Recently I decided to out and hike at the Batsto River in Wharton State Park. I’ve hiked and ran several times in Wharton State Park. It’s a relatively easy area to run and walk. If you’re looking for easy trails to bring family or pets, I suggest Wharton. You also don’t get much elevation change in South Jersey.
Located near Vincentown, the Batsto River Trail is a 5.7 mile a point-to-point trail. I decided to make do an out and back at the Batsto Trail, so I didn’t worry about the logistics of getting back to my car.
When we got to the Batsto River Trail, there was almost no one there. Since NJ parks had recently opened, this was surprising!
The Batsto River Trail is a beautiful spot located in the Pine Barrens in Vincentown, NJ. While many people don’t think of South Jersey as having great hiking spots (because it’s a flat area), there is plenty to hike. In fact, Wharton State Forest has about 23 miles of hiking trails. The Batsto River Trail has beautiful scenery, including the Batsto Village, Hampton Furnace and Batsto Lake. Plus, if you want camping, there is the Forge Campground located in Wharton State Forest too.
One disappointing thing is a lot of the Batsto River Trail is overgrown. It doesn’t look like it’s the most well-kept trail. After spending a few minutes looking for the Batsto River Trail, we finally found it. We weren’t sure what to expect. After hiking 2 or so miles, we stumbled upon an old railroad bridge.
Funny enough, I was looking for the Quaker Bridge to Batsto River, but we never found it (I should have researched more because it’s much more south). The Batsto River Quaker Bridge was used as one of the first crossings over the Mullica River from Philadelphia to Tuckerton. It was created to eliminate many drownings. Anyway, next time I’ll start more south to find it.
While hiking the Batsto River Trail, I did see many fun things, including a beaver dam, Springer Brook, and a few Cranberry Bogs. It’s a gorgeous trail. My only advice is to be prepared for some overgrown areas as well as bugs. All of the Pinelands have bugs in the summertime. Personally, I would choose a Spring or Fall day to go.
In all, I enjoyed my time at Batsto River Trail. It was a relaxing and peaceful day, perfect for getting outside for some sun. It’s not a rigorous trail and in fact, you might find yourself lost on the Batsto River Trail, but it was scenic and enjoyable.
You can see more hikes here.
Questions for you:
What was the last hike you went on?
Locals, have you been to the Batsto River Trail? What’s your favorite hike in the Pinelands?