Celebrate National Trails Day This Saturday!

MURPHY ADMINISTRATION ENCOURAGES PUBLIC TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL TRAILS DAY THIS SATURDAY BY JOINING IN HIKES AND OUTDOOR EVENTS  

(25/P29) TRENTON – Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette today invited the public to enjoy New Jersey’s natural beauty and celebrate the importance of healthy outdoor recreation by joining statewide hikes and events planned to mark National Trails Day this Saturday, June 7.

“Through a variety of activities planned at state parks and other venues across the state, National Trails Day provides an opportunity for the public to get outdoors, appreciate trails, discover new paths, breathe fresh air, have fun, and enjoy the solitude of nature,” Commissioner LaTourette said. “National Trails Day also gives us a chance to celebrate our commitment to preserving open space recreational resources so future generations may explore them and connect with New Jersey’s outdoors.”

Trails provide opportunities to improve physical and mental health, opportunities to study nature, greenways for wildlife conservation, links to New Jersey’s historic past, economic boosts to regional tourism, and even healthy alternative commuting options.

This year’s National Trails Day events include ample activities for all fitness and interest levels, running the spectrum from family-friendly scavenger hunts to a rugged hike along the Appalachian Trail.

“National Trails Day is a day for us to enjoy, advocate for, and give back to the trails that connect us to nature, to the places that we live, work, play, and go to school, and to each other,” said Elizabeth Dragon, Assistant Commissioner for Community Investment and Economic Revitalization. “Whether you're an avid hiker or simply looking to enjoy a leisurely walk surrounded by scenic landscapes, National Trails Day promises something for everyone. Mark your calendars and embark on an adventure that showcases the natural splendor across New Jersey.”

“New Jersey’s state parks, forests, historic sites, and recreation areas feature a remarkable variety of trails that highlight the state’s rich diversity of wildlife, plants, natural resources, and cultural heritage,” said John Cecil, Assistant Commissioner for State Parks, Forests & Historic Sites. “The State Park Service is proud to offer diverse programs across the state that invite everyone to get outside and discover these trails with the support of dedicated Park Service staff, community partners, and fellow nature enthusiasts. Come take a hike with us!

Hikes and Outdoor Recreation Events Highlighted

This year, 36 events are scheduled across the state to bring people together for a variety of trail-related activities, including family-friendly events, hikes, a kayak tour, and trail improvement projects. Here are some highlights:

• Get a good workout with a 6-mile hike along the rugged Appalachian Trail or an 8-mile trail run at High Point State Park;

• Discover wildlife after dark with an evening hike at Stokes State Forest;

• Take a crash course in hiking on the trails at Wharton State Forest;

• Enjoy a hike with friends at Cheesequake State Park, Brendan T. Byrne State Forest, Tall Pines State Preserve, Whitesbog Village Historic Site, Rutgers EcoPreserve or Barnegat Branch Trail;

• Go on a family-friendly scavenger hunt at Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park in Trenton;

• Celebrate the outdoors at a number of Essex County parks and reservations;

• Paddle around Sedge Island at Island Beach State Park;

• Learn about the history of the Civilian Conservation Corps at Parvin State Park, about the famous “Black Doctor of the Pines” at Dr. James Still Historic Site, or about Civil War heroine Arabella Barlow at Wallace House & Old Dutch Parsonage Historic Site;

• Give back to your favorite trails by volunteering at Double Trouble State Park, Washington Crossing State Park, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Eagle Rock Reservation or Black Run Preserve.

For a full list of DEP National Trails Day events, visit nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/nationaltrailsday/

To view a full list of National Trails Day events, visit the American Hiking Society at americanhiking.org/national-trails-day/find-an-event/

Trails as a Cornerstone of Outdoor Recreation

New Jersey's 2023 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan Outside, Together!, included extensive public outreach efforts about recreation preferences. Specifically, a stakeholder survey with over 14,000 respondents found that 78% of New Jerseyans identified trails as the state’s number one recreation priority.

Taking that public feedback into consideration, the DEP is continuing to improve access to quality trails, including those for people with disabilities. In April, the Murphy Administration announced a $131 million investment in open space preservation and outdoor recreation development funding for local governments and nonprofits, including many projects that will expand and improve the state’s system of trails.

This month, DEP’s State Parks, Forests, and Historic Sites program launched the first phase of an accessibility assessment for its trails, identifying areas where trails can be made more accessible and collecting data to help trail users of all abilities identify which trails are suited to their needs.

Following the acquisition of a former rail line through Essex and Hudson counties in 2022, DEP has been working with surrounding communities to plan and design its newest urban park, The Greenway. A groundbreaking for the first segment in Newark is planned for later this year.

DEP is also partnering with the New Jersey Department of Transportation to develop a series of statewide trail planning guidance documents, entitled the New Jersey Trails Playbook, intended to advance a statewide system of trails. Such initiatives help to increase affordable opportunities for outdoor recreation and active transportation, helping the state move toward a healthier, more equitable future.

Trails Abound Across the State

New Jersey has more than 4,000 miles of mapped public trails traversing diverse environments such as mountainous terrain, pine forests, river and stream corridors, coastal marshes, urban areas, and more. There are a variety of trail experience levels and user types for visitors, ranging from the Appalachian Trail in the Highlands and the Batona Trail in the Pinelands, to trails that meander around small county parks and out-of-the way nature preserves. They also include trails that link residents to their surrounding communities.

The first National Trails Day was celebrated in 1993 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the National Trails System Act of 1968, which established a national trails system to connect those of all abilities and backgrounds to nature, their history, and communities. Since the inception of National Trails Day, New Jersey has remained a national leader in planning and coordinating a wide array of events throughout the state, with the DEP earning the distinction of National Trails Day Champion three years in a row. 

Additional information on the Trails Program in New Jersey is available at dep.nj.gov/greenacres/trails-program-home/

Like New Jersey’s State Parks, Forests & Historic Sites page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/newjerseystateparks

Follow the New Jersey State Park Service on Instagram @newjerseystateparks

Follow the Green Acres Program on Instagram @njgreenacres

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