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Fine art photography print of Hooks Creek at sunset in Cheesequake State Park, New Jersey — available as a framed print, canvas, or metallic paper print.
There's enough room to sleep in a BMW X3 if it's just you, and maybe enough for a very close couple if neither of you minds being tight on space. I tested this setup by myself, and at a little over 6 feet tall I was able to fit by moving the front passenger seat all the way forward, folding both rear seats down, and sleeping on the passenger side.
What surprised me is that space wasn't really the biggest problem. The bigger issues were heat, bugs, and how the mattress handled the transition where the flat cargo area runs out. My cheap Intex mattress was actually fine, and the rear headrests helped support the head end more than I expected once I extended them, but I still stuffed clothes underneath that area to give it some extra support.
So yes, sleeping in a BMW X3 can work. It's not just about finding a mattress that fits. You've also got to figure out how to stay comfortable once the flat cargo floor runs out, how to keep cool on a hot night, and how to get airflow without letting the bugs in.
The Woods of Wenonah Trail System is a network of easy, scenic trails in Wenonah, NJ, totaling just under 6 miles and maintained by the Wenonah Environmental Commission.
Trails are fairly easy to travel on, but some get muddy or swampy (there are planks in most of these areas).
Along the trails you can see Wenonah Lake, Comey’s Lake, Dilk’s Pond, Monongahela Brook, Mantua Creek, and a Tea House.
There are small loops of 1 mile or less around certain areas such as the lakes and Monongahela Brook, but the longer trails (Break Back Run Trail, Mantua Creek Trail, and Glen Trail) are more straight-through. By combining a few trails (plus a little street walking), I made a loop that began and ended at the parking lot for Wenonah Lake.
If you want a New Jersey hike that feels like you went somewhere, but still fits into a busy day, Tillman Ravine Trail is a solid pick.
This is a fairly easy, mostly out-and-back hike (about 1.8 miles) in the Tillman Ravine Natural Area within Stokes State Forest in Walpack Township, NJ.
You’ll walk through a ravine carved by Tillman Brook, pass small waterfalls, and cross a few little bridges. It’s short, but it doesn’t feel boring.
The trail also has a fork early on, and choosing the right direction makes the whole hike better.
| Activity: | Cycling, Hiking |
|---|---|
| Cycling Distance: | 20.4 Miles |
| Hiking Distance: | 2.0 Miles |
| Difficulty: | Moderate |
| Duration: | Less than 3 Hours |
There is a specific kind of panic that sets in when the dirt path beneath your feet starts to look less like a trail and more like a random collection of leaves and rocks.
For hikers in the NYC and NJ area, navigating the woods isn't just about following a worn path; it's about "reading the trees." Whether you are trekking through Harriman State Park, the Catskills, or the Delaware Water Gap, those little rectangles of paint—known as trail blazes—are your primary navigation tools.
While they might look like random splashes of color at first, these markings follow a standardized language. Understanding this system is the difference between a confident afternoon in nature and an accidental overnight stay in the wilderness. If you've ever wondered "what are the painted squares on trees when hiking?" or "how do I stay on the trail?"—this guide is for you.
Ready to stop guessing which way the trail went? Here is exactly how to read trail markers like a professional navigator.
In North America, a trail blaze is a directional symbol—usually a 2" by 6" rectangle—painted at eye level on trees or rocks. These markers are designed to be visible even when the ground is covered in snow, mud, or thick autumn leaves. In some parks, you may also see plastic or metal markers nailed to trees or posts.
The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference and other local organizations use distinct colors to separate different paths. In a dense park system, you might follow the "Blue Trail" for two miles before switching to the "White Trail." Knowing how to identify these transitions is the "secret sauce" of hiking for beginners.
While colors change, the pattern of the rectangles tells you exactly what to do next. Use this table as a quick reference for the most common directional markings you'll encounter on the trail.
| Blaze Pattern | Official Meaning | Directional Cue |
|---|---|---|
| Single Rectangle | Continue Straight | Follow the current path forward. |
| Right-Step Double | Right Turn Ahead | Follow the direction of the top-most blaze. |
| Left-Step Double | Left Turn Ahead | Follow the direction of the top-most blaze. |
| Triple (Triangle) | Start or End | Indicates the trail's official terminus. |
Reading turns and starts is where most hikers get turned around. The key is to look at the "leading" blaze (the one on top) or the "point" of the triangle.
A single rectangular blaze confirms you are on the right path. Look for these every 200–300 yards. If you lose sight of the blazes, stop immediately.
When you see two blazes where the top rectangle is shifted to the right of the bottom one, the trail is about to make a right turn. Look for the next blaze in that direction.
If the top rectangle is shifted to the left, the trail is making a left turn. The offset acts like a visual arrow pointing your way.
Three blazes in a triangle with one blaze at the top (pointing away from you) indicates the start of the trail or a trailhead.
Three blazes in a triangle with the single point at the bottom (pointing toward you) indicates the end of the trail.
💡 Tip: Think of the 3-blaze pattern as a "V" for "Victory" for completing your hike!
If you see three blazes with two different colors (e.g., two white and one blue), you are at a junction. The double color represents your current trail, while the single color represents the crossing trail.
There is a fine line between a helpful trail marker and a nuisance. When you are hiking, it is important to understand the difference between a System Cairn and a Pointless Cairn.
The golden rule of trail markers is Leave No Trace. If you didn't build it for survival or official maintenance, don't build it at all.
Colors are not universal indicators of difficulty. A color simply identifies a specific "line" on the map. Always check the park's physical map or an app like AllTrails to see which color corresponds to your intended route.
A black stripe or a "painted over" blaze usually means that section of the trail is decommissioned. Do not follow these markings; the trail has likely been rerouted for environmental protection.
Stop immediately. Retrace your steps to the very last blaze you are 100% sure you saw. Perform a 360-degree scan to find the next marker before moving again.
| Key Navigation Terms | |
|---|---|
| Blaze | The primary painted or plastic path marker. |
| Cairn | A stack of rocks used in treeless areas. |
| Terminus | The official beginning or end of a trail. |
| Concurrent | When two different trails share the same path. |
| Reassurance | The blaze found shortly after a turn to confirm you are correct. |
| Activity: | Cycling, Hiking |
|---|---|
| Cycling Distance: | 13.9 Miles |
| Hiking Distance: | 3.5 Miles |
| Difficulty: | Moderate |
| Duration: | About 3 Hours |
| Activity: | Cycling, Hiking |
|---|---|
| Cycling Distance: | 6.6 Miles |
| Hiking Distance: | Varies but at least about 1 mile |
| Difficulty: | Moderate |
| Duration: | 1 Hour |
Cold weather has always been the biggest obstacle to keeping my running and hiking routine going through winter. When it is 25°F outside, crawling out of a warm bed to go exercise feels… questionable at best.
So when Bosch released the Bosch PSJ120 heated jacket, originally designed for construction workers, I decided to try something a little unconventional and use it as a winter running jacket.
Turns out, heated jackets and early morning runs are a surprisingly good match.
In fact, this one simple piece of gear made getting out the door in the cold dramatically easier.
When I was looking for new trail running shoes, a lot of the reviews I found were written by people who only owned the shoes a short time. I wanted to wait until I had real experience before posting my thoughts. After putting over 360 miles of hiking, trail running, road running, and walking in my Merrell Moab Gore-Tex Hiking Shoes, I wanted to share my opinion. These shoes rock.
When I first purchased them, I could have sworn they were labeled as trail running shoes and not hiking shoes. Either my memory is off or they started calling them hiking shoes to make it clear they are not the thin, light minimalist type. For someone like me who likes more protection on rocky trails, I run just fine in them.
If you want to know what Carpenter's Trail in Fort Lee actually feels like before you go, this video gives you a realistic look at the climb, the pace, and the views on the way up.
Carpenter's Trail in the Fort Lee section of Palisades Interstate Park is a short but serious stone stair climb that takes you from Shore Trail along the Hudson River up roughly 300 feet to the top of the Palisades, where it connects with the Long Path.
For me, stair climbing is one of the best low-impact cardio options around. At a solid pace it can push my heart rate into the same range I see while jogging, but without the same joint stress that usually comes with running.
So if you're curious whether this trail is worth doing, or just want to preview the climb before heading out, the video below should help.
Winter hiking in the Palisades can be one of the most peaceful experiences in North Jersey. Fewer people, clear views through the bare trees, and the Hudson River quietly moving below the cliffs.
Of course it also means cold air, shorter days, and the occasional moment where your brain convinces you every rustling sound in the woods is something mildly terrifying.
Over the last few weeks I've been trying to get back into my regular outdoor workouts. My usual routine involves jogging and hiking around Palisades Interstate Park, especially the climb up Carpenter’s Trail.
This particular hike reminded me of two things: winter hiking can be beautiful… and also slightly creepy.
If you're looking for a challenging but incredibly scenic hike near Fort Lee, NJ, one route I keep coming back to is what I call the Carpenter's 8 in Palisades Interstate Park.
Getting back in shape originally started with walking for me, and it is still something I do regularly. During the summer that often means hiking, and one hike I try to do about once a week is this loop that combines Carpenter's Loops I & II. The result is a sort of figure-eight route that climbs Carpenter's Trail twice.
The route mixes riverside walking along the Hudson River with wooded cliff-top trails and one serious stair climb that gets your heart rate up fast.
It is about 8 miles total, and the stair climb alone will wake your legs up.