4.8 miles | 302 ft gain | Difficulty: Easy | Rating ★★★★

We went apple picking last weekend in the far corner of New Jersey, a stones throw across the border from Warwick, New York. The orchards at Pochuck Valley Farm, were a hike of their own. With acres of land and nearly 2,000 trees, you could always find your own corner of solitude. It was a bonus when we learned the AT was right down the street, including the Stairway to Heaven, a hike that’s been on our list for some time now.

Starting on Route 517, the walk across the boardwalk, through the woods and up the “stairway” was about 7.5 miles. Unfortunately, our apple picking excursion ran late and we decided to save the stairway itself for another day (there’s another parking area right there).

After snatching one of the many parking spots along the road, we immediately dipped down into the marshy valley, along a narrow winding boardwalk. With the high cattails among us, it was hard to see the route of the boardwalk. At some points we felt isolated and completely engulfed.

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The hike was about half boardwalk, half woods. When we first entered the woods with a slight climb, I paused at the odd branch laying along the trail. It turned out to be an enormous black rat snake, just hanging out. We waited a good five minutes for it to slowly slither out of our path.

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Exiting the woods for a final time, we crossed some tracks into a cow pasture. Hikers were warned not to approach the cows, though even if we wanted to, they choose to be far, far away back by the barn. Crossing the pasture, we reached Route 94 where one could continue across the road to climb the Stairway to Heaven, walk a dozen or so yards to Heaven Hill Farm for an ice cream break, or simply turn around and head back to the car, as we did.

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AllTrails reviews warned of horrible bugs, as recent as only a few days before. But they didn’t seem to be aggressive. I should have listened. Even though I didn’t feel any bites during the hike, I was covered with welts the next day. Never. Trust. Bugs.