About us
**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
28
All Oranges History Walk
Starbucks, 11 Sloan St, South Orange, NJ, USPlease register for FREE to attend.
Start & Finish: South Orange Village at the Train Station.
Distance: 8-9 miles.
Where to find us: Outside Starbucks at the Train station.
Optional endpoints: You can easily leave the walk at the Orange Train station or along the way if you choose. Trains come once an hour. See NJ Transit for times.
Terrain: pavement, sidewalks.
What to bring: food, snacks and drinks for yourself.
Transit: NJ Transit to South Orange. Train leaves NY Penn Station at 9:11 am.
Parking: Free parking in South Orange
Difficulty: Moderate pace of about 3-3.5 MPH.
Category: History, educational, community.
Coordinator: David Ascher
Highlights: Just a few of the historical sites.- South Orange Train Station. Rail service began 1837. Current train station built 1915.
- South Orange Fire House. Built 1926.
- Old Stone House. Believed to be the oldest standing building in New Jersey. Original structure dates to between 1666 and 1680
- Abel Ward house. 1787
- Montrose section. Originally developed laid out between 1867-1874 with many of the homes built in the 1880s-90s, Victorian houses.
- Seven Oaks section of Orange, NJ. Colgate had a 22 acre estate
- Serrani Bakery, originally known as the Orange Sanitary Bakery, has been in the Serrani family for 75 years. The laws required sanitary in the name. And the owner often give us treats!
- First Church of Orange established in 1719. Many pre-Revolution graves
- Former site of U.S. Radium Corporation. Operated from 1917-1926. Infamously known for the radium girls. (Now a park)
- Rosedale Cemetery. Burial place of Colgate, Althea Gibson, and Huntington Hartford. Among others
- Thomas Edison National Historical Park. Bathroom stop
- Orange hat factories. Couple dozen factories in late 1800s to early 20th century employed as many as several thousand people. Known for the No Name Hat Factory, first hat factory owned by the Stetson family.
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.More about FreeWalkers:
Our calendar of walks and hikes | About FreeWalkers | Walker stories | Walking tips
New Jersey walks | Pennsylvania walks | New York City walks24 attendees
Paul's Big Walk: XNJ
Metropark Station, 100 Middlesex Tpk, Iselin, NJ, USPlease register for FREE to attend.
A rigorous and beautiful 50-mile walk along the East Coast Greenway for those seeking a challenge. Part of the 100-mile Cross-Jersey Challenge. This was the walk that launched FreeWalkers in 2010. We've renamed it to celebrate and is now called Paul's BIG WALK!
Start: Metropark Station, Iselin, NJ
Finish: NY Penn Station
Distance: 24-50 miles
Where to find us: By the ticket office.
Bathrooms and Food: Bathrooms along the way. Pack lunch/snacks unless you prefer to stop and buy food. Usual lunch stop is Boston Market in Union.
Optional endpoints: Rahway: 4mi, Elizabeth: 24mi, Newark Penn Station: 28mi, Jersey City PATH: 41mi, many other rail stations and options.
Please note that this group DOES NOT STAY TOGETHER. Everyone walks at their own pace.
Mini: Metropark to Rahway Station (4mi)
Terrain: Paved, neighborhoods with some hills and roadway crossings.
Pet Policy: Please leave your dogs at home. This is for the safety of all.
Transit: NJ Transit to Metropark leaves Penn Station at 5:10 am. From other locations, please check your schedule to arrive by 6 am.
Return: NJ Transit: NYPenn to Metropark
Parking: Paid parking at Metropark Station
Difficulty: Advanced walking, unless you choose to do a small section of the route.
Category: Urban, scenic
Return: NJ Transit train
Coordinator: Matt and SarahJane Rath/Charles Updike
A rigorous and beautiful 50-mile walk along the East Coast Greenway for those seeking a challenge. Turn-by-turn directions will be provided. The group does not stay together along the route. Walk as slow or as fast as you choose and do as much as you can. There are many rest stops for bathrooms and snacks, but it is recommended that you carry the basics - drinks, food and clothing for whatever weather may be on that day.
The FreeWalkers are again offering the Cross-Jersey Walking Challenge, with a goal of walking the 100 miles of the East Coast Greenway across the entire state at any time during the year. This walk is part of the ECG trail from Trenton to New York City. You have the option of completing the challenge over three to five days. Option 1: Complete the 40-mile Great Canal Walk from Trenton to New Brunswick in one day, or walk the Spring Ahead to Princeton and do the 28-mile Great Canal Walk from Princeton. Option 2: Complete the 50-mile Big Walk in one day, or walk 24 miles of the Big Walk to Elizabeth and complete the remaining 26 miles on the Staten Island Marathon Walk.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.
Spring 2026 Cross Jersey Challenge
Mar 21 Spring Ahead Walk (optional) 14mi
Apr 11 Great Canal Walk 28/40mi
Apr 19 Kruimer Walk 13mi
Apr 25, Paul's Big Walk 24/50mi
Jun 13 Staten Island Marathon Walk (optional) 22/26miPartners:
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 FreeWalkers are again offering the Cross-Jersey Walking Challenge, with a goal of walking the 100 miles of the East Coast Greenway across the entire state at any time during the year. This walk is part of the ECG trail from Trenton to New York City.4 attendees
Down the Shore Walk: Long Beach Island
Barnegat Lighthouse State Park, 208 Broadway, Barnegat Light, NJ, US22-mile walk on the beach and between seaside towns, with fun, food and a lighthouse tour
Please register for FREE to attend.
Start: Barnegat Lighthouse
Finish: Holgate Wildlife Refuge
Distance: 22mi
Where to find us: Barnegat Lighthouse parking lot
Terrain: beach, paved
Transit: NJ Transit bus, Uber
Return: Carpool, Uber
Difficulty: Advanced
Category: seashore, scenic
Coordinator: Charles Updike, 916-225-0569
Join us on this year's exploration of a new segment of the Jersey Shore, starting with a tour of the newly restored Barnegat Lighthouse and ending with a wildlife refuge. Hop from one beach town to another, beaches, main streets and back bay.
Meet us for pre-walk breakfast at the Inlet Delicatessen near the start of the walk.
Highlights:
- Barnegat Lighthouse
- Loveladies
- Harvey Cedars
- Surf City
- Long Beach
- Beach Haven
- Edward Forsythe Wildlife Refuge
More about FreeWalkers:
Our calendar of walks and hikes | About FreeWalkers | Walker stories | Walking tips
New Jersey walks | Pennsylvania walks | New York City walks
34 attendees
Past events
569
Group links
Members
3,184
