The Most Beautiful Trail I Hiked This Year, Through the Forest 🌲

📍 Cheesequake State Park 🟩Usually, I start hiking around the time when the maple leaves change color, but this year I started earlier and chose some easier trails. Summer hiking has its own unique charm! The pros and cons are both quite apparent. The downside is the abundance of bugs, but the upside is the clear weather and beautiful scenery, and you can work up a sweat with just a leisurely walk! 🟩This trail is located near Edison, and it’s less than a 20-minute drive. It’s highly playable, well-organized, and you don’t have to worry about getting lost—just follow the path! The scenery is amazing, with lakes, forests, wheat fields, and even a spot for crab fishing. Almost the entire trail is shaded by trees, so you won’t get sunburned. There’s a short section through a wheat field that’s incredibly picturesque, giving you a sense of the wind rustling through the wheat. However, be aware of mosquitoes🦟—make sure to apply plenty of insect repellent! I got bitten on the back of my ear because I missed a spot. 🟩We started on the blue trail and then took the yellow trail back to the parking lot. The entire loop is about 2.5 miles. Except for a 0.2-mile section with some stairs, the trail is mostly flat. The whole hike took around 1 hour and 30 minutes and burned 265 calories. 🟩At the beginning, where the blue and red trails split, there’s a small specimen museum showcasing all the animals that live in the park, including various birds and skunks. They look incredibly lifelike. There are also many artificial birdhouses around, making it a great spot for birdwatching. Continuing on the blue trail, you’ll find a beautiful forest perfect for taking photos. As you approach the end of the blue trail, you’ll see the wheat fields waving in the wind—it’s breathtakingly beautiful. In the middle of the wheat field is a crab bridge, where many people fish for crabs and seem to have good luck. If you just want to crab fish, you can drive directly to the parking lot at the end of the blue trail. After passing the wheat field and walking a short distance, you’ll reach a large lake where geese migrate during the colder months. From there, you can follow the yellow trail back to the start. 🟩Along the way, you’ll see many different plant species with informational signs, and you’ll hear a lot of bird songs—it’s truly relaxing! This trail is perfect for a leisurely hike and is very beginner-friendly. #NYCSurroundings #HikingTrailRecommendations #NYCLife #NYCEatDrinkPlay #NJSurroundings #NewJerseyHiking #NewJersey #NewJerseyNJEatDrinkPlay #NYCWeekendPlans #NYCWeekendActivities #NYCHiking #NewJerseyHiking