Appalachian Trail Pochuck Boardwalk || New Jersey Travel
Appalachian Trail Pochuck Boardwalk - Vernon Valley, NJ
The Appalachian Trail Pochuck Boardwalk is an easy 1.8 mile out-and-back trail located in Sussex County, NJ. As the name suggests, this trail is part of the Appalachian Trail, which runs from Maine to Georgia. The boardwalk is also the starting point for most hikers doing the Stairway to Heaven trail.
A majority of the trail is a wooden boardwalk in great condition. There were a few people with young kids and strollers who had no problem walking this beautiful path, although there are a few spots as you get further along the trail where the boardwalk ends and you briefly need to walk along the dirt path. We went in the afternoon after rain in the morning and these portions of the trail were a bit muddy.
There are a few spots overlooking the Pochuck Creek where we saw fish and turtles, as well as some benches to stop and take in the peaceful views.
The beautiful Pochuck Suspension Bridge is about 0.7 miles into the hike. There is a flight of stairs at either end of the bridge, so it may be a bit more difficult for people with small kids or mobility issues.
Overall, the Appalachian Trail Pochuck Boardwalk was an easy hike with little elevation gain and beautiful views of the marshlands and Pochuck Creek. Walking at a leisurely pace, it took our group 45 minutes to do the out-and-back trail, including spots where we paused to take pictures or observe the wildlife.
Parking:
Parking is located at the boardwalk trailhead on the side of Country Road 517 (a main road in town). There are signs posted that show the boundaries of the parking zone. Since the boardwalk is the start to the longer Stairway to Heaven trail, the parking spots fill quickly on the weekends, especially when the weather is nice.
Comments
Post a Comment