New Jersey · Hiking · Near Hackettstown

Coursen Trail

Coursen TrailPhoto: cm195902, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
1.2 mi
one way
119 ft
climb
1,007 ft
high point
Point to point
route
Apr, Jun–Oct
best months

Coursen Trail is a short, easy hike in Stokes State Forest in northern New Jersey, managed by the State Department of Natural Resources. The trail is about 1.2 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 119 feet, and it is rated easy. The climb is front-loaded, with the steepest stretch at about 0.9 miles in, where the grade reaches 12%. The trail starts at roughly 974 feet and peaks at about 1007 feet before descending slightly to around 905 feet at the end. Late spring and early fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show May highs around 71°F and September highs around 74°F, while winter brings highs in the mid-30s and a few snowy days each month from December through February. Bikes and horses are both allowed on the trail. Stony Lake Trail starts just 0.1 mile away, and Lead Mine Trail and Tower Trail are within a mile. High Point State Park, about 9 miles off, offers rock climbing.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Shotwell Camping Area

    Campground

    Campground · 1.2 mi from the trail
  • If it rainsZeete, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    Sterling Hill Mining Museum

    Museum

    Museum · 12 mi from Hackettstown

    Zinc mine and museum in Ogdensburg, New Jersey

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Zeete, CC BY-SA 4.0 (commons)

More in Hackettstown
  • Best time to go · Apr, Jun–Oct

    Best time to visit Coursen Trail

    Best months: April and June–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      35° / 17°

      11 wet · 5 snow

    2. Feb

      38° / 18°

      9 wet · 5 snow

    3. Mar

      47° / 25°

      11 wet · 3 snow

    4. Apr

      60° / 36°

      12 wet

    5. May

      71° / 46°

      13 wet

    6. Jun

      78° / 55°

      11 wet

    7. Jul

      83° / 60°

      11 wet

    8. Aug

      81° / 59°

      11 wet

    9. Sep

      74° / 51°

      10 wet

    10. Oct

      63° / 40°

      11 wet

    11. Nov

      51° / 31°

      10 wet · 1 snow

    12. Dec

      40° / 23°

      11 wet · 3 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Sussex 3 Wnw, NJ, 5.9 mi away at 667 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Lead Mine TrailPhoto: Garden State Hiker, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

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Red Maple TrailPhoto: j-dub1980(THANK YOU FOR 100k+ Views), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

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Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors