Whitewater Rafting in New Jersey

The Kittatinny Ridge runs like a spine through New Jersey's northwestern corner, the Skylands, and it carries most of the state's serious guided adventure. Outfitters run hiking and rock climbing trips along the Appalachian high ground here, and where the ridge breaks at the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, the river takes over: guided whitewater rafting and kayak trips work the Delaware as it cuts between the states. The forests are thick, the hills keep rolling, and a guide who knows the terrain turns a good day into a memorable one.

Drive south and the ground changes under you. The Pine Barrens are sand, pitch pine, and cedar swamp, a wilderness that feels nothing like the mountains two hours north. Its tea-colored "darkwater" rivers, the Batsto and the Mullica, move slow and quiet, which makes them ideal for guided canoe and kayak trips. Operators based around Wharton State Forest and Brendan T. Byrne State Forest also lead interpretive hikes through the rare flora, and some run off-road vehicle tours on designated trails deep into country most visitors never see.

The coast rounds out the picture. Guided bay kayaking and paddleboard tours slip through the back bays and estuaries along the Atlantic side, where the water stays calm and the marine life comes close. A few operators run horseback trips across the coastal plains, and in the off-season some routes reach the beach itself. Mountains, pinelands, shore, the guided options in New Jersey cover more ground than the state's reputation suggests.