The Pine Barrens are close(ish) and convenient ... but I'm originally from the Northeast, and I miss NH and VT scenery. Since I don't have time to get up there anytime soon, I'll have to settle for the area up near northwest NJ, where it meets NY and PA - that's got mountains and rocks and rivers and such, right?
So here's my quandry:
I'm looking for backpacking hikes that can be done on 2 day/1 night trips (an overnight on the weekend, for example). Possibly 3 day/2 night. But right now I usually can find some time to get away on a Saturday into Sunday, so that's where I'll start.
The criteria:
1.) I want to hike 5-10 miles each day. Moderate difficulty - not too easy, but not so hard that it'll kill me. Hiking in and hiking back out the same way is not out of the question, if that's what's necessary.
2.) The goal is hiking to hang - so there needs to be camping allowed. Legal camping ... I'm not looking to hike in and stealth camp.
3.) I'm looking for stuff within an couple hours of central Jersey (give or take). I realize that there's the PA Grand Canyon and a bunch of stuff out that way. But that's like 4 hours. Same thing with getting too far into the Adirondacks. If I'm going to drive 4 hours, I'll add the extra 2 and go to New Hampshire or Vermont The Pine Barrens are an hour and a half South. I'm willing to go a touch farther for some elavation and scenery that doesn't invlove flat pine forest and sand.
So, any thoughts? Any favorite trips, loops, etc?
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