New Jersey is beautiful in the fall! If you want to make the most of that beauty, plan an autumn day trip to one of the fantastic Garden State locations featured below. You’ll find state and county parks, nature centers, hiking trails, and more! You’ll see a few popular picks along with places you may not have heard of yet. Destinations are listed in no particular order.
- Norvin Green State Forest, Passaic County
Image: NJHiking.Com Hike up to Wyanokie High Point for these breathtaking views!
- Oldman’s Creek Preserve, Salem County
Ted Van Berg/Google Discover an old-growth forest, beginner-friendly hiking trails, a historic homestead, and more. This property is owned and managed by the South Jersey Land & Water Trust. They do so much to preserve our farmland, pinelands, and open spaces.
- High Point State Park, Sussex County
TomH2323/Flickr Home to the highest point in New Jersey, this park offers lakes, ponds, mountain views, magical trails, and a monument.
- Historic Longstreet Farm, Monmouth County
AndyKazie/iStock/Getty Images Plus Collection/Getty Images Step back into the 1890s and experience what life was like for rural families of the time. You’ll find frequent agricultural and domestic demonstrations from blacksmithing to felting and woodworking to potato harvesting.
- Mount Tammany, Warren County
Nicholas A Tonelli/Flickr Enjoy spectacular views of the Delaware Water Gap when you visit this striking mountain. If you’re up for a challenging hike, head here.
- Parvin State Park, Salem County
jplenio/Pixabay You’ll find both pine forests and swamp hardwood forests at this picturesque park.
- Closter Nature Center, Bergen County
Moelyn Photos/Moment Collection/Getty Images Find a variety of short and easy trails at this family-friendly non-profit nature center.
- Rancocas State Park, Burlington County
From A Google User/Google This beautiful park along the Rancocas Creek offers hiking trails and a nature center.
- Davidson’s Mill Pond Park, Middlesex County
Helene_Titsch/Flickr A mostly undeveloped park, fishing and boating are common here.
- Wharton State Forest, Burlington, Camden, and Atlantic Counties
George Schnackenberg Jr./Flickr This massive state park spans three counties and is a gem in the Pinelands. It offers everything, from historic villages to abandoned ruins and swimming lakes to kayaking.
- Ramapo Valley County Reservation, Bergen County
Moelyn Photos/Moment Collection/Getty Images Scarlet Oak Pond is stunning when framed with fall foliage.
- Dallenbach Lake, Middlesex County
Thomas Kloch/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images Find this lovely lake next to Crystal Springs Family Water Park.
- Palisades Interstate Park, Bergen County
Johnrob/iStock/Getty Images Plus Collection/Getty Images Enjoy striking cliffs and colorful foliage along the Hudson River.
- Winslow Wildlife Management Area, Camden and Gloucester Counties
South Jersey Land & Water Trust You’ll find rivers, lakes, blue holes, and moderate trails at this South Jersey park.
- Speedwell Park, Morris County
Ultima_Gaina/iStock/Getty Images Plus Collection/Getty Images Don’t miss the beautiful Speedwell Lake and Dam.
- Hedden County Park, Morris County
Ultima_Gaina/iStock/Getty Images Plus Collection/Getty Images Enjoy lakes, ponds, picnic areas, paved biking trails, and more.
- Historic Smithville Park & Smith’s Woods, Burlington County
AndyKazie/iStock/Getty Images Plus Collection/Getty Images Not to be confused with the charming Historic Smithville Village in Atlantic County, this gorgeous park offers a historic mansion, floating walkway, butterfly garden and so much more. It’s a perfect autumn day trip destination.
- Thompson Park, Monmouth County
Leembe/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images Thompson Park has trails, tennis courts, and an incredible creative arts center.
- Blueberry Hill, Camden County
Orest Ukrainsky/Flickr The moderate Blueberry Hill Trail comes in at 1.8 miles and offers quarry views.
The most difficult thing about writing this list was stopping…it could have gone on forever. Is there any place in New Jersey that isn’t beautiful in the fall? Ringwood State Park, Double Trouble State Park, Cheesequake State Park, and Estell Manor are equally stunning. And then you’ve got Princeton, Fort Mott, Red Bank, and Cape May…all magical. Share your favorite fall destinations in the comments and consider exploring other state parks in New Jersey, not on this list.
Image: NJHiking.Com
Hike up to Wyanokie High Point for these breathtaking views!
Ted Van Berg/Google
Discover an old-growth forest, beginner-friendly hiking trails, a historic homestead, and more. This property is owned and managed by the South Jersey Land & Water Trust. They do so much to preserve our farmland, pinelands, and open spaces.
TomH2323/Flickr
Home to the highest point in New Jersey, this park offers lakes, ponds, mountain views, magical trails, and a monument.
AndyKazie/iStock/Getty Images Plus Collection/Getty Images
Step back into the 1890s and experience what life was like for rural families of the time. You’ll find frequent agricultural and domestic demonstrations from blacksmithing to felting and woodworking to potato harvesting.
Nicholas A Tonelli/Flickr
Enjoy spectacular views of the Delaware Water Gap when you visit this striking mountain. If you’re up for a challenging hike, head here.
jplenio/Pixabay
You’ll find both pine forests and swamp hardwood forests at this picturesque park.
Moelyn Photos/Moment Collection/Getty Images
Find a variety of short and easy trails at this family-friendly non-profit nature center.
From A Google User/Google
This beautiful park along the Rancocas Creek offers hiking trails and a nature center.
Helene_Titsch/Flickr
A mostly undeveloped park, fishing and boating are common here.
George Schnackenberg Jr./Flickr
This massive state park spans three counties and is a gem in the Pinelands. It offers everything, from historic villages to abandoned ruins and swimming lakes to kayaking.
Scarlet Oak Pond is stunning when framed with fall foliage.
Thomas Kloch/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images
Find this lovely lake next to Crystal Springs Family Water Park.
Johnrob/iStock/Getty Images Plus Collection/Getty Images
Enjoy striking cliffs and colorful foliage along the Hudson River.
South Jersey Land & Water Trust
You’ll find rivers, lakes, blue holes, and moderate trails at this South Jersey park.
Ultima_Gaina/iStock/Getty Images Plus Collection/Getty Images
Don’t miss the beautiful Speedwell Lake and Dam.
Ultima_Gaina/iStock/Getty Images Plus Collection/Getty Images
Enjoy lakes, ponds, picnic areas, paved biking trails, and more.
Not to be confused with the charming Historic Smithville Village in Atlantic County, this gorgeous park offers a historic mansion, floating walkway, butterfly garden and so much more. It’s a perfect autumn day trip destination.
Leembe/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images
Thompson Park has trails, tennis courts, and an incredible creative arts center.
Orest Ukrainsky/Flickr
The moderate Blueberry Hill Trail comes in at 1.8 miles and offers quarry views.
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Address: Norvin Green State Forest, Bloomingdale, NJ 07465, USAAddress: Oldmans Creek, New Jersey, USAAddress: High Point State Park, 1480 NJ-23, Sussex, NJ 07461, USAAddress: 44 Longstreet Rd, Holmdel, NJ 07733, USAAddress: Mount Tammany, Knowlton Township, NJ 07832, USAAddress: Parvin State Park, 701 Almond Rd, Pittsgrove, NJ 08318, USAAddress: 154 Ruckman Rd, Closter, NJ 07624, USAAddress: Rancocas State Park, Powhatan Indian Reservation Dr, Hainesport, NJ 08036, USAAddress: Davidson’s Mill Pond Park, Riva Ave, North Brunswick Township, NJ 08902, USAAddress: Wharton State Forest, 31 Batsto Rd, Hammonton, NJ 08037, USAAddress: Ramapo Valley County Reservation, 608 Ramapo Valley Rd, Mahwah, NJ 07430, USAAddress: Dallenbach Ln, East Brunswick, NJ 08816, USAAddress: Palisades Interstate Park, Alpine, NJ 07620, USAAddress: Atsion Batsto Rd, Hammonton, NJ 08037, USAAddress: Speedwell Lake Park, Morristown, NJ 07960, USAAddress: Hawthorne Ave, Dover, NJ 07801, USAAddress: Historic Smithville Park, 803 Smithville Rd, Eastampton Township, NJ 08060, USAAddress: Thompson Park, 805 Newman Springs Rd, Lincroft, NJ 07738, USAAddress: 50 Haddonfield-Berlin Rd, Gibbsboro, NJ 08026, USA
