New Jersey has a number of trails with minimal obstacles. Some are very easy and others are wheelchair accessible. Here are just a few of them.
These links were found through Internet search. I would love to have some first-hand recommendations. With your help, we can share our knowledge with disabled people everywhere and also increase awareness of the need for more accessibility. Please e-mail me with your suggestions using the form in the sidebar.
Federal
State
Local
Private
Miscellaneous
Federal
Dingmans Falls in Delaware Water Gap Recreation Area ©Louisa Armbrust Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area The Delaware Water Gap national Recreation area is 67,00 acres of mountains and valleys, including 40 miles of the Middle Delaware River and 27 miles of the Appalachian Trail. There are waterfalls, rhododendron ravines, and hemlock forests.
Here is the Area website. Phone 570-426-2452
Map Accessibility
Dingmans Creek Trail A lovely 0.4 mile one way boardwalk trail takes you past the 80′ Silverthread Falls to Dingmans Falls which drop 130′. The trail is stroller and wheelchair accessible.
McDade Recreational Trail Parts of this trail are accessible, such as Smithfield Beach to Riverview and Bushkill Village to Jerry Lees. However, you should call the park, 570-426-2452 to be sure these sections are appropriate for you.
Pocono Environmental Education Center has a 1/4 mile rope-lined sensory trail.Gateway National Recreation Area
Gateway’s 27,000 acre area constitutes three geographic units: Sandy Hook, New Jersey; Jamaica Bay and Staten Island, New York City. This park was badly hit by Hurricane Sandy. Some areas are still closed. There are beach wheelchairs available at Jamaica Bay and Sandy Hook. Call ahead.
Here is Gateway’s website. Phone 718-354-4606
Staten Island. There are walking paths at all three Staten Island sites. Accessibility at Staten Island. Phone 718-354-4606
A paved and wheelchair-accessible Multi-Use Path begins at the entrance to Great Kills Park and extends 1.5 miles to the beach center.
Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. Try the Upland, East Pond and West Pond trails. Or hike in the back fort area of Fort Tilden. Here is a website by Steve Markos which describes the West Pond, and North and South Trails at Jamaica Bay. Accessibility at Jamaica Bay.
? West Pond Trail, 2.7 miles, looks from the photographs as if it might be wheelchair accessible. Call the Visitor Center 718-318-4340 to be sure.
Sandy Hook Accessibility at Sandy Hook. Visitor Center phone 732-872-5970.
Multi-use Pathway, 5miles, is wheelchair accessible.Great Egg Harbor National Scenic and Recreational River
The Great Egg Harbor River “gradually widens as it picks up the waters of 17 tributaries on its way to Great Egg Harbor and the Atlantic Ocean. Established by Congress in 1992, nearly all of this 129-mile river system rests within the Pinelands National Reserve (“Pine Barrens”). Their website mentions hiking and nature walks as activities in this area, but gives no information about where these are or about accessibility.
Here is their website. Here are assorted maps, but they don’t show trails. Headquarters’ phone number is 215-597-9175.
State
Bass River State Forest
“Lake Absegami, a 67-acre lake created in the 1930’s, is the center of the Forest’s recreational activities and provides an area for swimming and a serene setting for boating and canoeing.” The Forest has eight easy walking (non-ADA accessible) trails from 1 to 3.2 miles. All trails start at the second parking lot at the beach. A trail brochure is available at the office. Map and description of trails. Phone 609-296-1114. Here is the Forest Website.
? A self-guided 0.5 mile trail through the 128 acre Absegami Natural Area passes through a pine/oak woods and a small Atlantic white cedar bog. It includes a wooden foot bridge with benches. I have not found a description of just how easy (or not) this trail is. Call to learn more.Brendan T. Byrne State Forest
“…hikers can follow the sandy trails and roads that crisscross the forest, sometimes passing near the remains of stone or brick structures or where large depressions indicate the location of what was once a bustling town. Pure, iron-rich streams flow through acres of swampy land covered with dense stands of Atlantic white cedar.” The park used to be called Lebanon State Forest.
Here is the Forest website. Trail Map Contact: 609-726-1191
Cranberry Trail 1.1 mile loop. The blog South Jersey Trails has some images of it.
The sandy, pine needle-covered trails to Pakim Pond and Mt. Misery appear to be quite easy, although maybe longer than you would want to complete. They are described in nj hiking.Cape May Point State Park
The park’s 244 acres on the southern tip of New Jersey has “…constantly changing shoreline, dunes, freshwater coastal marsh and ponds, forested islands and varied uplands.”
Here is the Park website. Phone 609-884-2159
Red Trail “is .5 miles, and is wheel chair accessible. This trail offers hikers access to both the lighthouse pond west and east. Each pond has a blind or platform at the water’s edge to view wading birds, ducks, swans, as well as the occasional osprey…..”
There are two other easy, short trails – the 1.5 mile Yellow Trail and 2.0 mile Blue trail. You may need to step up to and down from boardwalks, but I was told by the attendant at the visitor’s center that they are in no way strenuous.Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park
“The Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park is one of central New Jersey’s most popular recreational corridors for canoeing, jogging, hiking, bicycling, fishing and horseback riding. The canal and towpath are part of the National Recreational Trail System. The 70-mile linear park is a valuable wildlife corridor connecting fields and forests.”
Here is the Park website. 609-924-5705 Map
“Both the Main Canal Trail, which runs 34 miles in length, and the Feeder Canal Trail at 31.5 miles are ADA accessible.”
Local
Private
Duke Farms
Here is their website. Interactive Map Map layer of accessible trails Trip Advisor Reviews
Duke Farms is “located on 2,740 acres in Hillsborough, Somerset County, N.J.” There are “18 miles of paved, gravel, wood-chipped and mown-grass trails and pathways through a variety of habitats.” James Hanson, their helpful manager of digital media and GIS, wrote that “The only place with a moderate slope is around the Old Foundation, otherwise all the paved roads and paths are relatively flat. The Farm Barn Orientation Center and Orchid Range both contain automatic push-button doors and handicap restrooms.”
Miscellaneous
Hiking New Jersey Trails Finder This is a comprehensive website with information about and links to many hiking trails in New Jersey. Lengths, ease, and GPS coordinates are given and the links take you to detailed descriptions.
Nature For The Blind has a directory of Braille trails for almost every state in the US and for many other countries.
The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference has a searchable site for finding hiking trails. By choosing “Handicap Accessible” I came up with a list of links to nine Accessible trails
The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy lists wheelchair accessible trails in New Jersey.
Short Hikes in New Jersey. Here is a nice site describing “Trail maps, photos, videos, and info for some trails in New Jersey that are easy or short. These trails are either under 4 miles and/or easy – suitable for beginning hikers or anyone looking for an easy day hike.”