baldpate summit

Winter Hiking

We hike year round, and some of our favorite hiking takes place during the winter. Why? The trails are less crowded, and the wilderness often displays its most pristine beauty. There’s no better time to be outside than on a cold, crisp, achingly blue day with a fresh snow cover on the ground. And yes, if you dress properly, and you exercise some common sense, you can be utterly comfortable while you’re doing it.

In this chapter of the Hidden Trenton Hiking Guide, we’ll focus first on some our favorite winter hiking trails, then describe the clothing and techniques that allow you to be comfortable, with special reference to central NJ conditions (which aren’t typically what you read about in most hiking “how-to” books).

Favorite Winter Trails

Almost any trail in this guide can be hiked during the winter: many take on a particularly special, almost magical quality, though a few can be unpleasant. In general, except on windless days, you’ll want to avoid trails that pass through meadows or other large, exposed areas. A winter wind can be chilling, whereas, within the forest canopy, there’s rarely more than a breath of wind (even on “windy” days).

Recommended Winter Walks
Baldpate Mountain (Overview & Summit Trail)
(Titusville, NJ) Reliable parking, and a fun walk in the snow (especially up the stone stairs). If you’re tired at the top, you can walk back down the park road which is usually plowed. Unfortunately closed to hikers Wed-Sat for most of the winter for deer hunting.
 
Belle Mountain (A Mercer County Property)
(Titusville, NJ) If it’s at all icy, you will definitely want to skip the ledge, but there are great views from the top. Carry a sled up and descend the old ski slopes! Little used, go in a group for safety.
 
Eastern Trails of Baldpate Mountain
(Titusville, NJ) Newly blazed and improved, this is a lovely winter hike. Expert back country skiers will find Kusar Mountain Trail fairly wide with reasonable grades. Copper Hill Trail much more challenging.
 
Goat Hill Park
(West Amwell, NJ) Easy walk if you stick to the trails. Go on a crisp, sunny day and see forever.
 
Goat Hill Park Bushwhack
(West Amwell, NJ) Fabulous views, especially if you bushwhack, particularly with the leaves down. Since you're bushwhacking, you're unlikely to see others. For safety, go in a small group.
 
Hacklebarney State Park
(Long Valley, NJ) Lovely, moderate trail system with close-in views of streams and gorge. Snow and ice add seasonal interest.
 
Hartshorne Woods Park
(Highlands, NJ) The beauty and mystery of this place just deepens in the winter. Fairly easy footing and interesting topography without getting too steep. Great place for winter newbies.
 
Haycock Mountain at Nockamixon State Park
(Haycock, PA) Very challenging climb if snow or icy. Experienced winter hikers only. Be sure to wear international orange during hunting season: this trail is located on PA game lands.
 
Jockey Hollow & Scherman Hoffman Sanctuary
(Bernardsville, NJ) Site of the Continental Army’s winter camp in the winter of 1776-7. Brooding beauty and a deeper connection to the history; leafless trees enhance views.
 
Mt. Tammany Hike at the Delaware Water Gap
(Blairstown, NJ) Very challenging in winter conditions, but oh so worth it for experienced hikers only. Fab views open up even more with leaves down.
 
Musconetcong Gorge Preserve
(Bloomsbury, NJ) One of my absolute favorite NJ hikes is even better in winter with leaves down. The ridge trail is VERY steep in spots, so make sure you have appropriate footwear and traction enhancement.
 
Pine Grove Hike on Baldpate Mountain
(Titusville, NJ) Check it out on a cold day with a light dusting of snow: magical! Avoid when muddy.
 
Point Mountain Preserve
(Port Murray, NJ) Challenging if it’s snowy or icy, but lovely scrambles and great views from the ridges with the leaves down.
 
Schooley's Mountain Park
(Long Valley, NJ) Morris County tends to get a lot more snow than we do in Mercer, so beware! Still, a fabulous ridge hike enhanced by leafless trees. Exercise caution on some of the very steep trails.
 
Sourlands Preserve
(Hillsborough Twp, NJ) Varied terrain makes for interesting winter walks, challenge levels appropriate for beginners to experienced winter hikers. Lovely.
 
Switchback Trail at Baldpate Mountain
(Titusville, NJ) With the leaves down, you see the slopes all the more clearly. Good, short, sharp hike with snow on the ground (if you can find a place to park - the country doesn't plow). Unfortunately closed to hikers Wed-Sat for most of the winter for deer hunting.
 
The Institute Pond and Woods
(Princeton, NJ) Nice, sheltered, flat trails within a mature forest. Gets lots of skiers and snow-shoers after a significant snow fall. If you want a flat winter hike, this is probably it.
 
Valley Forge National Park
(King of Prussia, PA) Site of the Continental Army's winter camp of 1777-8. Moderate ridge hike is slightly more challenging in winter, but most trails provide good footing. Better views from the ridges with leaves down.
 
Washington's Crossing State Park
(Titusville, NJ) Engaging, varied trail system, sheltered, with moderate slopes and limited elevation change. No hunting, stays open when Baldpate is closed.
 
Witherspoon Woods and Mountain Lakes Preserve
(Princeton, NJ) Lovely Princeton hike in the snow, with easy rolling terrain.
 

Dealing with NJ’s Winter Conditions

Mercer County, New Jersey is not the Adirondacks or the Rockies. Winter conditions here are usually much milder than classic winter hiking areas (though some of the northern NJ hikes are usually colder and enjoy more snow cover). Still, it’s a rare day that you can’t go hiking in NJ if you want. Some common sense, and a modest investment in proper clothing, will see you through.

Cold

Cold is actually rarely an issue locally. Generally novices OVERDRESS, so be warned: your body generates tremendous warmth when it’s walking, especially uphill. If you get a chill, it’s more likely (paradoxically) because you’ve been sweating. The answer is to dress in layers, paying particular attention to having wicking underwear next to your skin. Avoid cotton clothing altogether, as it holds dampness next to your skin which is fine in the summer, but can be dangerous in winter. Personally, I usually wear ONLY a long sleeve undershirt, a microfleece shirt, and a windproof shell down to about 20 degrees. Colder, and I’ll add a second layer of microfleece, or swap out the microfleece for a single, heavier fleece. Do carry a pack and, of course, carrying an extra layer is always a good idea. It will keep you warm if you rest along the way, or if you mis-judge the temperature.

When temps fall below 50, a hat is essential. 90% of your body heat is lost through an uncovered head. But again, don’t over dress: you probably won’t need anything insulated down to about 20 degrees (warmer, and a ball cap is probably fine). Gloves as needed.

Ice

yaktrax for iceIn 20 years of winter hiking in Mercer County, there have been 3 seasons where ice was a serious issue. It happens when there’s a sustained snow cover: the compacted snow on the trails melts slowly. Thawing and freezing cycles over time turn the trails to ice. Then you need something to give you extra traction. And, of course, if you’re headed to any of the more challenging trails in northern NJ, then you should definitely carry something with you.

These things don’t have to be elaborate or expensive: YakTrax cost less than $30/pair, and are light and compact in your pack. Definitely consider picking some up.

Mud & Snow & Wet

gaitersMud and wet is much more of a problem, usually, than cold and ice. Any time we get a thaw that melts snow cover, we generally end up with mud. Not the up-to-the-knees kind of mud you can experience in the Adirondacks or Whites, but slippery, annoying, nearly-ankle-deep mud. You don’t need fancy, insulated winter boots, but you do want over-the-ankle waterproof boots. If it’s particularly wet, a pair of gaiters will keep snow and mud from slopping over the top. Except in deep snow, they’re not usually necessary, but they can help you relax.

Same for a hiking staff. When it’s dry, I don’t usually carry one, but they’re useful to help you maintain your balance in mud and snow. When there is snow cover, it’s rarely deep enough that you need snow shoes. But a pair of waterproof pants is usually a good idea.

Hunting Season

Roughly speaking, deer hunting in NJ is legal from late-September through mid-February. Some parks, like Baldpate, restrict hunting to certain days of the week, and ban hikers when hunting is permitted. Most state parks (as opposed to game lands) ban hunting altogether. Other parks allow shared use by hunters and hikers.

orange clothingI hike during hunting season frequently: I keep an international orange ball cap, and safety vest in the car, and throw them on if there’s hunting permitted in the park where I walk. The most intense month for hunting in NJ is generally December. You may want to restrict your walking to parks where hunting is banned in that month.

But imo, it’s not really a problem. Hunting is always banned on Sundays, so if you’re concerned about it, go out on a Sunday. But even on the other days of the week, game is most vulnerable in the early mornings, or just before dusk. So if you walk in the middle of the day, hunting activity won’t be terribly intense anyway. The few times I’ve run into hunters on the trail, they’re generally happy to see me, and particularly pleased I’m wearing orange. Generally, January is pretty low key. By Valentine’s Day, it’s over.

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