The Paulinskill Valley Trail (traillink.com/trail/paulinskill-valley-trail)

The Paulinskill Valley Trail follows a creek by the same name through a section of rural New Jersey.Aalong the 27-mile trail. Visitors will see plentiful wildlife, such as bear, bobcat, mink, and deer, along the path, and sightings of more than 100 species of birds have been documented. Fishing is also available in the Paulins Kill. The trail provides an elevated view of 3-mile-long Paulinskill Lake. The path crosses Swartswood Road/County Road 622 in 2.2 miles in the Paulinskill River Wildlife Management Area.

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Buttermilk Falls, Crater Lake, Hemlock Pond (njhiking.com/best-hikes-in-nj-buttermilk-falls)

Start at NJ’s highest waterfall then hike steeply uphill to the Appalachian Trail, Crater Lake, and Hemlock Pond.

7.2 miles – Moderate trail surface; steep in the beginning (so again at the end). Walking stick or trekking poles are helpful if you have them. Rocky sections but also a lot of easy woods roads.

• Super short: Just climb up the stairs around the falls and enjoy. You can continue on the BLUE trail at the top, but be aware it is quite steep right from the start and more than a stroll in the woods. Consider combining a stop at Buttermilk Falls with a short hike at Tillman Ravine on the way.
• Medium: Buttermilk Falls trail to an unmarked woods road to Hemlock Pond and return; roughly 5 miles.
• Alternate Medium: Good 6.4 loop to Rattlesnake Mtn, w/o Crater or Hemlock, is in Hiking New Jersey.
• Optional add-on: Silver Spray Falls (Hidden Falls), see below.

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Tillman Ravine (njhiking.com/tillman-ravine)

Shady hike in a pretty hemlock forest featuring nice cascades and a cemetery dating to the 1800s.

2.0 miles, dirt and roots, some rocks. A few small wooden bridges. Bit of a hill coming back up from the Lower trail.

• Shorter: Skip hiking to Walpack Cemetery.
• Longer: Add some of the Maple Trail accessed from the upper area of the ravine.
• Optional: Add a 2nd short hike at Van Campens Glen.
• Optional: Stop at Buttermilk Falls too (can be seen from the lot, without a hike).

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Appalachian Trail – Crater Lake to Blue Mountain (njhiking.com/appalachian-trail-crater-lake-blue-mountain)

Start at beautiful Crater Lake and then enjoy views along the Appalachian Trail to Rattlesnake, Bird, and Blue Mountains.

8.4 or 5.4 miles: Woods road at the beginning, then rugged and rocky trail; gradual elevation changes; short steep rocky section on the approach to Rattlesnake.

• 8.4 miles – To Blue Mountain out-and-back.
• 5.4 miles – To Rattlesnake Mountain out-and-back.
• Variation, short: 1.6 mile loop on the Crater Lake (ORANGE) only.

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Millbrook Village and Van Campens Glen (njhiking.com/millbrook-village-van-campens-glen)

View the Delaware River from atop a bluff, through scenic Van Campens Glen, and the historic buildings of Millbrook Village.

Trail surface: Moderate. Lots of woods roads on the first part; trail is very rocky and right at water’s edge through Van Campens Glen and could be slippery in wet or icy conditions.

• This route: 6.8 miles round trip
• Shorter: 4.4 miles roundtrip (roughly). Out-and-back along Orchard, Hamilton & Pioneer to where the river is visible through the trees.
• Short: 1 – 2 miles – hike through Van Campens Glen only.
• Short: 1.5 miles round trip (roughly). Coventry Pond trailhead is located at a smaller parking area just south of here. (We have not hiked this)

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