You can take the PATH to Newark and then take the Newark Light Rail to Branch Brook Park.

New Jersey Transit's website has page called Transit to Trails:

https://www.njtransit.com/trails

This is an interactive map that shows parks and hiking trailheads in walking distance of NJT bus & train routes. Could be a useful tool.

In the Spring when the Cherry Blossoms are in bloom I'd recommend taking the PATH to Newark and taking the Newark Light Rail to Branch Brook Park. The Newark Light Rail has four stops bordering the west side of the park. Branch Brook Park map

You can also take the train to Millburn, the Millburn station stop is right next to South Mountain Reservation. I also enjoy walking around Montclair, there are a plenty of stores, restaurants and cafes to check out.

Take the light rail to the southern end of Bayonne. Walk the length of the Bayonne Bridge, over to Staten Island. It's a 3 mile walk round trip on the pedestrian lane.

A little closer to home is Lincoln Park, which is maybe a 1/2 mile walk from the West Side light rail. The bulk of the park is typical park — ballfields, playgrounds, open spaces. But the west side of the park (across 440; there are two bridges that go over) is a nature preserve with trails you can walk to the Hackensack River. My wife leads birdwatching tours there sometimes, it's a very nice spot. Although you get the incongruity of peaceful marshland and the giant factory across the river...

Pasting this list of daylong scenic meanders I posted a couple years ago. Nature doesn't change that quick. This isn't exhaustive, but it'll keep you busy for a season:

Hiking:

East of Hudson--trains from Grand Central:

Breakneck Ridge: Hudson Line to Breakneck Ridge station.

Mt Taurus/Bull Hill: Hudson Line to Cold Spring, trailhead just north of town on Rt 9W. One of these trails eventually joins Breakneck Ridge, but it's a schlep.

Appalachian Trail (NY/CT): Harlem Line to Appalachian Trail station

Appalachian Trail (Bear Mountain): Hudson Line to Manitou

West of Hudson--trains from Hoboken:

Ramapo Dunderberg Trail (Harriman State Park): Port Jervis Line to Tuxedo

Appalachian Trail (Harriman): Port Jervis Line to Harriman. Trailhead about 2 miles south of station on Rt 17.

Schunnemunk Mountain (highest in Hudson Highlands): Port Jervis Line to Salisbury Mills. Trailhead on Otterkill Rd under the huge railroad trestle you just went over on the train.

Biking/meandering:

Duke Farms: NJ Transit Raritan Valley Line from Newark or NY Penn to Raritan. South on Thompson St, west on Somerset, south again on Nevins. Cross the pedestrian bridge and keep going to the Duke Farms gate. Miles of bucolic paths to get lost in.

Harlem Valley Rail Trail: Harlem Line from Grand Central to Wassaic. Trail starts at the station.

D&R canal: NJ Transit Raritan Valley Line from Newark or NY Penn to Bound Brook. Enter the path just over the Raritan River bridge from downtown. Go west/south from there. North/east toward New Brunswick isn't great.

Columbia Trail: Raritan Valley Line from Newark or NY Penn to High Bridge (weekdays only). Walk north on Main St. Trail starts a couple blocks from the station.

I love to call out Port Authority's shit as much as the next guy, but they actually did a pretty nice job with the ped/bike path on the Bayonne Bridge. Nice wide path and great views.

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Its more important that these open spaces be kept at a limit for everyone's good Direct to finance of more infrastructure and services as fire and police

Light rail to Weehawken, the part next to hudson is quite scenic, nice views of Manhattan and stylish houses. Liberty state park is worth a visit as well

Take the train to Newark Penn and jump on the light rail to branch Brook park. It’s huge and beautiful. Especially for the cherry blossom festival in early April.

Great list!

I'll add one more suggestion for East of Hudson, via Grand Central / MNR:

Osborn Loop / Sugarloaf / AT via Garrison. There's a sweet new trail that connects from Arden Point Trail across 9D to Castle Rock - and then up to Osborn. Trailhead is practically in the Garrison Metro North parking lot.

Path train to Christopher st and the High line is about a 10 minute walk from there.

Also the Hudson River greenway on the west side of Manhattan is beautiful

Path then MTA to Brooklyn heights. Walk along waterfront there to dumbo, then walk across Brooklyn bridge.

It's not train or bus, but during the summer you can take the Sea Streak to Sandy Hook for the day: https://seastreak.com/ferry-routes-and-schedules/between-new-york-city-sandy-hook-beach-nj/ It's delightful!

you can walk the boardwalk/waterfront all the way to the GWB and the park that's underneath.

realistically i would say that's a trip for a bike not on foot but you can obviously walk as much of it as you feel like and turn around.

Take NJ transit to Millburn and hike in South Mountain Reservation (trailhead is across the street)

Also gonna add the South Mountain reservation! The closest trailhead is by Millburn station but there are also trailheads you can reach from Maplewood.

You could take the path to Hoboken then get the lirr to south orange. Get out and walk up hill until you’re at the south mountain reservoir. It’s a huge wooded area (reserve) you can walk around there all you want. It’ll probably take you an hour or so to get there

I hate, Hate, HATE the fact that JC residents need to cross into another state or city to take a train to NEW JERSEY locations.

Jersey City folks used to be able to catch a train at Pavonia Newport and ride all the way to Chicago. There used to be train lines to all sorts of NJ locations staring in Jersey City. Have you seen the train terminal in Liberty Park? There were like half a dozen such terminals all along the waterfront.

Now? Now we need to bend the knee to Hoboken, Newark, or cross state lines to NYC to get anywhere west of the Hackensack River. Oh how the mighty have fallen ....

You can combine this with the Holy Name Cemetery which is nice esp during the warm weather.

Stephen R. Gregg Park in Bayonne is worth going to as well, though isn't so easy to get to. It also has a wetlands section on the North End, there is a parking lot by the i78 bridge crosses the river.

milburn south mountain res

You can take NJ Transit from Hoboken up to Tuxedo, NY - there's a little path across the street to the East that will take you into Harriman State Park. You can do a bunch of trails there, I used to do the Ramapo Dunderberg/Triangle Loop. A nice scenic overlook on that trail.

Prospect Park is beautiful

There’s also that beautiful cathedral right by there (which I think is the largest in NJ) and also where Pope John Paul II once held mass!

This is wonderful! Thanks for sharing!

And thanks OP for starting a thread that I didn’t realize I needed.

there are also hiking groups on Meetup in JC that make plans to travel together to places or if they get enough people charter a ride that only ends up cost $15 a person as well.

Have not done it with them since pre covid so not sure of their post covid status but check meetup.com

Or combine both: take Path to 33rd st, walk a few blocks west to Hudson Yards and walk the High Line to Whitney, cross West St to Hudson River Greenway and walk to Brookfield Pl, take WTC Path or ferry home.

Excellent suggestion

Wow, awesome thread folks! I've added it to the rec section of the New Resident FAQ.

We still have Hoboken Terminal, though technically it's right across the border

oh wow I didn't know about this. Thank you!

I second Stephen Gregg park! Lived near there during Covid and it was a great place to explore

South Mountain Reservation, Millburn station. You take the train from Newark.

When I took the train to Port Jervis last May, there were quite a number of people on that train with hiking gear.

Yes! I used to do this during my college days. The best part… gorging yourself at Millburn Deli

I’m more of a town hall deli guy lol but Millburn does the job for sure. I like their pickles and the have pickle chips too

I’ll have to check it out. The line for millburn deli is so long sometimes

What are you talking about? Hoboken has Hoboken terminal. I'm talking about JC. If it is in another town, IT DOESN'T COUNT!!!

> though technically it's right across the border

Hoboken =/= Jersey City.

My entire point in my original comment summarized: back in the day JC residents could board trains IN JERSEY CITY and travel to neighboring towns west of the Hackensack River and even ride halfway across the country with no transfers. Now, people from Jersey City need to schlep to Hoboken or somewhere else to catch an actual train. This is inferior and less convenient.

Do you disagree???