Stairway to Heaven Trail
Stairway to Heaven Trail
4.5
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Duration: More than 3 hours
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4.5
62 reviews
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Acer
1 contribution
Oct 2020
This place used to be gorgeous...but now it's incredibly overcrowded no matter what day you go. Litter everywhere, people laying loud music, hard to park. Impossible to keep a safe distance on narrow, steep, rocky trail. Probably a COVID-19 hotspot. Definitely skip it and find somewhere else to hike!
Written 15 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joe G
Vernon, NJ220 contributions
Aug 2017 • Family
This is a moderately hard trail that is quite steep in some places. Before it had a name (Stairway To Heaven) it was a locally known part of the AT leading up from Vernon to Waywayonda State Park. In the past it was lightly traveled but now it's part of the "Bag an Iconic Trail" scene with the small parking lot on Route 94 at the trailhead totally jammed with cars. Getting to the top will take an hour to hour and a half if you take your time and enjoy the forest with its several lookouts on the way up. Many switchbacks allow for a gradual ascent but again there are some fairly steep parts. Kids 5 or 6 and older can probably make it if you take your time, as can older folks. Wear good hiking shoes with nonslip soles and good ankle support. Many parts of the trail are wet and/or slippery. The view from the top is beautiful especially if you time your visit to make the top at sunset. View faces due West with High Point Monument visible in the distance. Bring water and a snack. There is no reliable potable water on the trail.
Written 22 July 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gary M
282 contributions
May 2017 • Couples
My Girlfriend and I have wanted to do this hike for a while now and finally got a chance to do it yesterday. The view from the top was amazing, and we were able to see the High Point monument in the distance. Plenty of places to sit and eat lunch when you are up top.
For starters we did the whole trail and by that I mean we parked on Rt 517 and started on the boardwalk. In my opinion you are better off just parking at the Rt 94 parking lot and heading up the mountain, your not missing much. I GPS tracked our walk from the starting point to the top of the mountain and it was roughly 4 miles one way with an elevation gain of 1007'. Not doing the boardwalk portion would easily cut almost 2 miles out which would save your legs for scrambling up the mountain. It was a beautiful view from the top, well worth the hike. Not as good as Mt. Tammany on the NJ/PA border or Breakneck Ridge in NY state but still a great hike nonetheless.
For starters we did the whole trail and by that I mean we parked on Rt 517 and started on the boardwalk. In my opinion you are better off just parking at the Rt 94 parking lot and heading up the mountain, your not missing much. I GPS tracked our walk from the starting point to the top of the mountain and it was roughly 4 miles one way with an elevation gain of 1007'. Not doing the boardwalk portion would easily cut almost 2 miles out which would save your legs for scrambling up the mountain. It was a beautiful view from the top, well worth the hike. Not as good as Mt. Tammany on the NJ/PA border or Breakneck Ridge in NY state but still a great hike nonetheless.
Written 3 May 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Patti B
Vernon, NJ77 contributions
May 2015 • Family
I made the climb with my daughter. We're both in reasonable shape, but we could both use a lot more exercise. We made it to the top of the mountain and took a picture on Pinwheel. We had a great sense of accomplishment because we're not avid hikers, and I hope this review convinces others to do so as well.
Don't forget the bug spray. :)
Don't forget the bug spray. :)
Written 25 April 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
coachmikec
Chatham, NJ394 contributions
Aug 2018 • Couples
If you were going to begin on the boardwalk section which is a very popular and very fun place to walk, I highly recommend you bring bug spray. Especially in the summer months, the mosquitoes are quite troublesome.
There are wonderful scenic portions to the hike and the stairway itself while challenging is very manageable. You will get a wonderful view and this trail has something for everyone
There are wonderful scenic portions to the hike and the stairway itself while challenging is very manageable. You will get a wonderful view and this trail has something for everyone
Written 27 August 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mogulz
New Jersey43 contributions
Jun 2016
There is usually plenty of parking along route 94 where the AT crosses the road. Be careful of fast vehicles. The hike begins pretty tame across a couple fields. The trail enters the woods then runs to the south a bit. Once through a boulder field the trail begins to climb. "Annie's Bluff" is a small lookout early in the steep section that is easy to miss. The steep section is a bit more than 1/2 mile. When the tough part is over you'll see an enormous pile of rocks. Keep left here and follow blue blazes a few hundred feet to the Pinwheel Vista. The view is great and there's plenty of room for all the hikers this place attracts.
Written 4 July 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hertravel13
NJ292 contributions
Sept 2015 • Family
A rewarding hike at the top of NJ. The AT goes through Vernon and this is a trail cut into Pochunk Mountains. The climb is a little challenging for the very casual, out of shape hiker like me. The trail is rocky and the "stairs" are rocks that have been placed on the trail to make the climb easier. It is not like a flight of stairs. It is like a flight of stairs with rocks, dirt, trees, switchbacks, that climb 1000 feet to the top of the mountain leading to an amazing view at Pinwheel's Vista. Follow the white AT blazes from the parking lot to the top. At the huge rock caron, take the final walk on the blue blazes trail to the very top. If you follow the white trail to the very top, the view is minimal, but you can sign the AT register. This hike isn't for small kids. They'd love the beginning of stepping over branches and rocks, but easily tire of the steep climb an hour in. The trail is about 2.5 miles from the parking lot to the top. Plan about 90 minutes one way up for the casual hiker. Less time if you are physically fit. Coming down is a lot faster but be wary of some of the steep spots. Good weather weekends are busy and you'll pass lots of other hikers. Certain times of the year you can meet thru-hikers on the AT. Bring water and bring a celebratory snack for the top. No bathrooms. For a longer walk, there are other sections of the AT nearby.
Written 26 September 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ejcc273
Clifton, New Jersey3 contributions
Jul 2018
Worth the view, but getting there was very very difficult. And we do hike. At some sections we were literally climbing, hanging on with our bare hands. It was tough to tough for us, but if you are a climber, not just a hiker try it. It is a beautiful view from the top.
Written 15 January 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jbss1173
Vernon, NJ6 contributions
Oct 2018 • Solo
This trail is literally in my backyard. From my house to the top of the Stairway to Heaven Trail is approximately 13 miles. You won't be alone on most of your tour and expect a lot of "tourists" especially on the Boardwalk section of the trail. Unfortunately, over the years, a few newspapers decided to sensationalize this hiking route and people come on nice nights and weekends in droves. Please take your garbage with you when you leave!! Clean up after your dog and yourself!
Written 6 November 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Polaroids & Drinkin Stories
United States2,367 contributions
Mar 2016 • Solo
This is an awesome hike that has a little bit of everything. I guess you could split this hike into two parts. If you park on 517 you'll walk through some flat lands, boardwalks, a suspension bridge, a slight incline and through a cow pasture. At the end you'll come to Rt 94 parking lot where you'll pick up the trail to head up the mountain and the Stairway to Heaven overlook. So if you don't feel like doing the whole thing park on Rt 94. Otherwise I highly recommend parking on 517 and taking it all in. Parking on 517 is limited, maybe space for 15 cars. I was there on a weekday and it was not crowded at all. But I hear on weekends it gets busy. I can totally see that. The hike up the Stairway can get a bit steep at points. Bring plenty of water. I was there in March and it was cool to see the ski slopes in the distance, even though we were having a nice 70 degree day. The trail is marked very well. Follow the white markings. Near the top you'll see a big pile of rocks that's where the trail splits off to blue markers to the overlooks. It's very easy to spot. There was also a sign nailed to a tree next to the rock pile with "The View" etched into it. Excellent views of the valley. Highly recommend this hike.
Written 16 March 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi. I want to do this hike but I want to include the suspension bridge, cow pasture and boards. I have been given conflicting info. Where do I start/park and how long would it be round trip?
Written 25 November 2020
Hi, you should park on Rt 517, start of the boardwalk and walk to Rt 94 at the base of stairway to heaven hike (pinwheel vista). Be careful to not to park in the no parking zone. See the map at njhiking website.
Written 26 November 2020
I’m in pretty good shape, have a bad knee but still love to walk and exercise. My kids are afraid after traveling two hours there might be stuff I might not be able to do. Also, if we wanted to cut the seven miles short can we?
Written 6 July 2019
There is trailhead parking on rt94 that makes the round trip @3miles. You can add more miles once down from the viewpoint by adding the boardwalk
Written 24 August 2019
I'm coming from NYC. What would I type into my GPS to get to the beginning of the trail? (boardwalk).
Written 15 September 2018
It’s just before the intersection of Route 517 and Carol Drive in Vernon NJ if you are heading north on Route 517. There is no parking lot but you can park on the side of the road - only where indicated. They will ticket you if you park on Carol Drive or one of the local side streets because of owners complaints.
Written 15 September 2018
Stairway To Heaven Trail:
Can you tell me how to actually get there? from rt.. 515 or rt.. 94 ? where is the entrance ? parking ?
I'm coming from rt. 23 north..
If I had an address to the parking lot or start I can put it in my GPS..
thanks
Written 11 June 2018
Hey there...we wound up taking Rte. 94. The parking was on the side of the road but you'll know you're there because there's usually other people parked on the side with you. This is the starting point before getting on the boardwalk and suspension bridges. There is parking by the 515 entrance; however we wanted the full experience starting off by the 94 entrance. It's a challenging hike with some rough, uphill terrain...but totally worth it! Have fun ;-)
Written 22 June 2018
Does anybody know how long for this hike? For the whole trip, walk in and out.
Written 5 December 2017
for the Stairway ~2-3 hours depending on stamina and weather. for the entire area trail including the boardwalk plan to double that.
Written 18 December 2017
Does anyone know the address to the entrance to the beginning of the boardwalk area?
Written 22 September 2017
route 517 vernon. you'll pass Some place special plaza if coming from vernon rt 94. you'll see roadside parking ad many cars. I'd you get to The Candy Apple shoppe then you went too far but take advantage of going too far and buy some yummy treats with homemade chocolate.
Written 3 October 2017
How physically fit must an individual be to be able to do this hike? I have arthritis and have a hard time with stairs but I can do a moderate amount of them.
Written 20 July 2017
Zonia,
in your case I would do the hike from the top of the ride out to the scenic outlook. the bottom up to the scenic outlook is pretty much a vertical climb and far too difficult with bad arthritis (I have it in both knees but push through). From the top out was much easier and afforded many spots to stop and rest along the way.
Hope this helps!
Written 23 July 2017
Are there any camping sites near this trail ? I'm going with my aunt on June 28, 2017 to the trails and she would like to camp out for the night.
Written 25 June 2017
Are there any camping sites by this trail ?
Written 25 June 2017
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