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Exit 28 from the Atlantic City Expressway onto Rt. 206 north. Wharton State Forest has two offices - one at Batsto Village and one at Atsion Recreation Area. Batsto Village is located on Route 542, eight miles east of Hammonton. Atsion is on Route 206, eight miles north of Hammonton.
General Description: Wharton State Forest situated within the heart of the New Jersey Pine Barrens, in southern New Jersey is the largest single tract of wilderness within the New Jersey State Park System. The cedar swamps, bogs and heath plains of short stunted pines along with remnants of old settlements and ghost towns give the Jersey Pine Barrens an air of mystery. According to local legend, a creature known as the Jersey Devil haunts the area, feeding on livestock and unwary mountain bikers! A 500+ mile network of hiking trails (including a major section of the 50.2 mile Batona Trail) and unpaved logging roads and trails for mountain biking and horseback riding wind through the forest. The best time to ride here is in the fall. The foliage display is spectacular. The spring and summer months can be hot and buggy. More than 155 miles of rivers and streams wind through the serene landscape providing a wealth of canoeing and fishing opportunities. The Mullica (most popular), Batsto, Wading and Oswego Rivers are all ideal for a recreational canoe or kayak trip. Wharton State Forest is home to an incredible variety of flora and fauna, including many rare and threatened species. Numerous lakes, ponds and fields throughout the forest are ideal for birdwatching. Bald eagles, red-tailed hawks, marsh hawks, ospreys, great blue herons, swans, screech owls, great-horned owls, bluebirds, hummingbirds, purple martins, turkeys, beavers, river otters, fox, deer and the beautiful little Pine Barrens treefrog are some of the wildlife alert visitors may see. Several species of orchids and carnivorous plants are also found here.
The Trails: There are miles of trails and unimproved logging roads open year-round to mountain bikes. These roads may be flat and wide, but due to the soft, sugary sand you can expect quite a workout. Stick to the main routes that are known to support off-road vehicles and bikes. Three of these are: Batsto to Washington Road : approximately 6.5 miles to the Wading River.
Batso Area Designated Bicycle Trails The Jersey Action Riders, a mountain bike club based in Southern New Jersey, has been and is currently working with representatives from the New Jersey DEC to develop and maintain several mountain bike trails at Wharton State Forest. On April 22, 2007 Park officials joined the volunteers for the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and opening of a new 5 mile Beginner Loop Trail and a 0.5 mile Short Bicycle Loop Trail for children and first timers. The new mountain bike trails utilize parts of the existing trail network. Work is still underway on a sixteen mile advanced trail, projected to be completed in 2008. A little help would go a long way. Literally. The newly opened designated bike loop trails both begin at the back of the Batsto Village Visitor Center parking lot. The short loop trailhead is towards the right, the beginner loop is located in the far left corner, between the gravel service road gate post and and the stockade fence.
All Terrain Bicycle Short Loop : 0.5 miles. Blazed with yellow circles. (motorized vehicles and equestrians are not permitted) A short loop for kids and new knobbies (first timers) that travels in a short loop just off the picnic area. Avoid bicycling through the picnic area or onto the hiking trails.
All Terrain Beginner Bicycle Trail : 5.5 miles. Blazed with green circles. (motorized vehicles and equestrians not permitted on singletrack sections) More than half the trail is over firm singletrack and the rest on hard-packed wagon roads. The beginning of the trail travels alongside the existing Batsto Quaker Bridge Road. The route then utilizes sections of existing multi-use wagon roads. The last leg of singletrack twists and turns alongside the Batso to Washington Road, crossing a creek and finally passing the Batsto Fire Tower before heading back to the parking lot. Note: Please do not ride down the gravel service road near the trail head or on any of the hiking trails that intersect the Beginner Bicycle Trail.
Other Things To See And Do include: Atsion Recreation Area: Family Camping Located in the Western section of Wharton State Forest, Atsion Recreation Area offers a beach and swimming at Lake Atsion. Across from the lake, Atsion Family Campground is the most developed and accessible. It offers lovely wooded tent and trailer sites, fire rings and picnic tables, showers and other amenities. (See our Bikes & Beaches feature article for more detail).
Historic Batsto Village Listed on the New Jersey and National Register of Historic Places. A former bog iron and glassmaking industrial center from 1766 to 1867 that currently reflects the agricultural and commercial enterprises that existed here during the late 19th century. This site is noted for its historical significance and beauty. The Pine Barrens village consists of thirty-three historic buildings and structures including the Batsto Mansion, a 19th century ore boat, gristmill, sawmill, blacksmith and wheelwright shop, charcoal kiln, ice and milk houses, general store, workers' homes and post office with the Pinelands environment as a scenic backdrop. The mansion is now open for tours. For hours of operation and tour dates and times visit the Batsto Village website.
Hiking The Batona Trail Hiking the Batona Trail at Wharton State Forest between the Carranza Memorial to Apple Pie Hill is an easy and pleasant hike eastward past cedar swamps and through pine woods to two low hills. The higher of the two hills is Apple Pie Hill. From the fire tower on the summit of Apple Pie Hill, the 120-foot high-point of Wharton State Forest, there is a view that will catch you by surprise. As you gaze over the tops of all the trees, miles of pristine wilderness stretch before you. Forests of oak and pine, punctuated by cranberry bogs to southeast and a few dark stands of rare Atlantic White Cedar, cover the flat sand plains in all directions. The only signs of civilization are way off in the distance. You can see the tops of skyscrapers in Philadelphia to the west and towers in Atlantic City to the east.
Historical Note: The forest is named for Joseph Wharton, who purchased the land which is now Wharton State Forest because he wanted to tap the vast ground water aquifer under the Pine Barrens as a source of pure drinking water for Philadelphia. Fortunately, the New Jersey Legislature prevented this by passing a law banning the export of water from the state. The state bought the vast tract from Wharton's heirs in the 1950s.
For more information: Wharton State Forest: Phone:
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