5

Berlin Park – Berlin Borough, Camden County, NJ
Distance: A little under 1.5 mile trail on North side of Cross Keys Rd, 5 miles on south side of Cross Keys.
Type: Loops.
Difficulty: 1 of 10.

NOTE:  Short days meant we only had time to check out the north end of the park (paved, surrounded by roads).  We’ll be back to check out the five miles of trails on the other side of Cross Keys Road.

Terrain –forests and fields surrounding the mouth of the Egg Harbor River.

Trailheads –  39°47’47.92″N,  74°56’13.03″W

Directions: South Park Drive, directly off of the White Horse Pike (Rt 30)

Markings – None, but clear pathways

Parking – Ample sized lot.

Description: At some point in the winter, you head out when it’s bitterly cold just because its a few degrees warmer than preceding days.  It was one of those days that The Pres, Tree Rider, and I met up some friends to walk the paved paths of Berlin Borough.  It was a work day, so we got out there with the sun already low in the sky.

The north end of the park isn’t difficult to follow, just take the concrete path around the outside of the park.  It should be a little over a mile in length.  Our walk was just under a mile, as we skipped part of the trail to avoid where they were repaving part of the road.

You’ll circle the headwaters of the Egg Harbor River, pass some nice trees and, perhaps, cross the bridge onto the peninsula.  Lots of birds around if you keep your eyes open.

Trail by the parking lot.

Trail by the parking lot.

Great Egg Harbor River isn't so great here, but it'll get bigger as it nears the shore.

Great Egg Harbor River isn’t so great here, but it’ll get bigger as it nears the shore.

Open space is nice after being stuck inside during the cold weather.

Open space is nice after being stuck inside during the cold weather.

Dam near Cross Keys Road.

Dam near Cross Keys Road.

It gets off the trail, but we couldn't resist a bridge.

It gets off the trail, but we couldn’t resist a bridge.

Frozen river for a cold day.

Frozen river for a cold day.

Birds coming to visit.

Birds coming to visit.

Coming back to the parking lot.

Coming back to the parking lot.

Nearby: Right next to the park is one of my favorite places ever – the Berlin Farmers Market..  Saturday and Sunday has outside stalls year round where you can find just about anything if you come often enough.  Over the years (and I started buying when I was pretty young), I’ve purchased everything from glass bottles to hockey pads to instruments to an etching of the Indian King Tavern and, of course, scores and scores of records (which is what got me hooked on the Mart in the first place).  Inside (open Thursdays to Sundays, except during Christmas when it’s seven days a week) you can buy a suit, get a fancy hat or wig, eat at the clam bar, run as quickly as possible past the clam bar, hunt through the second-hand shop, or get your hair cut.  My favorite places in the complex are the fresh pretzel place where you can watch the pretzels roll out of the oven and Fred and Nan’s Record Shop, where I’ve bought my fair share of harmonicas and records over the years.

The Good

the river, the island

The Could Be Better

very close to the road at all times

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Nice little stroll around the river, although the closeness of the roads does take away from this side somewhat (or at least it did with a paving crew right next to the trail). Hope to get back to see the other side soon.

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About The Author
southjerseytrails
Just a man, his five small children, and the need to hike every single trail in South Jersey, maybe.
  • February 8, 2015 at 8:54 pm

    The pictures are gorgeous! It’s an interesting location, i rarely travel out that way. I cant resist bridges either!

  • February 22, 2015 at 7:50 am

    Ahhh…..the Berlin Farmer’s Market. Everytime I go there, it transports me back to my childhood. My parents always took us there and we ALWAYS got the pretzels. The smell in that place is the same as it way 30+ years ago!

  • Jim F.
    March 12, 2015 at 12:50 am

    Nice pix…I’ve been to this park in the summer and fall, but never winter. What a different look & feel! Like everyone else, I also can’t resist bridges! They just make for interesting pictures…from multiple angles! But of course, what “wintry” pic mix would be complete without a frozen lake?? 🙂

    Anyway — great job, and happy hiking!

    Jim

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