Hiking the Stairway to Heaven Trail

Planning to hike The Stairway to Heaven Trail in NJ? Here are a few things you should #knowbeforeyougo...

1. The trail is located in Waywanda State Park, which is the ancestral land of the Lenape Indians ("Wawayanda" is the name the Lenape Indians gave to a creek they called “water on the mountain.”).

2. To reach the destination, you're following the white trail to the blue trail.

3. The hike length is only 2.6 miles roundtrip but has an elevation gain of approx 900 feet. For the first 1/2-mile, anticipate a steady incline of about a 0% to 10% grade. Then, the mountain hits you with inclines climbing above 30% for the next 1/2-mile. Expect some sweat and prayers to enter the chat during this second half because you will be putting in that WORK!! Just activate that core and keep going!!

4. Did I mention that boulders are everywhere, so expect to do a bit of rock scrambling on these inclines as well (Sidebar: if bouldering is your thing, this is a great place to make it happen). 

5. At the top, you are rewarded with incredible views of Vernon Valley, Pochuck Mountain, the Kittatinny's, and the Catskills. It's a full-on oxytocin overload, and you'll quickly forget how many times you called on the ancestors to help you make it to that point. 

6. According to a sign that greets you before you reach the top, there are timber rattlesnakes and northern copperheads in the park. In my three years of hiking here, I've never seen one, but I'm sharing since they felt it was important enough to post a sign.

7. There are no bathrooms on the trail, so if "nature calls," prepare to answer it in nature.

8. The trail is part of the Appalachian Trail System, and if you walk another 1/2-mile on the White Trail, you'll come to a mailbox in the woods (Cute, right?).  There's usually a notebook, pens, and little trinkets inside for future hikers, and if you scroll through the notebook, you'll find a love note from CAMPING NOIRE reminding everyone that we were there!!  #representationmatters

9. The hike back down is significantly more intense than the hike up.  Your hips, thighs, ankles, glutes, and knees will be put to the test.  If you didn't bring walking sticks, this is a great time to find a stick and let it take some of the pressure off your joints.  Oh, and do yourself a favor and stretch for this hike.

10.  If heights aren't your thing, this may not be the hike for you.  Remember, you are reaching an elevation point of 900ft and looking over cliffs of boulders that your eye is going to follow downward. 

11. Once you're back in the parking lot, don't just hop in your car and go. There's a very cute farm a short walk down the road that we visited that had a bathroom (thank goodness!) and some delicious apple cider donuts, warm homemade apple cider, hot chocolate, and other homemade delightfulness.  It was the perfect re-fuel for the long ride home.  

Have you hiked the Stairway to Heaven Trail?  If so, let me know if I missed anything that future hikers should know. 

Happy hiking!