If you prefer to read this email in your web browser, please click here.

January 1, 2026

Warm greetings and best wishes for a year marked by achievement and fulfillment! We hope you keep the personality of the New Jersey Skylands near and dear when you need to freshen your horizon!
The New Jersey State Park Service will host free First Day Hikes on New Year’s Day as part of America’s State Parks program, with nine hikes in our area. Dress for the weather, wear sturdy footwear, and bring water and snacks. All hikes are weather-dependent; check with the hosting park before heading out.

Wawayanda State Park, 885 Warwick Turnpike,Hewitt (10am). First annual hike with two options: easy 2.5 miles or moderate 7 miles. Registration recommended, 973-853-4465.

Ringwood State Park / NJ State Botanical Garden, 1304 Sloatsburg Rd, Ringwood (1-3:30pm). Self-guided, family-friendly options of 1 or 3 miles; easy to moderate. No registration required.

High Point State Park,1480 Route 23, Montague (10am). “First Day Challenge” – Strenuous 6-mile hike on the Appalachian Trail and Iris Trail; ages 12+, leashed dogs welcome. Registration required, 973-875- 4800.

Stokes State Forest, 1 Coursen Road ,Branchville (9–11:30am). Moderate 3.5-mile hike past waterfalls and historic sites; families and leashed pets welcome. Registration required, 973-948-3820.

Bridge over the Paulins Kill at Warbasse Junction
Kittatinny Valley State Park / Paulinskill Valley Rail Trail, 1 Footbridge Lane, Blairstown, (10am–2pm). Easy 4.5-mile rail-trail hike; families and dogs welcome. No registration required.
Round Valley Recreation Area, 1220 Stanton Lebanon Rd, Lebanon (10am–12pm). Easy to moderate 3-mile hike on natural trails. Registration required, 908-236-6355.

Reclaimed Morris Canal towpath along the Greenway near Strykers Road
Spruce Run Recreation Area / Warren Highlands Trail (9am) Join us for this point-to-point hike featuring some of the newest sections of the Warren Highlands Trail through Phillipsburg, Lopatcong, and Harmony Townships in Warren County. It is a relatively difficult, all-day 15-mile hike for experienced hikers. Meet at the Phillipsburg Public Boat Ramp, accessible from Northampton Street before the free bridge (behind Jimmy’s Hot Dog Stand). For more information call Mike Helbing at 908-343-8374. Registration is not required.

Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park, Kingston (12 noon - 2pm) Easy 1.5 mile loop hike through the Mapleton Preserve. Begin and end at the Mapleton Preserve/D&R Canal State Park Headquarters at 145 Mapleton Road in Kingston.

Washington Crossing State Park (10am–12pm) Kick off the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution with an interpretive 1.2-mile historic walk tracing the route taken by the "stuff" of the Continental Army on Christmas Night, 1776 across the Delaware River into New Jersey. Sights and stops include the Washington Crossing Bridge, the Nelson House, the Ferry Boat replica, the pedestrian bridge, overlook, the Stone Barn, and the Johnson Ferry House. Registration required, 609-737-2515.

For more information on these and other "First Day" events around the state, check here. Keep those boot heels wandering!

Great Stories

Jockey Hollow
Visit Morristown National Historical Park, and learn about the life of a common soldier during the encampment at Jockey Hollow, where General Washington and the Continental Army survived through what would be the coldest winter on record. During the army's second winter at Morristown, General Washington lived and made his headquarters in a relatively new two-story house on the outskirts of town built by Jacob Ford, Jr. (above).
The year 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of America's first crisis. New Jersey lay at the heart of the American Revolution, hosting General George Washington and the Continental Army for nearly half of the war. Strategically positioned between the Continental Congress in Philadelphia and the British Army in New York—and midway between New England and the American South—the state became the crossroads where Patriots, Loyalists, British forces, and Hessians maneuvered for control. Here, decisive American victories at Trenton, Princeton, and Monmouth shifted the course of the war. Here, the Continental Army endured the hardest winter of the century. At Nassau Hall at Princeton University, the Continental Congress convened in 1783. And in New Jersey, General George Washington issued his farewell orders to the Continental Army.
For many, winter is a season for reflection. The challenge of the season strips away pretense and invites deeper understanding. Prepare for a year filled with powerful stories from the Crossroads of the American Revolution.
We'll be slowing down a bit for the winter and sending less frequently. Meanwhile, tap our calendar for the best events for you and your family, or check our current stories. Pick from a multitude of daytrip itineraries and watch out for our virtual efforts to keep you informed. For the more aerobically inclined, the Outdoor Map shows the way to go, or choose among dozens of natural attractions or outdoor activities suggested on our website. Choose your own adventure!
Northwest New Jersey and destinations just beyond those borders, in Pennsylvania and New York, offer brilliant ways to get out and enjoy the pleasures of the season.
Like many other small, independent and specialized information sources, our operation increasingly relies on reader donations. Help us keep you informed about all the great stuff to do in and around Northwest New Jersey! If you like what we offer, we hope you'll consider a contribution.

Share this email *|MC:TOPSHARE|*
Home Page | Events | Area Maps | Contents | Advertise
Skylands Visitor Magazine (Guest Services, LLC), PO Box 329, Columbia, NJ • Privacy Statement