Backpack Trail Guide

Trails

Top Backpacking Trails in New Jersey

5 routes. Each page shows when we last checked it. Updated October 2026.

Backpacking in New Jersey happens in two areas, because the NY-NJ Trail Conference says backpack camping is not permitted in the state’s parks except along the Appalachian Trail and the Batona Trail. In the northwest, the Appalachian Trail runs 72.4 miles, per the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, along rocky Kittatinny Ridge from the Delaware Water Gap to High Point, then crosses farm valleys to Wawayanda. This site covers it in three sections: Delaware Water Gap to Culvers Gap past Sunfish Pond, a 13.6-mile shelter-to-shelter stretch from Culvers Gap to High Point, and High Point to Wawayanda over the Pochuck boardwalk. In the south, the Pine Barrens offer flat, sandy walking: the Batona Trail, listed by the state at 53 miles, and the 9.4-mile Mullica River Trail.

Camping is at designated sites only. On the AT, the state limits each shelter or site to 10 people and one night, fires are banned, and overnight parking needs a park office permit or, on National Park Service land, the parking log. In Wharton State Forest, camps need a permit reserved through camping.nj.gov.

The ATC says the state has a very high concentration of black bears, so carry a canister or use the bear boxes. Several AT shelters are dry. In the Pine Barrens, the state warns of ticks, biting flies, and humid summers, and parts of Wharton are open to hunting. Wildfires in 2024 and 2025 closed parts of the Batona, so confirm its status with Wharton State Forest before you go.

Quick picks

Kittatinny Ridge

Kittatinny Valley and Highlands

Pine Barrens

Backpacking in New Jersey: common questions

Do you need a permit to backpack in New Jersey?

It depends on the trail. No camping permit was found for the Appalachian Trail, but the state requires a park office permit for overnight parking at Culvers Gap (Stokes State Forest) and the Route 23 hiker lot (High Point State Park), and the NPS asks overnight parkers in the Delaware Water Gap to fill out its parking log. On the Batona Trail and at Wharton State Forest's wilderness camps, a camping permit is required and sites are reserved through camping.nj.gov. Confirm current rules with the park office before you go.

Can you camp anywhere in New Jersey?

No. The NY-NJ Trail Conference says backpack camping is not permitted in any New Jersey park except along the Batona Trail and the Appalachian Trail. The ATC says camping on the New Jersey AT is restricted to designated sites, and the state limits each shelter or campsite to 10 people and one night. In the Pine Barrens, the state's Batona Trail map says camping is allowed only at designated campsites with a valid permit displayed.

Are there bears on New Jersey backpacking trails, and how should you store food?

Yes. NJ Fish and Wildlife says the black bear population is centered in Morris, Passaic, Sussex, and Warren Counties, where the AT runs, and the state says bears are active in Wharton State Forest too. The ATC says New Jersey has a very high concentration of black bears and advises a bear canister or the bear boxes and poles where provided. The state lists bear boxes at the AT shelters, but one trip report on this site found none at Batona Camp or Buttonwood Hill.

Is there water on New Jersey backpacking trails?

Not always, so plan ahead and treat everything. The state's AT sheet says to carry enough water for the whole hike and to treat or boil all trail water, and the ATC reports the spigot serving Pochuck Mountain Shelter has been off since 2023. In Wharton State Forest, the state's camp maps mark potable water at Batona and Mullica River camps but none at Lower Forge, so ask the forest office whether pumps are working.

Is it safe to backpack in New Jersey during hunting season?

Hunting overlaps with fall and winter trips. The state says sections of Wharton State Forest are open to hunting and recommends bright orange clothing during the season, and NJ Fish and Wildlife held its 2025 black bear hunt in northern zones in October and December. No 2026 season dates were confirmed for this guide, so check NJ Fish and Wildlife before a fall trip.

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