What we’re about
FreeWalkers.org is a social network dedicated to exploring life on foot, for walkers and hikers interested in participating in long-distance walking events in the Mid-Atlantic region. Membership is free and open to everyone. We support each member's effort to reach their own goals of fitness and enjoyment as we walk together, explore our surroundings, and promote pro-pedestrian interests.
FreeWalkers has thousands of members and hosts dozens of long-distance walking events each year in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York, as well as many in Maryland, Delaware and Virginia. Most walks are supported by mass transit for easy access and return, and are between ten and fifty miles in length. Some walks are longer multi-day or shorter distance events. We have all kinds of walks, but we are most known for our longer distance walking events. Some of our walks offer shorter 5k to 10k options.
Walkers are free to move at their own pace and distance. It is not necessary for a walk to be completed or timed, only enjoyed. Our walks expose members to countless locations of scenic beauty, historic importance, and pedestrian convenience, all with the benefit of social support, event organization and the opportunity to engage with interesting fellow walkers.
We are an IRS-approved 501(c)3 non-profit and your tax-free donations help us create free and low-cost walks that are interesting, challenging and open to everyone. We manage multiple regional FreeWalkers groups on Meetup. We do encourage joining freewalkers.org and actively supporting our partners and sponsors who help make these events possible. At our website, you can browse photos of our events, learn about our history and mission, and read about the experiences of some of our walkers.
Look for our many walks every year in greater New York City, many parts of New Jersey including Hudson, Union, Middlesex, Somerset, Union, Morris, Monmouth, Mercer and Burlington County; Southeastern Pennsylvania including Philadelphia, Bucks and Montgomery County; Delaware and greater Washington DC. Join us on nature hikes, city walks, history walking tours, long-distance walks, scenic walks and themed walking outings.
Why you might like to join the FreeWalkers:
• Did you ever wonder how far you could walk?
• Would you like to know more about the places you walk?
• Are you more interested in accomplishing personal goals than winning a race?
• Are you the type of person who can't pass up an interesting challenge or adventure?
• Have you ever longed to get out of your car and experience what a community is really like?
• Do you believe you spend nearly as many calories walking as running but over a longer period of time?
• Are you looking for a sport where social interaction is possible?
• Are you looking for an alternative exercise routine that's both easy on the body and builds endurance?
We look forward to seeing you at our next event. Walk the Walk! It's good for you, good for us and good for the greater community. Get out there for your first FreeWalk, and you will be glad that you did.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Celebrate Trails Day with FreeWalkers and Unionconnects!Cranford Train Station, North Ave, Cranford, NJ
# About this event
Add more details about your event and include what people can expect if they attend.
Normal
Time: 8:30 am
Start: Cranford Train Station.
End points: Finish with the group in Kenilworth, or return on foot to Cranford.
Distance: 3 miles to Kenilworth, then 4 miles with UnionConnect folks and a few miles back to the station if you choose, or arrange a carpool/Uber back to your car.
Where to find us: Town side parking lot of the station.
Mini Walk: Yes - can be as short as 3 miles, or more.
Terrain: paved and some unfinished rail trails - a bit of brush.
Transit: NJ Transit to Cranford Train Station.
Return: on foot or carpool.
Parking: FREE at the station
Difficulty: Beginner /Intermediate
Category: nature, urban
Coordinator: Cory Storch
Celebrate Trails Day! FreeWalkers is excited to join Stephen Dunn, the Biking Fireman, for this impactful event to promote the development of the Rahway Valley Railroad (RVR) Trail.- If you want to make this walk longer than 4 miles (see poster below) meet us at the Cranford train station at 8:30 am to walk and meet the others in Kenilworth.
- At 10 am we will meet additional walkers across the street from the ACME in Kenilworth for talks and another short 4 mile walk with Steve Dunn and the group.
- Following the walk all are invited to join us at the Two Ton Brewing Co. in Kenilworth to celebrate!! www.twotonbrewing.com from 12- 3 pm - open house for great food and drinks.
- After the Brewery you can walk back to Cranford, take an Uber or grab a ride with someone who might be going back .
When complete, the RVR will connect from Summit all the way to Roselle Park, 7.3 miles of traffic free multi-use path. Let's turn out in force to push its development along!
Partners:
The East Coast Greenway Alliance is a non-profit organization developing a public multi-use 3,000 mile trail from Canada to Key West through New Jersey and New York. Donations and memberships help make this dream trail a reality.
PLEASE ALSO REGISTER HERE AT EVENTBRITE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/celebrate-trails-day-with-freewalkers-and-unionconnects-tickets-874732708077?aff=oddtdtcreator![img](https://img.evbuc.com/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.evbuc.com%2Fimages%2F732243849%2F2284368423%2F1%2Foriginal.20240331-142809?h=2000&w=720&auto=format%2Ccompress&q=75&sharp=10&s=575da8db0ec3b5f1296baf76bfa9f0c9)
- The Big Walk 2024 -- Metropark NJ to NYCMetropark Station, Iselin, NJ
Start: Metropark Station, Iselin, NJ
Finish: NY Penn Station
Distance: 28-50 miles
Where to find us: Parking lot south of the station
Optional endpoints: Newark Penn Station: 28mi, Jersey City PATH: 41mi
Mini: Metropark to Rahway Station (4mi)
Terrain: paved
Transit: NJ Transit to Metropark
Return: NJ Transit: Penn to Metropark
Parking: Parking at Metropark
Difficulty: Expert
Category: urban, scenic
Return: NJTransit train
Coordinator: David Ascher 973-715-1517Browse our 2023 calendar of events.
Highlights: Merrill Park, Nomahegan Park, Rahway River Parkway, Weequahic Park, Ironbound, Lincoln Park, Liberty State Park, Statue of Liberty, Manhattan skyline views, Hudson River Greenway.
As always, this walk primarily follows the East Coast Greenway. We walk from Metropark station in Iselin, NJ to Penn Station, NYC. This is a somewhat fast-paced walk generally 3.5-4.0 MPH.
This is our most diverse walk, from tranquil parks and rivers to friendly communities to industrial parks and cities - this one has it all. The walk is conveniently located near rail lines which makes using mass transit a plus. If you prefer, create your own challenge by jumping on or off the walk at various schedule points. It is self-guided so please be prepared in case you get separated from the group to manage yourself or get back to where you need to be.
Here are the 3 major segments of the walk. We suggest if you want to walk only part of the 50 mile total, join us that day roughly according to the scheduled time we expect to be there:- Segment 1 - Metropark to Cranford - 6:00 a.m. to 9:30-10:00 ETA (12 miles)
- Segment 2 - Cranford to Newark - 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (16 miles)
- Lunch is usually a stop at Boston Market in Union about 11-12 noon - straddle in.
- Segment 3 - Newark to NYC Penn Station - 5:00 - 11:00 (13 / 20 miles)
These are only estimates. Speed of walkers, weather and other conditions may affect arrivals and departures at various points.
This year again, The Big Walk is an important segment event for our Cross-Jersey Walking Challenge encompassing most of the miles of the 100 total goal for the year. Join the challenge and walk the entire state at your own pace for your own glory.Partners:
The East Coast Greenway Alliance is a non-profit organization developing a public multi-use 3,000 mile trail from Canada to Key West through New Jersey and New York. Donations and memberships help make this dream trail a reality.
The 9/11 National Memorial Trail is a network of over 1,300 miles of trails connecting New York City, the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pennsylvania, in tribute to the heroes who perished on September 11, 2001, and the heroes who, in response, answered the call for their country. - Liberty State Park Walk ( a joint walk with Everwalk)1 Audrey Zapp Dr, Jersey City, NE
This is a 7-mile walk through Liberty State Park with great view of the New York skyline, the Statue of Liberty, and birds in tidal flats.
You can only register for this event on Eventbrite at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/liberty-state-park-loop-walk-tickets-870553136867?aff=oddtdtcreator
This is one of the monthly Everwalk walks occurring across the country and around the world . More information can be found at www.EverWalk.com and on the EverWalk Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/EverWalkNation/.
Meet at The Central Railroad of NJ building across from the Empty Sky Memorial. Here is a link to more info about the railroad building: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/new-jersey/crnj-terminal-jersey-city-nj/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=new-jersey&utm_campaign=newsletter&lctg=0000000001555251&utm_content=nlbuttonB1
There is free parking on Freedom Way and $7 parking on Audrey Zapp Drive (this is currently closed while the Statue of Liberty ferry is not running). There is also free 2-hour parking on Audrey Zapp Drive.
- Highlands and Sandy Hook HikeHenry Hudson Trail / Popamora Point, Atlantic Highlands, NJ
Start & Finish: Popamora Point Park, Highlands, NJ - a loop walk. We'll start gathering at 8:30 - for check-in, bib distribution and any last minute instructions; we will start the walk at 8:45.
Distance: 14 miles with an optional 3.5 for Fort Hancock loop and more if you want to grab a drink in the Atlantic Highlands. All choices you can make that day.
Optional endpoints: Walkers are free to 'turn around' anywhere they wish; walking to Carton Brewery in Atlantic Highlands and to the start adds 4.5 miles; lunch at Moby's - 2 miles short of the Popamora Point parking lot - is another option.
Terrain: pavement, some gravel/dirt, flat; level except for walking over the Sandy Hook Bridge.
Transit: NJ Transit 834 bus - check schedules.
Parking: Free at Popamora Point Park.
Difficulty: moderate challenge, average pace (which includes 'stop' time) will be about 3.0 , so walking pace about 3.25 - 3.50 mph. Bathroom facilities are available at the start and along the trail (the trail is managed by the National Park Service so these facilities should be open and available to us).
Pack: bug repellent, water, food; check and prepare for forecasted weather - sun, rain, wind, etc.
Category: nature, scenic, history and seashore
Coordinator: John Codd & Jill FinverPlease click HERE to register for this free event.
We will walk through Highlands village to the Sandy Hook Bridge, use the bridge walkway onto Sandy Hook and the Sandy Hook Multi-Use Path (MUP). The walk will take us unto the dune trail affording us the opportunity to walk the South Dune Trail, where we will experience a unique American Holly Forest with red cedar and black cherry trees sprinkled in. This is the largest forest of its kind on the East Coast and an important migratory stopover for birds.
Seven miles into the walk is one turn-around point (left turn) using the MUP heading south back to the start. Or we can continue north on a 3.5 loop through historic Fort Hancock, walking past Officers Row, World War 2 artillery batteries, the oldest standing lighthouse in the country, and more. We will stop at the History House, built in 1898 for a commissioned officer and his family, restored and furnished for the World War 2 period.
The return loop can either be directly on the MUP or the way we came which combined the Dune Trail, Fishing Beach Road and the MUP back to and over the Sandy Hook Bridge, THEN back to Popamora Point Park.
Atlantic Highlands Marina with great waterfront views of Raritan Bay and Sandy Hook and Carton Brewery are two places (of MANY in the area) to rehydrate and/or grab a bite to eat after your walk concludes.Highlights:
- Highlands, a gentrifying (for better and worse) fishing village
- South Dune Trail's unique ecosystem
- Historic Fort Hancock
- Sandy Hook Lighthouse