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Coming soon to a mailbox near you!

The U.S. Postal Service is set to release a 15-stamp series this week that honors the Appalachian Trail—and two of the stamps depict scenic hiking destinations in New York and New Jersey!

The New York stamp in the upcoming Appalachian Trail Forever Stamp series depicts Fitzgerald Falls just outside of Sterling Forest State Park, while the New Jersey stamp features the Pochuck Boardwalk in Wawayanda State Park. Both spots are close to the heart of our community and hold a special place in Trail Conference history.

Two transformative trail projects, many years in the making

In 2012, the Trail Conference teamed up with the Jolly Rovers Trail Crew to complete a herculean trail restoration operation at New York’s Fitzgerald Falls. The 25-person crew dedicated more than 1,000 volunteer hours to move 300-pound chunks of native stone along the steep grade of the gorge, installing 60 stone steps into the trail and several large stone crossings across the stream below the falls.

The Trail Conference’s commitment to New Jersey’s Pochuck Boardwalk dates back more than 40 years. Beginning in 1982, an estimated 500 volunteers contributed nearly 9,000 hours to create the Pochuck Trail portion of the Appalachian Trail, featuring a mile-long boardwalk with a 110-foot wooden suspension bridge.

The section officially opened to hikers in 2002. Since then, the spirited West Jersey Trail Crew (pictured above) has been hard at work maintaining the Pochuck Boardwalk, enhancing the path plank by plank into the iconic hiking destination it is today.

The Appalachian Trail Forever Stamp series is set to be released on February 28. When you spot a stamp from the series out in the wild, take a moment to appreciate the natural beauty it depicts—and give thanks to the incredible volunteers who make it all possible!

Want your summer to rock?

This could be you! The Trail Conference is now accepting applications for the 2025 Conservation Corps season.

As a Conservation Corps member, you’ll gain hands-on experience protecting and preserving one of the nation’s most vibrant trail networks and make a lasting impact on the environment. Conservation Corps members receive top-notch training, a living stipend, and are eligible for education awards through AmeriCorps, with opportunities in outdoor leadership, invasive species management, technical trail building, volunteer engagement, and more.

Whether you’re just starting your trail journey or gearing up for an epic career change, we’d love to hear from you. Click the button below to learn more about the Conservation Corps program and how to apply!

Let your voice be heard, New Jersey residents and trail users!

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and New Jersey Department of Transportation have launched an online Trail Users Survey as part of the Governor Murphy Administration’s efforts to expand and improve the public’s access to safe, inclusive outdoor recreation and active transportation opportunities throughout the state.

The online survey is the next phase of a public engagement effort to inform the Administration’s development of the New Jersey Trails Playbook, an innovative initiative designed to promote and facilitate trail projects across the state that ensure everyone has access to trails that meet their needs and abilities.

Members of the public are encouraged to complete the survey by Friday, March 31. Click the button below to let your voice be heard!

Photo: The view from Horse Pond Mountain in Long Pond Ironworks State Park through the seasons, courtesy of Brian Shultis

Calling all invasive species sleuths🕵️🌿

It’s National Invasive Species Awareness Week! And while the forests may be blanketed in snow at the moment, many common invasive species are still recognizable in the Northeast during winter, even without their leaves.

Detecting these species in your yard now gives you a head start on your future management and removal plans, and provides a helping hand to native species in reclaiming their habitat. Here are a few invasive species to be on the lookout for this season:

🌿 Barberry (top left): Thinly branched shrub with pointed spine near the leaf node and ovular red berries

🌿 Bittersweet (top right): Woody vine that grows in vertical coils around trees and has red/yellow berries

🌿 Wisteria (bottom left): Thin, brown climbing vine with red/dark purple buds

🌿 Tree of heaven (bottom middle): Stout trunk with bark textured like a cantaloupe rind, branches that resemble an upturned hand, fingers reaching toward the sky

🌿 Garlic mustard (bottom right): Grounded cluster of green heart-shaped leaves

Ready to join us? Click the button below to learn how to take action against invasive species from our Lower Hudson PRISM stewardship team!

Written content contributed by volunteer Annalise Jarski

Lower Hudson PRISM, together with the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, empowers more than 10,000 volunteers in its mission to combat invasive species and restore native habitats throughout the Lower Hudson region of New York State.

To stay informed about all our ecological initiatives and discover how you can get involved, be sure to subscribe to our monthly Stewardship Newsletter!

Image credit: coachwood / Adobe Stock

A winter wonderland awaits

It’s been a snowy winter in New York and New Jersey, transforming our cherished region into a haven for cross-country skiing. We’ve picked out a few of our favorite spots for your next snowy ski escape.

From bustling parks that boast groomed ski trails and on-site gear rentals to the hushed serenity of an ungroomed path, the following ski spots offer breathtaking scenery and plenty of wintertime adventure. Bundle up, grab your gear, and hit the trails!

Featured Hike: West Kill Mountain from Spruceton Road

Hiking Difficulty: Advanced

This challenging 7-mile out-and-back hike guides you past breathtaking Diamond Notch Falls before beginning its rugged ascent to the summit of mighty West Kill.

Gaining roughly 1,700 feet in elevation in just over 3.4 miles, with most of that gain concentrated into a single mile, West Kill is sure to test your stamina. But the sweeping views at Buck Ridge Lookout near the summit of the mountain make this exhilarating hike more than worth the effort. Read the full hike description here.

Photo: Courtesy of Matthew Thompson

Have an inspiring story or trail experience to share? We'd love to hear from you! Reach out at [email protected].