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
32
Morristown to Maplewood: The 14-Mile TRAINing WAlk
Morristown Train Station, 140 Morris Street, Morristown, NJ, USPlease register for FREE to attend.
Yes you can walk town to town!!
It's easy to drive everywhere in the suburbs, but did you know these towns are quite "walkable" too? Join us to explore how easy it is to get around from Morristown to Maplewood through several historic charming towns and lovely neighborhoods.
Start: Morristown Train Station: (south side) parking lot.
Finish: St. James Gate Publick House, 167 Maplewood Ave, Maplewood, NJ 07040 - join us for food and drinks.
Distance: 14 miles (less if you choose).
Optional endpoints: Shorten your walk in any town: Madison, Chatham, Summit, Short Hills, Millburn and lastly end up in Maplewood. Hop the train to the start or the end point.
Bathrooms: Many options through the towns.
The train station is closed, but there is a Dunkin Donuts one block from the station at the start.
Terrain: All sidewalks.
Transit: Midtown Direct train departs NY Penn at 8:11am and arrives in Morristown at 9:28. Look for us in the parking lot on the south side of the station.
Parking: Parking is NOT free at the Morristown train station, so if you are local to NJ a suggestion is take the train from Maplewood Village (9:51 am) to Morristown Station.
Difficulty: Moderate, walk at your own pace. Please note the group will spread out.
Category: suburban towns.
Coordinator: Risa Olinsky and David Ascher10 attendees
Great Canal Walk: XNJ
Turning Basin Park, 523 Alexander Road, princeton, NJ, USPlease register for FREE to attend.
Join us on one of Jersey's best trails on our way to New York City. Part of the 100-mile Cross-Jersey Challenge.
Start: Turning Basin Park, Princeton
Optional start: Trenton Transit Center (6:45am)
Finish: New Brunswick Station
Distance: 28/40mi
Where to find us: Meet at Turning Basin Park (or in Trenton by 6:45am sharp, or at Princeton Station by 10:15am.
Terrain: Mostly gravel
Transit: NJ Transit or Septa to Trenton or Princeton Station, with a short walk from Princeton Station to Turning Basin Park.
Return: NJ Transit rail
Parking: Free parking at Princeton Station, Turning Basin Park, or $7 parking at Trenton River Line parking lot across from the station.
Difficulty: Expert - a challenging distance
Category: nature
Coordinator: Charles Updike - 916-225-0569
(Optional) Walk the full 40-mile walk starting at 6:45 am in Trenton.One of our best challenge walks. The route is generally quiet and remote, with few road crossings, a few portajohns along the way, and no provisions available on the route. Be sure to bring plenty of fluids and food for the journey.
(Landing Lane spillway is reconstructed and the full towpath is open.)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:
D & R Canal towpathSpring 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.Circuit Trails is 800 miles of interconnected trails in Greater Philadelphia in the making, already one of America's largest trail networks. Once connected, the Circuit Trails will be one of the nation's premier urban trail networks and it will provide multiple benefits to neighborhoods, communities and the region as a whole.
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.
More about FreeWalkers:
Our calendar of walks and hikes | About FreeWalkers | Walker stories | Walking tips
New Jersey walks | Pennsylvania walks | New York City walks1 attendee
Walk: Highlands to Sandy Hook to Fort Hancock and Back!
Henry Hudson Trail / Popamora Point, Shore Drive, Atlantic Highlands, NJ, USPlease register for FREE to attend.
Start/Finish: Popamora Point parking lot in Highlands.
Distance: 16 miles
Optional endpoints: If you choose to shorten this walk you can simply turn around to get back to the start.
Terrain: Pavement, trails and the bridge over the river is a hill.
Transit: No trains, but there is a ferry from NYC a mile or so from our meeting point.
Bathrooms: Indoor bathrooms at the start and port-o-johns along the way.
Food: Bring your lunch and drinks, or you can buy something at Fort Hancock.
Parking: Plenty of free parking.
Difficulty: Average pace about 3-3.5 MPH, mostly flat.
Category: nature, history, seashore, scenic.
Coordinator: Cory Storch
Highlights: Fort Hancock, Captains House Museum, Mule Barn Restaurant, and the oldest operating lighthouse in the US. Also South Dune Trails unique old growth Holly ForestMore about FreeWalkers:
Our calendar of walks and hikes | About FreeWalkers | Walker stories | Walking tips
New Jersey walks | Pennsylvania walks | New York City walks6 attendees
Past events
887
