Moderate, 7.7 mi out and back, or nature walk

1,302 ft elevation gain

8/24/25

Flickr Album

Named after the song by famed Jersey rockers, the Stairway to Heaven section of the Appalachian Trail begins with an easy boardwalk through marshland, across a wooden suspension bridge, and then up along a stairwell built among a bolder field. A great hike complete, either section could be standalone.

The boardwalk snakes its way out of the trees and into the reeds in the early wetland section of the hike. Still more of a nature path at this point, this area would be great for birding.

A wooden pedestrian suspension bridge, which seemed way over-engineered for the body of water that it crossed, but was still super cool.

The expansive view from the scenic area up top, with a variety of farm and forest land spreading out under partly cloudy skies.