NEW JERSEY — The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is inviting residents to celebrate National Trails Day on Saturday, June 6, by participating in guided hikes, trail projects and outdoor activities at parks, forests and historic sites throughout the state.
The statewide celebration will feature 30 events, including 22 hosted at state-owned properties and eight at local parks and recreation areas. Activities range from guided nature walks and trail runs to volunteer projects and community planning sessions.
“National Trails Day provides an opportunity for people of all ages and abilities to experience New Jersey’s beauty and the benefits of hiking and being outdoors,” said Department Environmental Protection Acting Commissioner Ed Potosnak, who will participate in National Trails Day festivities. “Despite being the most densely populated state, New Jersey offers an abundance and diversity of trails at state parks and forests, county and local parks, greenways, and lands managed by nonprofit groups. Get out and enjoy.”
Events are scheduled at locations including Brendan T. Byrne State Forest, Stokes State Forest, Liberty State Park, Cape May Point State Park, Cheesequake State Park, Whitesbog Village Historic Site, D&R Canal State Park and Parvin State Park.
Among the featured activities are a guided walk along the Sensory Awareness Trail at the Forest Resource Education Center in Jackson, a community visioning session along the future Bloomfield segment of New Jersey’s newest state park, trail maintenance projects and organized hikes, runs and bicycle rides.
National Trails Day, established by the American Hiking Society in 1993, promotes outdoor recreation and stewardship of trails across the country. New Jersey has been recognized as a National Trails Day Champion for three consecutive years.
State officials said New Jersey offers more than 4,200 miles of publicly accessible trails, providing opportunities for residents and visitors to explore natural, historic and recreational resources.
“New Jersey trails provide opportunities to see wildlife, different plant and tree species, and spend quiet time in nature,” said John Cecil, Assistant Commissioner for State Parks, Forests & Historic Sites. “For these reasons, it is important that we continue to ensure that people of all abilities can both access and experience New Jersey’s amazing natural resources.”
The DEP also highlighted ongoing efforts to improve trail accessibility. In 2025, the agency launched a statewide assessment of trail accessibility throughout state parks and forests. To date, approximately 110 miles of trails in central and southern New Jersey have been evaluated for accessibility standards, with additional assessments planned in northern New Jersey later this year.
Officials said information gathered from the assessments is being incorporated into state trail maps, park websites and the Trail Tracker app to help visitors identify trails that meet their accessibility needs.
The recently upgraded Sensory Awareness Trail in Jackson is among the projects benefiting from accessibility improvements. Enhancements include a permeable trail surface, upgraded guide rope for visitors with visual impairments, new benches and an accessible trailhead kiosk featuring Braille information, a 3D topographic map and audio commentary.
The DEP also continues work on New Jersey’s newest state park, a nine-mile greenway being developed along a former rail corridor through Essex and Hudson counties. A walk and community visioning session is planned in Bloomfield as part of National Trails Day activities.
“Our goal is to support high-quality open space and recreational opportunities for all New Jersey residents and visitors,” said Elizabeth Dragon, Assistant Commissioner for Community Investment and Economic Revitalization. “Trails and greenways are often an opportunity to connect to open space, but in many cases, they are linear parks themselves – serving as economic engines that allow communities to safely walk and bike to their destinations while experiencing the restorative power of nature.”
A complete list of National Trails Day events is available through the DEP and the American Hiking Society.
