New Jersey · Hiking · Near Hackettstown

Limestone Trail

Limestone TrailPhoto: _jmeeter, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
0.5 mi
round trip
245 ft
climb
520 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Apr–Oct
best months

Limestone Trail is a short, easy out-and-back hike in New Jersey, about half a mile from the town of Paulins Kill. The route is just under a mile long, with a total elevation gain of about 11 feet, so it's a gentle walk that can be done in a few minutes. The trail rises from a low point of about 494 feet to a high of about 520 feet, and the steepest stretch comes early on, around 0.16 miles in, with a grade of about 5 percent. That makes it an easy outing for anyone looking to stretch their legs close to town. For comfortable weather, late spring and early fall are the best bets. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Newton run to highs around 70°F in May and 75°F in September, while July highs reach about 84°F. Several other trails sit right next door. Bear Claw Trail and Duck Pond Trail are each about 0.1 mile away, and Passage Trail is about 0.7 mile off. Farther afield, the Delaware River Water Trail is about 8.4 miles away for paddlers.

Around this trail

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

    Swartswood Day Use Area

    Campground

    Campground · 0.7 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Kathy's Restaurant

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 2 mi
  • If it rainsZeete, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    Sterling Hill Mining Museum

    Museum

    Museum · 11 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

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Apr–Oct

    Best time to visit Limestone Trail

    Best months: April–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

      37° / 17°

    2. Feb

      40° / 19°

    3. Mar

      48° / 28°

    4. Apr

      61° / 38°

    5. May

      70° / 48°

    6. Jun

      80° / 56°

    7. Jul

      84° / 62°

    8. Aug

      83° / 60°

    9. Sep

      75° / 52°

    10. Oct

      64° / 41°

    11. Nov

      52° / 32°

    12. Dec

      41° / 24°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Newton, NJ, 3.4 mi away at 605 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors