Hiking in and around Paterson NJ offers great trails, scenery

In celebration of National Trails Day on June 3, LawnStarter ranked the best hiking cities in the U.S. Of the 200 cities included, Paterson ranked third-worst for hiking, ahead of only Pasadena, Texas, and Jersey City. Last year, Paterson was the No. 1 worst city for hiking according to LawnStarter. These low placements are surprising given the multitude of diverse trails with breathtaking views in the city and the surrounding area.

The rankings were based on hiking access, hiking quality, supplies access, climate and safety. According to LawnStarter, Paterson was most hurt in the categories of hiking quality and supplies access. Paterson had the lowest average consumer rating for hiking trails and tied with six other cities for fewest outdoor gear stores.

However, these categories don't accurately portray Paterson's value for hikers. The city and the surrounding area are home to lush woodlands, ridges and river valleys, among other environments. There is no shortage of trails through both urban and natural scenery for hikers of all skill levels.

The following locations have highly rated trails with stunning scenery and show that Paterson didn't deserve its spot on the list.

Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park is popular for its pristine views of the Great Falls of the Passaic River. The park houses two beginner out-and-back trails that can be completed in about 30 minutes or less. Both trails are dog-friendly and provide dramatic views of the falls from both sides of the river valley. Typically, hikers can cross a footbridge over the Passaic River to see the falls from a unique perspective, though it is currently closed for construction.

Spanning parts of Paterson and Woodland Park, the Garret Mountain Reservation encompasses 568 acres and yields stunning views of Paterson and the New York City skyline. The reservation is seated on a ridge 500 feet above sea level. Visitors can hike the 2.9-mile Yellow and White Trail Loop, which is dog-friendly and has an elevation gain of 367 feet. The trail is good for hikers of all skill levels and weaves around natural scenery like Barbour Pond and urban buildings like the equestrian center. It is popular for birding, cross-country skiing and hiking. Also, hikers can visit Lambert Castle, a well-known historic landmark built over a hundred years ago, with later additions of an art gallery and an observation tower.

Ramapo Mountain State Forest in Ringwood features 28 trails of varying difficulties for hikers of all skill levels. The trails range from 2.2 to 10.1 miles in length. Hikers can enjoy marked hiking and multi-use trails across interior woodlands and rocky vistas. The trails guide hikers around ponds, lakes and marshes with occasional views of the New York City skyline. Hikers will encounter birds and other forest wildlife. Visitors can also bike and cross-country ski across the multi-use trails. The forest borders Ramapo Reservation in Bergen County.

The High Mountain Park Preserve in Wayne has eight challenging, dog-friendly trails. The forest spans woodlands and wetlands and is home to rare and threatened plants and wildlife. The trails range from 4.2 to 8.2 miles long and 551 to 1,171 feet in elevation gain. The preserve's best trail is the High Mountain Summit Loop, which is 4.7 miles and takes hikers to High Mountain's Summit. The trail takes about two hours to complete and offers beautiful views of the New York City skyline and North Jersey.

This 36-mile trail follows a horseshoe path from Branch Brook in Newark to the South Mountain Reservation in Millburn. It's unique for its blend of natural and developed areas, linking woodlands with 18 parks and 11 municipalities. Hikers will encounter white-tailed deer, birds and other wildlife in the trail's forested areas. The trail guides hikers through diverse scenery including forests, historic areas and a rail trail in addition to urban areas. Hiking the entire length of this trail would take about one day.