3 Best Hiking Trails in Paterson, NJ

“Garret Mountain Reservation is a 568-acre fantastic outdoor area with trails, picnic pavilions, open fields, beautiful views, and much more. This is a loop trail, and the total length is 2.9 miles, with the trail's 394 feet of elevation gain. The reservation offers extensive views of northern New Jersey and the New York City skyline from its elevation of more than 500 feet above sea level. The park stretches into Clifton. Garret Mountain Reservation has a variety of outdoor activities and facilities for park visitors. Garret Mountain is Passaic County's main recreational area, containing grass fields, several miles of walking/running routes, basketball courts, picnic spots, Barbour's Pond, regularly stocked with fish for anglers, and an Equestrian Centre with horseback riding lessons.”

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“High Mountain Park Preserve is a 1,200-acre natural refuge that features rolling and sometimes steep terrain that winds through woodlands and wetlands. The nature preserve is the largest tract of forested land east of the Highlands, which is 11.5 miles of trails in the Watchung Mountains, rewarding visitors with vigorous hikes, panoramic New York City and northern New Jersey summit views, and peaceful waterfalls. The total length of the trail is 4.9 miles. The trail's elevation gain is 682 feet, and this is a loop-type trail. The trail is generally considered an easy trail route. The preserve is a habitat for rare and threatened plants and wildlife, including mountain mint and northern long-eared bats, as well as common local species like flying squirrels, wild turkeys, chipmunks, and white-tailed deer. The mountain's bedrock, of volcanic origin, dates back more than 130 million years.”

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“Mills Reservation is a county park with a 157.15-acre (0.6360 km2) protected wooded area that ensures a breathtaking view. The Essex County Park Commission maintains the reservation. The reservation has many walks and strolling trails, including the Lenape Trail, 4 important and smaller trails. One of the 4 major trails results in a cliff that overlooks the New York City skyline. The Mills Loop Trail, marked by white blazes, is a complete loop of the park that extends for one and a half miles and is the main walking trail. This park has a section of the 36-mile Lenape Trail, which connects 18 parks and 11 communities in Essex County. In partnership with Essex County, the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference has created a trail guide that includes detailed route maps.”

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