Showshoeing on the East Coast.... where???

Being a western transplant to the New Jersey area I am feeling lost in the winter sports area.
No more heading out my back door for some snow filled fun... where's a girl to go???


Any tips for "day trip distance" snow shoe fun in the New Jersey area will be greatly appreciated.

Since I live in New Joisey too I can tell you that the only places that have had appreciable snowfall this year are in the NW section of the state. Now, if state gets a large storm blowing through I'd say grab your shoes and head straight for the Batona Trail over in the Lebanon State Forest <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" /> That's one of my favorite areas to hike any time of the year <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Head out to some of the NW'estern State Forests for snowshoe-able trails IMO.

[quote]Being a western transplant to the New Jersey area I am feeling lost in the winter sports area.
No more heading out my back door for some snow filled fun... where's a girl to go???


Any tips for "day trip distance" snow shoe fun in the New Jersey area will be greatly appreciated. [/quote

I would say, MOVE........northern New England has quite a bit of snow.........not the champagne powduh of the Wasatch but certainly snowshoe and ski variety.

Where in NJ are you -northern or southern..........the Poconos in Penn. get some snow.........West Virginia in the mtns gets snow and of course Vermont for norrthern NE is closest to you...........with, I think, the best snow in the east.............

Fort Kent, Maine has had 10 feet of snow this season!!!!!! The snowbanks in our "little village" at Sunday River are five to six feet high..........the Western Mtns of Maine are great this year............

You just have to travel.............

What made you leave the West?

Don't know what the snow level is at the moment, but the Catskills generally offer a reasonable amount of snow and snow shoeing opportunities. Check out the NY-NJ Trail Conference. I"m pretty sure they have a website. They are a hiking club that runs winter trips into the Catskills.

Also, you can check out western mass (Mt. Greylock and Environs) and Southwestern Vt.--Mt. Snow/Brattleboro/and a little east of Benington area.
Gerry Magnes
Schenectady, NY

Great ideas.........forgot about these options......

The major problem with NYC/NJ areas is that you have to travel to get to the good stuff..........Here in Maine it is out my front and back doors but the Kultuh of NYC is a trip............a trade-off I am willing to make (having lived in Manhattan in my formative years-YEARS AGO!!!).............

The OP asked for 'day trip' areas; and you guys put up nice options, but no 'day trips' as far as I'm concerned. Living in Nj is a tradeoff you are close to alot, but share it with millions; and sometimes the trails feel like it <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> BUT, if you go in the off seasons you can find sparsely populated trails to enjoy shoeing or skiing.

Go up to Campmor in Paramus and checkout the locals board, plus all the fliers for outdoor stuff after you pass through the cashiers. You will find tons of info for yourself on the area <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Driving anywhere in NJ is not that hard, unless a traffic accident snarls traffic, or it's the 'rush'; then you're pretty much resolved to listening to that book on tape you have (hopefully) in your car <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Hey Eugene
I'm not that familiar with Jersey geography and
I realize that Western Mass and Vt. might be a bit of stretch, but aren't the Catskills within easy range at least of northern Jersey and parts heading down towards Elizabeth and maybe a little further south? Gerry

Gerry, you are correct in your post; though the OP did not state where in Nj she is <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> so that adds to the confusion, expected by a transplant from the West Coast <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Anyway, the only routes out of NJ are the GSPKWY/NJTPKE or routes West, and most take a minimum of 2 hours to get to PA from the Coast of NJ due to traffic snafus <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Gerry, there are lots of large State parks & Forests in NJ with trails that are suitable for shoeing. It's just that we have'nt had any appreciable snowfall this Winter <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> which = drought to a farmer <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

I doubt CT has any snow on the ground right now to the MA border but I could be mistaken.

Ah, you folks up in the 'Daks got it all Gerry <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

You'd do well to fill in your Profile so folks can better address your future questions comet. I often check a poster's profile in order to determine their region before I answer their posts. Just like with this question <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Well, as far as TODAY goes you could probably put on your snowshoes at your front door and stomp around your neighborhood <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> First 8" of snow all year here in Monmouth county near Sandy Hook NSS <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" /> A zillion birds are at my feeders this morning, and 2 deer 'ghosted' through the snow covered woods....ahhhh <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" />