The Pine Barrens Byway
A 130-mile adventure through the Pinelands of southern New Jersey
Come see New Jersey's wild side:
Featuring areas of striking natural beauty, the Pine Barrens Byway meanders through 130 miles of roadways in the Pinelands National Reserve in southern New Jersey.
The Byway passes through Atlantic, Burlington, Cape May, Cumberland and Ocean counties, offering a diverse route punctuated by picturesque parks, serene rivers and quaint towns.
Just under an hour’s drive from Philadelphia, the Byway guides travelers through some of the most extensive, unbroken forests remaining in the northeastern United States.
Enveloped by these forests, and on the margins of vast open fields, marshes and bogs, are the stories of human adaptation to this unique environment. Here the traveler who will stop and linger along the Byway will find stories of the birth of our nation: From Batsto Village nestled in the lush expanse of Wharton State Forest and whose furnaces produced cannonballs for Washington’s army, to the now quiet beauty of the Mullica River, which once buzzed with the activities of colonial privateers bound for the Atlantic to make their fortunes plundering British supply ships. At the mouth of the Mullica, the traveler emerges from the forest, and is awed by the sun rising over the pristine and protected Great Bay estuary, and the quaint and irresistible charm of the Tuckerton Seaport.
The Byway continues across salt marshes and small inlet bridges, paralleling the 47,000-acre Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. Leaving the coast, the traveler makes their way south again into the forest, passing the ruins of 18th and 19th century furnace and glass complexes along the margins of the federally designated Wild and Scenic Great Egg Harbor River. The Byway leads the traveler through small towns, villages, and federally protected natural areas and wildlife management parks teeming with plant and animal life.
The New Jersey Pinelands Commission is proud to oversee the administration of the Pine Barrens Byway, which is one of eight state-designated Scenic Byways in New Jersey and became a National Scenic Byway in 2021.
We invite you to use this virtual tour to plan your excursions on the Byway!
First stop: Batsto Village/Wharton State Forest
Nestled in the heart of Wharton State Forest , Batsto Village is a historic, natural and recreational treasure.
Batsto is listed in the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places, and it features 33 historic buildings, including one of the oldest Post Offices in the U.S., a sawmill, gristmill, general store, workers' houses and a 32-room mansion (shown left).
Batsto dates back to 1766. From the beginning, the village was strategically designed and developed to take advantage of the plentiful natural resources of the Pine Barrens. The site was once a hub for important local industries such as the manufacture of bog iron and glass. The area surrounding Batsto had the natural resources necessary for these endeavors, and bog ore (or limonite) was collected locally from the banks of the region's streams and rivers. Ubiquitous wood supplies from the forests became the charcoal that fueled the furnaces, while plentiful water resources became the power needed for manufacturing. In the 1700s, the Batsto Iron Works produced cooking pots and kettles, as well as munitions for the Continental Army in the American Revolution.
Today, Batsto is widely hailed for its natural wonders and its recreational opportunities, which includes miles of trails, guided tours of the mansion and sawmill, a 928 square-foot Visitor Center, a Nature Center with live animals, a blacksmith shop, and a lake that is a popular spot for kayaking, fishing and birdwatching.
Read further for more information about the amenities at Batsto!
Batsto Visitor Center
Start your tour at the Batsto Visitor Center, which is located adjacent to the parking lot in the main entrance off Batsto Road.
The Visitor Center houses a museum with artifacts and interactive exhibits that chronicle the village's history, a 100-seat auditorium, brochure racks, public restrooms, and a gift shop that sells books, shirts, hats and other Pinelands-themed goods. There are also plenty of brochures and maps that can be used to further plan your excursions.
A Tour Back in Time
Immerse yourself in the history of Batsto by strolling through the grounds of the village and exploring historic buildings such as a 32-room mansion, gristmill, sawmill, general store (shown left), workers' dwellings, farm buildings and a post office that first opened in 1852 and still hand-cancels stamps. The Batsto Mansion was renovated by Philadelphia industrialist Joseph Wharton in the late 19th century and 14 of its rooms are open to the public for tours. Please check with the Batsto Village office for any closures or advisories.
Batsto Lake
A trip to Batsto would not be complete without visiting the 15-acre Batsto Lake.
The lake provides a picturesque setting in all seasons, but especially in the fall, when the foliage on its banks transforms into shades of orange, yellow and red. Kayaking, canoeing, fishing, and birdwatching are popular activities on the lake, which teems with wildlife. A Nature Center located next to the lake offers guided canoe tours.
Additional Information:
Hours of Operation:
Wharton State Forest: Open daily from sunrise to sunset
Batsto Village: Open daily 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Wharton State Forest Trail Map: https://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/maps/WhartonTrailMapFinalDraft.pdf
Mailing Address: 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037
Phone: Batsto Office: (609) 561-0024
GPS Coordinates:
39° 38’ 38.0” N 74° 38' 48.4" W
Fees: No entrance fee for Wharton State Forest.
Batsto Village: Entrance fees are charged per vehicle from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day.
Second Stop: The Batona Trail
Well-marked, wooden signage invites hikers, naturalists and others seeking to explore the 53-mile Batona Trail , a flat, easy-walking trail that meanders through three state forests in the Pine Barrens.
The Batona is named after a condensed form of “BAck TO NAture," and it traverses a wide range of landscapes and forest types. The trail also passes through forgotten towns associated with historic Pine Barrens industries such as Martha, Lower Forge, and Four Mile. It is designated specifically for hiking, so motor vehicles, bicycles and horses are not permitted on the trail.
Park, Hike and Follow the Pink Blazes!
The Batona Hiking Club created the trail in 1961, and it was been extended several times. The trail begins in Ong's Hat in Brendan Byrne State Forest, which is outside of the Pine Barrens Byway route. However, the Batona crosses through the Byway route in Wharton and Bass River State Forest. There is plenty of signage for many different entrance points on the trail, which is marked by pink blazes (as shown in the photo to the right).
Soak in the Scenery
Whether you pick up the trail at Batsto in Wharton State Forest or in Bass River State Forest, keep an eye out for wildlife. The Pinelands National Reserve provides refuge for nearly 500 animal species and 850 plant species. Many rare species such as the Bog Asphodel (shown right) can be spotted along the Batona. The plant, with its yellow star-like flowers, can be found be in the Pine Barrens and nowhere else on earth.
Seasonal Sensation
Visitors to the Batona Trail can discover a bounty of bogs that are flanked by dense shrubs, offering scenic views and plentiful photo opportunities, especially in the fall.
Additional Information:
Online Brochure and Full Trail Map: https://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/docs/batona14web.pdf
Accessible Points at Two State Forests on the Byway:
Bass River State Forest 762 Stage Road Tuckerton, NJ 08087 (609) 296-1114
Wharton State Forest 31 Batsto Road Hammonton, NJ 08037 (609) 561-0024 (Batsto Office)
Fees: There are no fees to access the Batona Trail.
Stop Three: Bass River State Forest
In 1905, the State of New Jersey acquired the 29,147-acre Bass River State Forest for public recreation, water conservation, and wildlife and timber management.
Visitors can swim, canoe, kayak and fish in the 67-acre Lake Absegami or extend their adventure overnight at numerous campsites. The forest also features several areas to picnic, seasonal concessions, playgrounds and 12 hiking trails that cover 23 miles, including the Batona, which meanders through seven miles of Bass River State Forest.
Take a Dip or Cast a Line at the Lake Absegami Day Use Area
The 128-acre Lake Absegami Day Use Area features several self-guided nature trails that loop through a wetland forest where Atlantic white cedars soar skyward among the maples and magnolias. The area is a popular spot for swimming, fishing, canoeing and kayaking, and it offers picnic benches and shelters, along with a playground and public restrooms.
Campsites aplenty
With 176 tent and trailer sites with fire rings and picnic tables, Bass River State Forest is a prime destination for camping. The forest offers cabins, shelters, lean-tos, primitive campsites and some pet-friendly campsites. Please contact the office at Bass River State Forest for current campsite offerings or any advisories about closures.
See the Forest for the (Short) Trees!
Visitors to the 617-acre Warren Grove Recreation Area can hike the white, sandy roads that bisect the Pine Plains, a globally rare “pygmy” forest where pines and oaks have adapted to survive a high frequency of wildfires and often grow no taller than six feet. The area is open for passive recreation, including birding, bicycling, hunting and horseback riding.
The Warren Grove Recreation Area is administered by Bass River State Forest. To access the site from Bass River State Forest, go North on County Route 539 for approximately 6 miles into the town of Warren Grove. Make a left onto Simm Place Road and a right onto Beaver Dam Road. The Warren Grove Recreation Area is approximately one mile ahead. There are no fees to access this area.
Additional Information:
Hours of Operation: Open daily sunrise to sunset
Day Use Area: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Office Hours: Monday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location and Mailing Address: 762 Stage Road, Tuckerton, NJ 08087
Phone: (609) 296-1114
GPS Coordinates:
39° 37’ 13.91” N 74° 25' 28.74" W
Fees: Entrance fees to Bass River State Forest are charged per vehicle from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day. There are no fees to enter the Warren Grove Recreation Area.
Stop Four: The Tuckerton Seaport & Baymen's Museum
Travelers along the Byway can explore the region’s rich maritime history and traditions at the Tuckerton Seaport & Baymen’s Museum .
The Seaport is located along Tuckerton Creek, and its mission is "to preserve, present and interpret the rich maritime history, artistry, heritage and environment of the Jersey shore and the unique contributions of its baymen."
The 40-acre site is home to 17 historic and recreated buildings that are connected by a boardwalk, as well as a boatworks building, the recreated Tucker's Island Lighthouse (shown on the right) and a maritime forest and wetlands nature trail. The Seaport offers guided boat tours, numerous hands-on exhibits and workshops that demonstrate maritime traditions such as duck decoy carving, boat-building, and basket-making, among many other activities.
Please contact the Seaport for any closures or advisories.
Visitor Center/Gift Shop and Life on the Edge Exhibit
Located in the re-created Tuckerton Yacht Club, the Seaport's Visitor Center/Gift Shop features several educational exhibits, including one that highlights four habitats -- woods, wetlands, bay and ocean -- and houses live animals such as horseshoe crabs and turtles. At the Gift Shop, visitors can buy books, T-shirts, carved duck decoys, and gourmet food items.
The Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve's "Life on the Edge" exhibit (shown right) is located on the third floor of the Visitor Center. The hands-on exhibit explores the Pinelands, Great Bay, Barrier Island and open ocean ecosystems that make up the Jacques Cousteau Estuarine Reserve.
Take a Stroll and Experience the Traditions!
Visitors can immerse themselves in New Jersey's rich maritime history and culture at the Seaport. The Seaport's full collection of duck decoys is on display, along with binders full of baymen's stories, at the Barnegat Bay Decoy Museum. At Perrine's Boat Works, boat builders make or restore Barnegat Bay sneakboxes and garveys. The Crest Fishery (shown on the right) offers a hands-on exhibit where visitors can experience what was like to buy and sell seafood in the 1920s through 1950s.
The Seaport also offers a guided, one-hour "Floating Classroom" boat tour of Tuckerton Creek. During the tour, a guide educates passengers about the folk art, history, and environment of the Barnegat Bay and the Pinelands.
Mark Your Calendar for Special Events
The Seaport hosts numerous special events throughout the year, including the Ocean County Decoy and Gunning Show in September, the Haunted Seaport and the Harvest Festival (both in October), and Christkindlmarkt (a holiday market and craft fair) in December.
Check the Seaport's calendar of events for more specific information about dates and times and for any closures or programming changes.
Additional Information:
Hours of Operation:
Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Website: https://tuckertonseaport.org/
Location Address:
120 West Main Street Tuckerton, NJ 08087
Telephone: (609) 296-8868
GPS Coordinates: 39.6020° N, 74.3426° W
Fees: Check the Seaport's website .
Stop Five: The Magnificent Mullica River
The Mullica River winds through 50 miles of the Pinelands and defines the route of the Byway’s northern loop, which crosses the river three times, and its tributaries, six times.
The river, serene today, was once the main artery for patriot privateers piloting their ships out into the Atlantic. Today, the Pine Barrens stretch of the Mullica River can be canoed or kayaked through pine forests from Batsto to the near pristine Great Bay estuary, which affords spectacular views and is home to a wide range of both nesting and migratory birds. Visitors can also fish the river, which is well-known as a spawning ground for migrating fish such as the striped bass and blueback herring.
The Mullica River can be accessed via a launch site near the entrance to Batsto Village on Route 542, and at Crowley's Landing, which is also on Route 542. Crowley's Landing has wooden docks and an access point that provides ample space to launch a boat onto the river. It also has plenty of parking, along with picnic benches, barbecue grills, and an interpretive panel that describes the natural treasures of the Pine Barrens.
A Paddler's Paradise
Throughout much of the year, kayakers glide along the slow-moving Mullica River, which provides a serene setting for travelers on the Pine Barrens Byway. Named after an early settler (Eric Mullica), the Mullica is a prime destination for canoeing, kayaking, boating and birdwatching.
Stunning Scenery
The Mullica boasts some of the most jaw-dropping views of the Pine Barrens, especially for those paddling along its tea-colored waters.
There are several privately owned canoe/kayak rental agencies or "liveries," located on or near the Pine Barrens Byway route.
Spectacular sunsets
The Mullica River is a popular location for viewing fiery sunsets that reflect off the gently rippling waters. Bring a camera!
Stop Six: The Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge
The 47,000-acre Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge is not just for the birds, but they're certainly a big reason to go there!
The Refuge is recognized as one of the most critical links for migratory birds along the Atlantic Flyway, and is situated just off of the northern loop of the Pine Barrens Byway in Atlantic County. The site is home to extensive salt marshes and woodlands, along with an eight-mile unpaved road that circles around the wetlands and two large observation towers with viewing scopes for visitor use. The Refuge is open year-round, and hunting, fishing, and crabbing are permitted in designated areas. The salt marshes provide ideal nurseries for young fish, and perfect feeding grounds for migratory fowl, including ospreys, egrets, and multiple species of duck. The refuge is a birdwatcher’s dream, and there have been more than 350 species of birds observed onsite.
Visitor Information Center
The Forsythe Refuge's Visitor Information Center opened in 2011, and it offers hands-on, educational displays, the Friends of Forsythe Gift Shop, maps, brochures, a kiosk that contains a list of the latest bird sightings, and various items for purchase, including Refuge passes, Federal duck stamps and National Parks passes. Visitors can see a wide variety of pollinators while walking through a native plant garden located in front of the Visitor Information Center.
Be sure to check for any closures.
One Wild Drive
One of the most popular destinations in the Forsythe Refuge is Wildlife Drive , which is an unpaved, one-way, eight-mile road that passes through wetlands and woodlands. Wildlife Drive is open to vehicles, as well as pedestrians and bicyclists, for a fee, and it is open seven days a week, from sunrise to sunset. It is one of the top spots for birdwatching and photography at Forsythe, as visitors can get an up-close view of red-winged blackbirds (shown right), egrets, herons, ospreys, skimmers, ibises, oystercatchers and avocets, among many other bird species. Migratory water birds are in abundance in the spring and the fall. Diamondback terrapin turtles are also a common sight on Wildlife Drive, so drive slowly and with extra caution!
Take a Hike, and Bring Binoculars!
Forsythe is home to five hiking trails: the Akers Woodland Trail, the Leeds Eco-Trail, the Grasslands Trail, Bristow Trail and Jen's Trail. There is also a trail that provides wheelchair accessibility. The trails vary in length from 1,000 feet to 2.7 miles. The Leeds Eco-Trail takes visitors through a maritime forest and a tidal marsh. Dogs are permitted on the Grassland Trail, the Bristow Trail and Jen's Trail.
Additional Information:
Hours of Operation:
Visitor Information Center Hours: Open Wednesday-Sunday 10 AM to 3 PM, Closed Monday-Tuesday
Holidays: Closed
Refuge Hours: The refuge is open from sunrise to sunset. Please call ahead for hours of operation as they may change based on extreme weather conditions.
Location Address:
800 Great Creek Road Galloway, NJ 08205
Mailing Address:
P. O. Box 72 Oceanville, New Jersey 08231
Telephone: 609-652-1665
GPS Coordinates: N 39° 27.583 W 74° 27.050
Stop Seven: Atlantic County Park in Estell Manor
The Atlantic County Park in Estell Manor City is a must-see along the Pine Barrens Byway. The 1,700-acre park is home to a nature center, pollinator garden, trails, a veterans’ cemetery and the remains of an historic glass factory. It was also the site of a former munitions plant during World War I.
The park is located 3.5 miles south of Mays Landing on Route 50. Visitors can hike, fish, picnic, camp, hunt (in some areas and with restrictions), orienteer, cross-country ski (when there's snow), and make use of soccer fields, softball fields and sand volleyball courts. Be sure to check for any closures.
Atlantic County Park is also a popular destination to study nature, with its numerous trails, including a 1.8-mile, fully accessible, elevated wooden nature trail that passes by streams and a cedar swamp and offers views of the South River.
Warren E. Fox Nature Center
Visitors to the Warren E. Fox Nature Center in Atlantic County park can partake in educational programs and peruse exhibits, including taxidermy of local birds such as hawks and owls. The center also offers live animal displays, maps, and brochures. Public parking and public restrooms are available. Be sure to call ahead to check for any closures.
Pollinator Heaven
The Atlantic County Park also features a recently created pollinator garden (shown left) that attracts butterflies, moths, bees and people. The center planting bed is shaped like a butterfly. Be sure to bring a camera and a butterfly identification guidebook!
Glass from the Past
The ruins of the Estellville Glassworks factory (shown left) still stand in the Atlantic County Park. Factory buildings, with their stone walls and brick arches, can be viewed up-close. The glassworks produced bottles and window glass from 1825 to 1877. The glass was made from the area’s abundant supplies of sand.
Additional Information:
Hours of Operation:
Park: 7:30 a.m. until 1/2 hour after sunset
Warren E. Fox Nature Center: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. daily
Location Address:
109 Boulevard Route 50 Mays Landing, NJ 08330
Phone: (609) 625-1897
GPS coordinates: 39°24'06.9"N, 74°44'10.9"W
Fees: No entrance fees. For camping fees, click here .
Stop Eight: Tuckahoe Wildlife Management Area
Located in Atlantic and Cape May counties, the Tuckahoe Wildlife Management Area is a birdwatcher's paradise. The 18,205-acre site has extensive hiking trails and wildlife viewing areas where the Byway traveler can see birds such as long-eared owls, tundra swans, bald eagles, ospreys, Northern harriers, red-tailed and rough-legged hawks, pine and prairie warblers, and purple martins, to name but a few. The wildlife management area features a diverse and expansive ecosystem made up of salt and freshwater marshes, rivers, and pine/oak woodlands.
The property was purchased in 1933 with funds from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses, and visitors are advised to wear bright colors and stay on the main trails during the busy hunting season in October -December.
The property can be accessed in several areas, including Route 50 and Route 631. It is open from dawn to dusk.
Watch for Wildlife
Travelers on the Byway can continue their tour by taking an eight-mile drive along a sand and gravel road that travels alongside fresh and brackish waters on Gibson Creek Road (shown right). Native Pinelands plants such as Maryland golden-aster and spotted horsemint can be found growing along the roadside. There are plenty of areas to pull over, get out and experience the sights and sounds.
Marshes, Marshes, Marshes!
The Tuckahoe Wildlife Management Area is home to tidal marshes and six coastal (fresh and brackish water) impoundments that were built in the 1940s and were recently refurbished and enhanced to improve habitat conditions and create forage areas for migratory waterfowl and shorebirds. The impoundments provide for emergent vegetation used for nesting and feeding, while exposed mudflats create ideal conditions for invertebrate food sources for migrating birds. Water levels are also managed in the impoundments to allow for crabbing and fishing. Be sure to bring your camera and binoculars!
Gone Fishin', Paddling or Hiking?
Visitors to the Tuckahoe Wildlife Management Area can park at the Gibson Landing area before launching a canoe, kayak or fishing boat. Visitors can also park and hike through the dense Pine Barrens forests. Keep an eye out for tundra swans and bald eagles in the winter, Northern pintail ducks and herons in the spring, pine warblers and ospreys in the summer, and black ducks and purple martins in the fall, according to the New Jersey Audubon Society.
Additional Information:
GPS coordinates: 39°19'06.8"N, 74°40'59.9"W
Stop Nine: Belleplain State Forest
Covering 21,254 acres, Belleplain State Forest combines the natural beauty of the Pine Barrens with a bevy of recreational offerings. The State of New Jersey established the forest in 1928 for recreation, wildlife management, timber production and water conservation, according to the New Jersey Division of Parks & Forestry.
At the heart of Belleplain, the Byway traveler will find Lake Nummy, which is a popular destination for swimming, fishing, canoeing and kayaking.
Belleplain offers 23 miles of driving trails and 24 miles of easy, flat-packed sand trails for hiking and cycling through young pine, oak and cedar woodlands, and there is a nature center that offers educational programs and presentations year-round. Belleplain also has facilities for open-air family camping, as well as lean-to’s and cabins with fire rings and grills. In the winter, Byway visitors may catch a glimpse of bald eagles and great horned owls in the forest and along the lake.
Lake Nummy
Named for a historic Lenape sachem (chief), Lake Nummy (shown left) is one of the main attractions at Belleplain, offering ample opportunities for swimming, canoeing, kayaking and fishing. The Civilian Conservation Corps converted Meisle Cranberry Bog into Lake Nummy. Park benches are positioned at the edge of the lake, offering a tranquil resting spot. There are also picnic tables, barbecue grills and playground equipment nearby.
Happy Trails
Belleplain boasts 24 official trails , with half designated for non-motorized use and the other half authorized for motorized use with street-legal vehicles.
The seven-mile East Creek Trail (shown left) is the longest trail in the forest. Official trails are marked by colored blazes.
Have a Picnic!
Belleplain offers numerous picnic tables, charcoal grills and group picnic areas that can be rented and can hold up to 100 people.
Additional Information:
Hours of Operation: Open daily sunrise to sunset
Office Hours: Open daily 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location Address*:
1 Henkinsifkin Road Woodbine, NJ 08270
* GPS users are advised to type in the above address under Park Location or use the GPS coordinates below.
GPS Coordinates: 39° 14’ 56.62” N 74° 50' 28.29" W
Mailing Address:
County Route 550 P.O. Box 450 Woodbine, NJ 08270
Phone: (609) 861-2404
Fees: Entrance fees are charged per vehicle from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day.