As I prepared for my walking adventures this spring, I spend a good deal of time searching for a walking route with smooth, even footing, gradual inclines and declines, and a shaded trail that goes on for miles and miles. I know, I thought it would be easier to find a unicorn in a haystack, but to my great surprise and good fortune, such a trail does exist.

On the hottest day of late spring, I found the most walkable trail in North Jersey called the Paulinskill Valley Rail Trail.