Ten Great Hikes In North Jersey

With the economy still tight, residents may not be able to go on their annual vacations to far off places like they used to. So instead, why not stay local and take the family for a hike instead. To help you in your quest to enjoy the outdoors, Patch has put together a list of things you’ll need first and where you can go as well.

What You Need

The main thing you’ll need to go hiking is of course a sturdy pair of boots – don’t try hiking in sandals or flip-flops because if you trip or fall, then you’re next trip will be to the ER for treatment of a broken toe or some other injury to your foot or ankle.

Hiking boots come in two options: a high top for better ankle support or low top for comfort. Military boots are also good for hiking, but are heavy and need to be broken in prior to your adventure. Boots are also a necessity since snakes and spiders are a common occurrence in the Northeast, but whichever boot you opt for, just make sure you can tuck the bottom of your pants into them so that a tick can’t sneak onto your leg. If wearing a low top boot, grab some duct tape and tape the bottom of your pants closed around your leg instead.

Then there is the Ten Essentials that The Mountaineers advocate you have with you while hiking: amap, a compass (optionally with a GPS receiver), sunglasses, sunscreen, some food and water, clothes, flashlight, first aid kit, fire starter, matches and knife. Insect repellent, a repair kit (with duct tape and basic sewing materials), tweezers and a cell phone are also highly recommended. All of your gear should fit in a backpack and be easily reached in case of an emergency.

Hazards of Hiking

There are a few hazards that come with hiking – mainly wandering off the trail and becoming lost, injuring your foot or ankle, being bitten by an animal or dehydration. Above all, stay together while hiking - you should never hike by yourself.

If you do become lost, first of all Do Not Panic. Remain calm and begin by looking at your compass and map to determine where you may be – if nothing else, determine which direction is north. Secondly, check to see if you have cell phone service to call for help. If there is a clearing near where you are standing, move into the clearing so that emergency help can locate you easily.

Animal attacks in the wild are rare but do occur. Regularly making noise while you hike will alert any animals in the area that you are nearby. Snakes and spiders are harder to spot (and so are ), but if you feel like you have been bitten, have a friend or whoever is with you check for bite marks.

Tick checks can be done once your have returned to your vehicle – ticks need to be removed carefully with a pair of tweezers. Make sure to contact your doctor if you have been bitten by a tick and begin feeling flu-like symptoms following the next few days.

Where to Go

1. Wanaque Ridge Trail  in Ramapo Mountain State Forest – considered a moderate hike, there are extensive trails and junctions.
2. Skylands Manor - Ilgenstein Rock.Erskine Lookout  in Ringwood State Park - another moderate hike with rugged areas.
3. Ramapo Valley County Reservation  in Bergen County - also a moderate hike with some hills, rocky sections and stream crossings.
4. Alpine Boat Basin and the Hudson River near Cresskill - easy to moderate trail, can be slippery due to closeness to the river
5. Hackensack Meadowlands in Lyndhurst - easy due to the flat terrain
6. Palisades Interstate Park and the Long Path in Englewood - easy route along the GW Bridge
7. Urban and Suburban: Hudson River and Jersey Palisades in Fort Lee - easy hike from GW Bridge down to Weehawken Ferry
8. High Mountain Loop in Wayne - moderate with few rough spots
9. High Mountain Preserve in Franklin Lakes - moderate with few rough spots
10. Campgaw Mountain Reservation in Mahwah - easy to moderate

Advanced hikers can head to Bear Mountain, NY and take on Harriman State Park.