The best walks and hikes around Preakness

Yes, there are several options suitable for families. The Preserve Shoreline Loop — Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve is a great choice, offering a flat 1.6-mile path around a lake. Another gentle option is the Laurelwood Arboretum loop, which is a short walk through beautiful gardens and woodlands.

For panoramic views that include the New York City skyline on a clear day, the trails within High Mountain Park Preserve are your best bet. The ascent to High Mountain, the highest peak in the Watchung Mountains, provides the most expansive vistas of the surrounding landscape.

Yes, dogs are generally welcome on the trails in the Preakness area, including in High Mountain Park Preserve and Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve, provided they are kept on a leash. Always be sure to clean up after your pet to help keep the trails beautiful for everyone.

While the area is more known for its summit views and woodlands, you can find serene waterfalls within High Mountain Park Preserve. These spots offer a peaceful place to rest during a hike, especially after recent rainfall. The trails are not specifically routed to the falls, but they are a rewarding feature to discover while exploring the preserve.

The trails range from easy to moderate. You'll find flat, gentle paths like those in local parks and around lakes, as well as more challenging routes with significant elevation gain, particularly in the High Mountain Park Preserve. There are no trails officially rated as difficult, making the area accessible to most hikers.

Yes, for a more strenuous outing, you can tackle the Mountainside Park loop — Pequannock. This 3.3-mile route involves more elevation change than many other local trails, offering a good workout through the forested terrain of the Watchung Mountains.

The protected nature of the local preserves supports a variety of wildlife. It's common to see white-tailed deer, chipmunks, squirrels, and a wide array of birds. While black bears are present in northern New Jersey, sightings are uncommon in this specific area, but it's always wise to be aware of your surroundings.

There are over 20 designated hiking routes to explore around Preakness. These trails cover a range of environments, from lakeside loops and garden paths to more rugged mountain ascents, with about half being easy and half being moderate in difficulty.

The hiking routes around Preakness are highly regarded by the komoot community, with an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars. Hikers often praise the well-maintained trails, the beautiful woodland scenery, and the rewarding views from the summits.

Yes, many of the most popular hikes in the area are loop trails, allowing you to enjoy a varied journey without retracing your steps. For a pleasant and easy loop, consider the Goffle Brook Park via Van Winkles Pond trail, which is a nearly 3-mile loop perfect for a relaxed walk.

The terrain in High Mountain Park Preserve is characteristic of the Watchung Mountains, featuring rocky and sometimes steep paths due to the region's trap rock geology. You can expect a mix of rolling hills and more vigorous climbs, with trails winding through dense forest.