New Jersey offers a surprising variety of outlandish rock formations, many of which require challenging hikes or adventurous drives through rugged terrain to reach and experience fully. Below is a list of ten formations that are worth every mile for those seeking geological wonders and epic views.
Tripod Rock (Pyramid Mountain)
Tripod Rock is a famous glacial erratic perched on three smaller stones, thrilling hikers in Pyramid Mountain Natural Area. The steep trail features dramatic metamorphic boulders and rugged terrain.
Bear Rock (Pyramid Mountain)
Nearby Bear Rock is another massive glacial deposit within Pyramid Mountain. Its size and location add to the wild, prehistoric atmosphere of the park’s rocky ridges.
Devil’s Half Acre (Sourland Mountain)
Sourland Mountain Preserve offers hiking through Devil’s Half Acre, a boulder-filled area renowned for its ancient, blocky rock formations scattered deep in thick forests.
Roaring Rocks (Sourland Mountain)
Roaring Rocks are another distinctive boulder cluster within Sourland Mountain, challenging hikers with its rough terrain and natural chaos.
Giant Stairs (Palisades)
The Giant Stairs hike traverses a unique scramble of colossal boulders overlooking the Hudson River, delivering fantastic views and one of the most bizarre landscapes in the state.
Jenny Jump Boulder Fields (Jenny Jump State Forest)
Jenny Jump State Forest features extensive boulder fields along its trails, some rumored to be from ancient glacial movements, providing a striking and secluded hiking experience.
Buttermilk Falls Boulder Field (Sussex County)
The approach to Buttermilk Falls includes a hiker-tested boulder field before reaching New Jersey’s highest waterfall. Adventurers can continue steeply uphill for even more dramatic rock landscapes.
Pinwheel Vista Boulder Field (Stairway To Heaven/Vernon)
The “Stairway to Heaven” trail on the Appalachian Trail leads through a wild boulder field before ascending to sweeping vistas at Pinwheel Vista, offering rocky scrambles and panoramic scenes.
High Point Monument Rocks (High Point State Park)
High Point Monument is surrounded by rocky outcrops atop New Jersey’s highest elevation, including twisted quartzite layers and windswept glacial remnants accessible via the Monument Loop Trail.
Lucys Overlook Erratics (Pyramid Mountain extension)
Lucys Overlook offers additional glacial erratics and weathered rock formations scattered along the rugged extensions off Pyramid Mountain trails, with distant views over northern New Jersey forests.
Each of these sites delivers outlandish geological features, challenging terrain, and rewarding vistas, making them must-visits for anyone seeking to hike and explore New Jersey’s wildest rocky treasures.
Sources
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRyXdcEguio)
(https://nj1015.com/paulinskill-valley-trail-hiking/)
(https://wheninyourstate.com/utah/12-outlandish-utah-rock-formations-worth-every-mile-of-hikes-rough-driving/)
(https://nystateparks.blog/2018/07/31/the-ellenville-fault-ice-caves-a-national-natural-landmark/)
(https://lazytrips.com/trip/road-trip-from-california-to-new-jersey)
