friendly park with picnic tables, well-marked hiking trails, and a public restroom.

Cheesequake State Park Trailhead

4.8 ★★★★★ 126 reviews

Matawan, NJ

LitScenicDog-friendly

Relaxed, kid-friendly state park offering a selection of trails through wooded terrain to a beach area.

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.

Saddler's Woods Conservation Association

4.5 ★★★★★ 117 reviews

Haddon Township, NJ

PavedScenicDog-friendly

Historic, well-preserved woodland featuring several trails, plus old trees.

Camp Kimble, Oldmans Creek Preserve

4.8 ★★★★★ 108 reviews

Swedesboro, NJ

Scenic

Nature area offers peaceful, tree-lined paths for hiking and canoe launch sites and fire rings.

Crows Woods Trails

4.5 ★★★★★ 114 reviews

Haddonfield, NJ

LoopScenicDog-friendly

Relaxed local park (also for dog walking) featuring winding paths, streams and a rope swing.

Greenway Meadows Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 108 reviews

Princeton, NJ

Scenic

Park for soccer games, bird-watching and running, along with a playground and hills for sledding.

Roaring Rock Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 108 reviews

Washington, NJ

0.7 miLoopNatural surfaceLit

Park with kid-friendly hiking trails, jogging paths, and wildlife.

Cushetunk Mountain Preserve

4.6 ★★★★★ 99 reviews

Lebanon, NJ

1 miLoopScenic

Nature preserve with well-marked and shaded hiking trails, including a challenging uphill climb.

Canterbury Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 101 reviews

Montclair, NJ

Small, peaceful park featuring a playground, a basketball court and a tennis court.

Dickerson Mine Preserve

4.4 ★★★★☆ 100 reviews

Mine Hill Township, NJ

Natural surface

A former Revolutionary War mine site, this 280-acre woodland is now a public park with trails.

Kresson Trails

4.2 ★★★★☆ 101 reviews

Cherry Hill Township, NJ

LoopNatural surfaceScenicDog-friendly

Area featuring many trails for hiking and biking, as well as scenic views.

John Clyde Native Grassland Preserve

4.7 ★★★★★ 85 reviews

Princeton, NJ

10 miNatural surfaceScenicDog-friendly

Open meadows and woodlands, home to wildlife and wildflowers, crisscrossed by trails.

Ramapo Water Tower Ruins

4.8 ★★★★★ 76 reviews

Oakland, NJ

ScenicDog-friendly

Ruined mansion atop a mountain, with hiking trails and a water tower.

John Witherspoon Woods

4.7 ★★★★★ 75 reviews

Princeton, NJ

Natural surface

100 Steps

4.6 ★★★★★ 67 reviews

Jersey City, NJ

Scenic

Hiking area characterized by its stairs.

Parsons Pond Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 65 reviews

Franklin Lakes, NJ

Dog-friendly

Recreational area featuring walk trails, baseball fields, and facilities for tennis and sledding.

Kincaid Woods

4.6 ★★★★★ 55 reviews

Boonton, NJ

Natural surfaceDog-friendly

Well-maintained trail system that features a trail to Pyramid Mountain and kid-friendly options.

Dismal Harmony Natural Area

4.7 ★★★★★ 47 reviews

Morristown, NJ

2 miLoopScenic

Park includes diverse wildlife habitats, rock ledges, a pair of streams & extensive hiking trails.

Morris Canal Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 48 reviews

Ledgewood, NJ

PavedScenicDog-friendly

Park of wooded land with a lake, hiking trails and an old Morris Canal.

Arney's Mount Park

4.9 ★★★★★ 44 reviews

Columbus, NJ

45 miLoopMixedShaded

Scenic park with a 2-mile paved loop trail, suitable for walking, biking, and rollerblading.

Clayton Park

4.8 ★★★★★ 44 reviews

Cream Ridge, NJ

6 miNatural surfaceDog-friendly

Hemlock Falls Trail Head

4.7 ★★★★★ 43 reviews

Short Hills, NJ

Natural surfaceScenicDog-friendly

Bunker Hill Trails

4.6 ★★★★★ 37 reviews

Cherry Hill Township, NJ

BoardwalkDog-friendly

Wildcat Ridge

4.4 ★★★★☆ 38 reviews

Rockaway, NJ

Scenic

Hartshorne Woods Park, Rocky Point entrance

4.9 ★★★★★ 34 reviews

Highlands, NJ

Natural surfaceLitScenicDog-friendly

Hicks Tract Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 31 reviews

Stirling, NJ

PavedDog-friendly

Ash Brook Reservation Hiking Trail

3.3 ★★★☆☆ 42 reviews

Scotch Plains, NJ

MixedScenic

Hiking trail through a muddy swampy environment with plenty of bugs.

Frost Woods

4.8 ★★★★★ 23 reviews

East Brunswick, NJ

Scenic

Sunset Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 25 reviews

Rutherford, NJ

Mt. Laurel State Park

4.3 ★★★★☆ 24 reviews

Mt Laurel Township, NJ

Bunker Hill Natural Area

4.5 ★★★★★ 22 reviews

Princeton, NJ

Natural surface

Garvey Springs Trail

4.4 ★★★★☆ 22 reviews

Columbia, NJ

LoopScenic

Highlands Trail Overlook

4.6 ★★★★★ 18 reviews

Byram Township, NJ

LoopScenic

Galloway Nature Preserve

4.5 ★★★★★ 17 reviews

Galloway, NJ

Loop

Atkins’s Glen

4.3 ★★★★☆ 16 reviews

Park Ridge, NJ

Natural surfaceShaded

The Hill

4.5 ★★★★★ 8 reviews

Maplewood, NJ

Blue Dot Trailhead

5 ★★★★★ 5 reviews

Sussex, NJ

LoopNatural surfaceDog-friendly

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