Home ⎟ Hikes & Wanderings ⎟ New Jersey ⎟ Stairway to Heaven

Distance: 2.5 miles

Time: 2 hours

Difficulty: Moderately-Strenuous, Steep

Elevation Gain: 900 feet

Dog Friendly: Yes.

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Trailhead Directions: From Warwick, New York head south on Route 94 toward Vernon. Enter NJ and right after Heaven Hill Farm (on your right), you’ll turn left into a trailhead parking area large enough for 6-8 cars.

Hike Directions: From the parking area, walk up the steps at the end of the parking area. You’ll see a trail kiosk above the steps with information pertaining to the area. In 0.45 miles you’ll enter the woods at the opposite end of an open field. Veer right  continuing through a boulder field at the base of Wawayanda Mountain, then ascending via switchbacks and stone steps kindly put there by Appalachian Trail Conference volunteers.  The ascend gets steeper as you gain elevation, crossing a stream and continuing on the white blazes all the way to the top of the ridge. Once on top, turn left on the white blazes for a hundred feet to a large cairn (pile of rocks) put there by hikers proud of their accomplishment in arriving to the top. At the cairn, you’ll depart from the Appalachian Trailand turn left on the blue blazed spur trail to Pinwheel Vista, just 100 feet from the Appalachian Trail. Return the way you came.

Scenery: 7/10