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Joel Katz

Top Trails in New Jersey for “National Take a Hike Day”

Author Joel Katz
Neshaminy Creek at Tyler Park in Newtown, Pennsylvania

Hiking in New Jersey and beyond is something that consistently helps to rebuild the human connection with nature, and also aids in maintaining healthy hearts and bodies as well.

Today, November 17th, thousands of individuals, groups of families, and friends will get out into the wild and really get a taste of what it means to be away from it all again and celebrate National Take a Hike Day. But which are the most desirable and enjoyable hiking trails in New Jersey, and the rest of the country?

New Jersey Hiking

The hiking experts at NJHiking.com have explored over two hundred trails throughout North, Central, and South Jersey to find the best places to trek. If there’s an awesome place to walk in the Garden State, they’ve been there.

One of the Central Jersey spots includes Sourland Mountain Preserve in Somerset. They share on their site, “Easy to moderate hiking over boardwalks and through the boulders of Devil’s Half Acre and Roaring Rocks.” They also recommend the Green Trail at Cheesequake State Park which boasts, a “Pleasant hike over rolling hills and through beautiful marshlands with the assistance of numerous boardwalks.” Check out the full list here.

They also report on the best waterfall hikes, easy hikes, challenging hikes, and the best hikes to see New Jersey Fall foliage.

United States Hiking

Betway.com has also revealed which scenic trails nature lovers across the country. They delved into what places the United States enjoys hiking the most by analyzing Google search data.Based on the overall results they found: 

  • The 2.190+ mile long Appalachian trail ranks as the #1 choice for Americans at 100,000. It stretches from Maine to Georgia.
  • The Pacific Crest trail comes in second overall with 50,000. It begins in California at the Mexican border and runs north through California, Oregon, and Washington to the Canadian border.
  • The John Muir Trail is third with 20,000 searches on average per month spanning from Yosemite Valley to Mount Whitney.

4 Types Of People You Will Find At Thanksgiving Turkey Trot

Prior to sitting at the table and indulging in an extravagant meal, it has become a tradition in many communities to partake in the annual Thanksgiving 5K. Perhaps you have to earn your forthcoming calorie intake! The Thanksgiving Turkey Trot race is also where you find four extraordinary kinds of people who enter this road race for very different purposes.

To take an overarching look at this holiday, Thanksgiving offers a coming home of all sorts. College students return to their stomping grounds to showcase how cool they have gotten in a matter of weeks. The person who you once knew as the quietest person in the room, is now a candidate for the loudest. Then, you have those who partied a bit too much the night before, and have no business running down the block, much less in a “race.” In fact, they may not even remember they were in just a few short hours. Let’s not forget those that also believe the Turkey Trot is a performance stage. Whether it’s to flex your running skills or outfit skills, clearly this race is for all eyes to be on you.

On Your Mark, Get Set… Hold On

Yes, much of this feature is tongue-in-cheek. However, most of these Thanksgiving 5k races take place within a tight-knit neighborly community. Furthermore, in the spirit of giving, often they benefit a great cause. For example, it can be a local non-profit, or as a benefit in the honor of a local hero. Still many participants show up to have a fun time. There is certainly nothing wrong with that. Yet, let’s not lose sight of the hard work organizers put forth in an effort to achieve a goal. Ultimately, that is to impact something near-and-dear to your area.

In no particular order, here are the four types of people you will run, bump, stumble into, or hide from at this year’s Thanksgiving Turkey Trot.

  • The Costume Runner

    Here is the spectacle runner, who is decked out in a giant turkey costume. They can’t breathe let alone run, but they certainly can waddle. If this person finishes actually runs and finishes the race, it is usually by Christmas time. Nonetheless, you must respect the fact that lots of thought and deliberation went into this decision. It may even take longer for the person to get properly fitted in the morning to get ready for the trot than it does for the actual turkey to cook.

    A man dressed in a turkey costume

    Leon Halip/Getty Images

  • The I Need To Win And Beat The Best Time Ever Runner

    With all due respect, this runner is there an hour early stretching, even though they already completely stretched at home prior to eating a full protein breakfast. This participant is fully rested, fully hydrated, and plans to smoke you like you are the turkey. Furthermore, while you are trucking through the first mile, gasping for breath, this runner is going to pass, but going the other direction. That is because this person finished the race already and is simply running back to the starting line as their “cool down.” We get it, your cross-country skills are superhuman, and you now own the Turkey Trot best time. Just don’t be the person that beats the day’s honoree.

    Runner cheering on track

    Paul Bradbury / Getty Images

  • The Still Awake From Last Night "Runner"

    It’s common knowledge that the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving is one of the biggest party nights on the planet. It’s a special occasion where people come out of the woodwork and return to their hometown. The local pubs may make their annual quota based on Thanksgiving Eve sales. It’s great fun for sure, as long you have a responsible ride home. For some though, they have not even been home yet. It’s much more convenient to walk two blocks to the left to the downtown starting line at sunrise than it is to trek a half of a mile down Main Street to sleep it off for a few hours. This person looks and smells like the party. If there are woods adjacent to the 5k running route, you will usually find this runner in there immediately.
    A group of friends are lifting their male tipsy friend at the rooftop night outdoor party.

  • The Socialite Runner

    Many towns that host Thanksgiving races are deep with tradition and local history. The families that call this place home often go back generations. Somehow, your grandmother had the same 4th grade teacher that your daughter currently has. The socialite is there to talk to everyone. They are in full-blown campaign mode, yet they are not running for anything. They simply love everything that has to do with their hometown and their mission for Thanksgiving Turkey Trot, is to see literally everyone, and spread some spirit. You have to respect that.

    Thanksgiving Turkey makes its way during the 81st annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

    Hiroko Masuike/Getty Images

Joel Katz is the Morning Show Personality, Assistant Program Director, Podcast Host, Voiceover artist, audio producer, and Digital Content Writer for Magic 98.3. Joel has been working in New Jersey radio since college and started at Magic in 2002 as the Morning Show Host, “I can’t think of another place where I’d fit more perfectly; it’s just a great company with awesome people.” Joel is married to Kathleen, his elementary school sweetheart (they were each other’s first dates at age 9), shares a birthday with his oldest son, Ty, and has twins, Kiera and Liam. Joel runs at least 3.1 miles every day and enjoys playing basketball, doing laundry, saving his turn signal for when he really needs it, kissing dogs through a fence, using coasters, making that cool noise by rubbing his fingers on balloons, and chasing after ping pong balls on a windy cruise ship.

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