New Jersey · Hiking

None Assigned

0.46-mile out-and-back trail in New Jersey with 52 ft elevation gain.

0.5 mi
round trip: 122 ft
climb: 494 ft
high point: Out and back
route

Best time to visit None Assigned

Best months: April–June and August–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.

Jan
39° / 22°
9 wet
Feb
42° / 23°
8 wet
Mar
50° / 31°
10 wet
Apr
62° / 40°
11 wet
May
72° / 50°
12 wet
Jun
82° / 60°
11 wet
Jul
86° / 66°
11 wet
Aug
85° / 64°
11 wet
Sep
78° / 56°
10 wet
Oct
66° / 44°
10 wet
Nov
54° / 35°
9 wet
Dec
44° / 28°
10 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Canoe Brook, NJ, 3.9 mi away at 180 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

This short hike sits within the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge Wilderness, on county land in New Jersey, about half a mile from the Great Swamp Outdoor Education area. It is an easy out-and-back, roughly a mile long, with a total climb of about 120 feet from the start to the high point at 494 feet. The route is short and gentle, with the steepest stretch near the beginning, where the grade reaches about 41 percent. That makes it a quick stop rather than a long day on foot. For comfortable weather, aim for late spring or early fall. Typical averages from the nearby Canoe Brook weather station run to highs around 72°F in May and 78°F in September, while July highs average about 86°F. That station sits well below the trail, so temperatures on the higher ground run cooler. The Blue Loop is just 0.1 mile away, and the Orange Trail and Red Trail are each about 0.2 mile off. Paddlers can reach Great Brook, about 3.6 miles away.