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From the NJ Turnpike, take exit 7 and follow Route 206 south to Route 38 east, to second traffic light, then turn onto Magnolia Road (Route 644). Follow Magnolia Road until you come to the Four-Mile Circle. From the circle take Route 70 east for 1 mile, and make your first right at the forest entrance sign. The office is 7/10 mile on the right.
General Description: The fresh scent of pine greets the visitor to Brendan T. Byrne State Forest, a protected 32,012 acre forest located in the mysterious New Jersey Pine Barrens. Iron rich streams flow through acres of cranberry bogs and swampland covered with dense stands of Atlantic White Cedar. A 25 mile network of long, flat sandy trails and roads criss-cross the forest and allow you to enjoy the scenery and biological diversity of the Pine Barrens. This is such a large area that unless you are really familiar with the terrain, using the trails designated by Park management is your best bet. There are 2 main trails. The white (Mount Misery) and the red (Cranberry) trail. Mountain bikes are not permitted on the Batona trail. The best time to ride here is in the fall. The spring and summer months are hot and buggy.
The Trails: The Cranberry Trail: (aka Red Trail) Great for families and beginners. The trail provides a sampling of the landscape of the region. Slow moving, clear, tea colored meandering streams support cedar swamps and bogs. Sandy high grounds anchor tall pitch pines. Deserted sand roads lead to once thriving towns and industries. Oak-pine forests, cranberry reservoirs and blueberry farins are prominent landscape features encountered along the trail. Mount Misery Trail (aka White Trail): The trail links up with the Cranberry trail. There is some elevation gain (60 feet) to the south where there are opportunities for biking on higher, more compact soil. This trail has many branches which can cause some confusion. You can extend your ride from the Mount Misery Trail (white Trail) by cycling to Whitesbog Village, an 1870's restored cranberry producing community. (see historical note below).
Batona Trail (hiking, cross country skiing, and snow shoeing) The most popular section of the Batona Trail at Brendan T. Byrne State Forest begins at the trail's northern terminus at Ong's Hat, 1.5 miles northwest of the junction of Routes 70 and 72 and extends for two miles between the ranger station near the intersection of highways 70 and 72, and the camping and picnic area near Pakin Pond along the west side of the preserve. It follows the western border of Cedar Swamp Natural Area, a large swamp filled with a nearly impenetrable growth of American white cedar, and is a refuge for a variety of rare ferns, orchids and insectivorous plants such as the sundew and pitcher plants.
Historical Note: Whitesbog Village, founded in the 1870s was a thriving 19th and 20th-century cranberry and blueberry producing community. Once, one of the largest cranberry farms in the state, the now silent village site is undergoing restoration. It is leased to the Whitesbog Preservation Trust, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the restoration of the village. For more information on the village and events sponsored by the Trust, call (609) 893-4646.
For more information: Brendan T. Byrne State Forest: Phone: (609) 726-1191
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Wildlife/Historical
Directions & Trail Description
