New Jersey · Hiking

Lower Trail

Lower TrailPhoto: _strata_, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
1.3 mi
one way
193 ft
climb
613 ft
high point
Point to point
route
Apr–Oct
best months

Lower Trail is a short, easy hike in Norvin Green State Forest in New Jersey, managed by the State Department of Natural Resources. The route is about 1.3 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 193 feet from a starting point around 505 feet to a high point of 613 feet. The climb is gentle overall, but the steepest stretch comes at about the 1-mile mark, where the grade reaches 13 percent. For comfortable weather, late spring and early fall are the best bets. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Wanaque Raymond Dam show May highs around 71°F and September highs around 76°F, with July the warmest month at about 84°F. That station sits roughly 370 feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures on the trail run a bit cooler. The hike takes about half an hour, and it makes an easy pairing with other trails in the area. Carris Hill Connector Trail is about 0.4 miles away, High Point Loop is about 1.1 miles away, and Wyanokie Circular Loop Trail is about 1.3 miles away. Paddlers can reach the Wanaque River, about 1.7 miles off.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Apr–Oct

    Best time to visit Lower 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

      38° / 20°

      10 wet

    2. Feb

      40° / 20°

      8 wet

    3. Mar

      48° / 29°

      10 wet

    4. Apr

      59° / 39°

      11 wet

    5. May

      71° / 50°

      12 wet

    6. Jun

      79° / 58°

      11 wet

    7. Jul

      84° / 64°

      10 wet

    8. Aug

      83° / 63°

      10 wet

    9. Sep

      76° / 56°

      8 wet

    10. Oct

      64° / 43°

      9 wet

    11. Nov

      53° / 35°

      8 wet

    12. Dec

      43° / 27°

      9 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Wanaque Raymond Dam, NJ, 1.8 mi away at 245 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Carris Hill Connector TrailPhoto: _strata_, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Carris Hill Connector Trail

Next door

0.72-mile out-and-back trail in New Jersey with 479 ft elevation gain.

Wyanokie Circular Loop TrailPhoto: syvwlch, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Wyanokie Circular Loop Trail

~2 min drive

1.88-mile point-to-point trail in New Jersey with 503 ft gain.

Wyanokie Crest TrailPhoto: syvwlch, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Wyanokie Crest Trail

~3 min drive

Scenic ridgeline point-to-point hike with views across the Wyanokie Highlands.

Torne TrailPhoto: syvwlch — CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Torne Trail

~2 min drive

0.74-mile point-to-point trail in New Jersey with 93 ft gain

Skyline Preserve TrailPhoto: syvwlch, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Skyline Preserve Trail

~4 min drive

1.70-mile point-to-point trail in New Jersey with 389 ft elevation gain

Hewitt-Butler TrailPhoto: syvwlch, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Hewitt-Butler Trail

~2 min drive

A brief point-to-point trail through New Jersey's northern highlands.

Stonetown Circular TrailPhoto: daveclausen, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Stonetown Circular Trail

~4 min drive

4.36-mile point-to-point hike in New Jersey with 492 ft gain and 1,140 ft loss.

White TrailPhoto: syvwlch — CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

White Trail

~5 min drive

0.37-mile point-to-point trail in New Jersey with 66 ft gain.

Indian Rock TrailPhoto: Roadgeek Adam, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Indian Rock Trail

~5 min drive

0.88-mile point-to-point trail in New Jersey with 115 ft gain.

Ramapo Lake LoopPhoto: Roadgeek Adam, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Ramapo Lake Loop

~5 min drive

Scenic point-to-point trail around Ramapo Lake with easy woodland walking.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors