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Hard Hiking Trails near Elizabeth

10 routes near Elizabeth qualify, ranked below by how much walkers rate them. They average 55.5 km and 1,222 m (4,009 ft) of ascent, with the longest running to 277 km.

That is 6 percent of the 164 routes we map near Elizabeth. They run noticeably longer than average for the area, 55.5 km against 5.4 km, so budget more daylight than a typical outing here. The climbing is steeper too: 1,222 m (4,009 ft) on average versus 118 m (387 ft) across the wider area.

Hard routes mean sustained ascent, long descents and a real need to watch the clock and the forecast. These lean toward the demanding end, so plan for a full day and check the forecast before you commit.

Trails

Expert

Patriots' Path

New Jersey · United States

Distance
81.4 km
/ 50.6 mi
Elevation gain
1,791 m
Typical duration
21 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Lenape Trail

New Jersey · United States

Distance
33.8 km
/ 21.0 mi
Elevation gain
743 m
Typical duration
8 hr 43 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Patriots' Path

New Jersey · United States

Distance
40.4 km
/ 25.1 mi
Elevation gain
889 m
Typical duration
10 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Stonetown Circular Trail

New Jersey · United States

Distance
16.3 km
/ 10.1 mi
Elevation gain
358 m
Typical duration
3 hr 58 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Shore Trail

New Jersey · United States

Distance
16.2 km
/ 10.1 mi
Elevation gain
357 m
Typical duration
3 hr 57 min
  • Coastal
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Sierra Trail

New Jersey · United States

Distance
17.3 km
/ 10.7 mi
Elevation gain
380 m
Typical duration
4 hr 14 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Four Birds Trail

New Jersey · United States

Distance
29.1 km
/ 18.1 mi
Elevation gain
641 m
Typical duration
7 hr 27 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Lake Hopatcong Trail

New Jersey · United States

Distance
19.6 km
/ 12.1 mi
Elevation gain
430 m
Typical duration
4 hr 51 min
  • Lake
Expert

Highlands Trail

New Jersey · United States

Distance
277 km
/ 172 mi
Elevation gain
6,098 m
Typical duration
74 hr
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Hard

Colonial Greenway

New York · United States

Distance
24.3 km
/ 15.1 mi
Elevation gain
534 m
Typical duration
6 hr 8 min

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
Patriots' PathNew Jersey81.4 km1,791 m21 hrExpertApril to October
Lenape TrailNew Jersey33.8 km743 m8 hr 43 minExpertApril to October
Patriots' PathNew Jersey40.4 km889 m10 hrExpertApril to October
Stonetown Circular TrailNew Jersey16.3 km358 m3 hr 58 minHardApril to October
Shore TrailNew Jersey16.2 km357 m3 hr 57 minHardApril to October
Sierra TrailNew Jersey17.3 km380 m4 hr 14 minHardApril to October
Four Birds TrailNew Jersey29.1 km641 m7 hr 27 minHardApril to October
Lake Hopatcong TrailNew Jersey19.6 km430 m4 hr 51 minHardApril to October
Highlands TrailNew Jersey277 km6,098 m74 hrExpertApril to October
Colonial GreenwayNew York24.3 km534 m6 hr 8 minHardApril to October

If you only have time for one, start with Patriots' Path, Lenape Trail, Patriots' Path. Those are the routes people come back to. Every route on this page links through to a full guide with the map, elevation profile, seasonal advice and what to bring.

Frequently asked questions

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