Despite being the most densely populated US state, New Jersey has vast swaths of protected wilderness and state parks.
* **The Pine Barrens:** The Pinelands National Reserve spans over a million acres of unique biosphere, known for sandy trails, rare orchids, cedar creeks, and the folklore of the Jersey Devil. * **State Parks:** High Point State Park offers sweeping views from the highest elevation in the state. Island Beach State Park preserves one of the Atlantic coast's last undeveloped barrier beaches. * **Waterfalls:** Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park protects a spectacular 77-foot waterfall on the Passaic River, which was crucial to America's early industrial revolution. * **Wildlife:** Coastal regions, particularly Cape May Point, are internationally recognized hotspots for birdwatching during the spring and fall migrations.