Any suggestions on where to walk?

You can walk on the road that is closed to vehicles in South Mountain Reservation.  Park near the dog park.

It is just over 2 miles out and back.

Well, there are places like Duke Farms and Grounds for Sculpture. 

If you are willing to push the one hour limit, Princeton University is a great campus to walk around and their new art museum is free. Then you can have a meal downtown for the full experience.

A few (maybe 5) of the many miles of the Patriots Path network are paved. Asphalt. 

I think Loantaka reservation has some long paved trails - is that Chatham, or maybe Madison?

Brookdale Park used to have a paved path around the perimeter of the park. It’s probably still there. Pretty good ice cream places nearby too. 

But what’s wrong with the Durand-Maplewood Ave-Jefferson-Walton-Audrey-Kendal-Jefferson-Woodland loop?

There’s nothing random about it.

The road along the Rahway River through the Reservation from Locust Grove by Millburn Library to Hemlock Falls has been graded and covered with compacted rip rap.  This is a long way a saying it should be nice for walking now. 

Bedminster. Hills Drive. Park in King's parking lot and walk across the street from the pizza store, farthest away from RT 206 part of the parking lot. Walk down that short street and you will see a paved path to a bridge. That is the beginning of the paved path. 

It is an in-and-back path but through a wooded area and part of it follows the south branch of the Rahway River.

About 3 miles, in and out. Like many paved paths, beware of bicycles.

The Great Swamp was always a fun walk. I always thought it would make for a great Peanuts special, where Linus looks forward to getting there, but never does. 

In the last few days  I walked the paths around 2 parks I always drove by but never went into.  Rahway River Park and Warinanco.  Both nicer than I expected.   Much closer is Briant Park in Summit, with a popular one mile walking loop.

dickf3 said:

I think Loantaka reservation has some long paved trails - is that Chatham, or maybe Madison?

Morristown

MapleBri:   Instead of or as a change to walking around the reservoir (McCloone's as you described it) try parking in the Oakdale parking lot right across from the reservoir and BEFORE you cross the road to get to the reservoir you will see a lovely paved road on the right, right near the porta jons. You feel like you're hiking but you are not. The road is paved, closed and lovely. I do hike but on certain days depending I will do that road. Part of the Oakdale trail parallels it but it is a paved road.

For neighborhoods not near me (I am in the Tuscan area) I like walking around Newstead as the houses are so different. 

Warinanco Park in Roselle has a bunch of loops inside the roadway.  

There's a nice park off Bloomfield Ave/Lakeside Dr in Verona (I think it's Verona, might be Cedar Grove) - it's called Verona Park. We've walked there sometimes and enjoyed the paths and scenery. Also there's Bryant Pond in Summit which also has a decent paved path around it, with a pond and some waterbirds. Both are pretty close and had decent parking availability when we were there.

It’s not a park or far away, but Sagamore Road (above Wyoming) is a great walk end to end, or if you drive, end to end to end. It’s a climb to get there, but the road is relatively flat and has sidewalks. It’s mostly Milllburn, maybe turns into SO at one end. So many different architectural styles along the way that there’s always something to look at. (No ice cream or eateries, though!)

natirar has a nice trail - we usually hit the Gladstone Tavern when we're over that way:

https://www.somersetcountyparks.org/sites/g/files/vyhlif8281/f/uploads/natirar_map_0.pdf

The trail (3) we do is close to #8 on the map towards #6 - then it goes up the mountain and has a nice view at the top.

I'd throw in Liberty State Park.  Well under an hour from here.  

As you enter the reservation going towards Livingston on SO Ave there is a small paved path that looks like it’s for foot traffic but I saw numerous cars turning into it today. Where does it go as it’s not wide enough for a car to exit at same time as one is entering. 

the_18th_letter said:

As you enter the reservation going towards Livingston on SO Ave there is a small paved path 

Girl scout camp entrance?

Paths at Briant Park and Warinanco are excellent choices to fully reap the sun’s health benefits. Much better than the places I mentioned. 

Nomahegan Park in Cranford has a nice walk.  I did walks there for charity a few years ago.  

https://ucnj.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Nomahegan_Park_4.pdf