Updated – 7/30/23 – Thanks Jeffrey for updated info on the Bass River Trailhead!
So, the Batona Trail is South Jersey’s PREMIER (also, only) long distance hiking trail. It can be a fun adventure to spend 3 or 4 or 5 days backpacking the whole thing.
But some folks don’t have 3 or 4 or 5 days in a row. Other folks (we call them intelligent people who aren’t trying to kill their bodies) don’t backpack. But the Batona is still awesome and you still want to do it.
This post is for you… how to split the Batona Trail up! I’ll be putting down the distances between potential parking, which you can use to figure out how to complete either by doing out-and-backs or doing a car shuttle. I’ll be sticking to paved roads for this, because not everyone is comfortable with dirt roads.
Also, please note that these miles are true miles based off of the mile markers put up by the wonderful volunteers at the Outdoor Club of South Jersey who maintain the trail, which unfortunately have little to do with the map currently being offered by the state (which doesn’t take into account reroutes that are creeping up on a decade old). I’ve included GPS coordinates from Google Maps/Google Earth to help out with where these are.
This page is always a work in progress. Was HOPING to get pictures of all of these parking areas on a thru hike in April, but that won’t be happening (thanks coronavirus). I’ll add them in when I have a chance to get out there when this mess is over. Also hoping to create a series of hiking posts to go with these sections of trail between parking lots!
Hike 1 – Mile 0 to 9.7 miles – 9.7 miles total (one way)
Batona Parking at Bass River Trailhead
Start: Southern Trail Terminus
Stage Rd (Rt 654) and Dan Bridge Rd, Bass River State Forest, Bass River, NJ
Parking Area – very small lot, six spots available. Jeffrey shared, “parking is [also] available at Lake Absegami if you talk to the rangers there. They will write a permit to leave in your window, and it is only about a mile from the trailhead.”
Coordinates – 39°37’28.10″N, 74°26’35.18″W
End: Evans Bridge on Route 563
Small lot and roadside parking
Coordinates – 39°40’31.40″N, 74°32’25.40″W
Hike 2 – Mile 9.7 to 14.7 – 5.0 miles (one way)
Start: Evans Bridge on Route 563
Small lot and roadside parking
Coordinates – 39°40’31.40″N, 74°32’25.40″W
End: Bulltown Road
Roadside Parking
Coordinates – 39°38’53.67″N, 74°36’16.49″W
Hike 3 – Mile 14.7 to 18.7 – 4.0 miles (one way)
Start: Bulltown Road
Roadside Parking
Coordinates – 39°38’53.67″N, 74°36’16.49″W
End: Batsto Parking Lot
Huge parking lot at Batsto Village (short distance off of the trail)
Coordinates – 39°38’43.01″N, 74°38’48.29″W
Hike 4 – Mile 18.7 to 31.0 – 12.3 miles (one way)
Start: Batsto Parking Lot
Huge parking lot at Batsto Village (short distance off of the trail)
Coordinates – 39°38’43.01″N, 74°38’48.29″W
End: Carranza Parking Area
Huge dirt parking lot (short distance off of the trail)
Coordinates – 39°46’36.12″N, 74°37’55.87″W
Hike 5 – Mile 31.0 to 36.1 – 5.1 miles (one way)
Start: Carranza Parking Area
Huge dirt parking lot (short distance off of the trail)
Coordinates – 39°46’36.12″N, 74°37’55.87″W
End: Route 532/Chatsworth Road
Roadside parking
Coordinates – 39°49’12.41″N, 74°34’53.19″W
Hike 6 – Mile 36.1 to 42.9 – 6.8 miles (one way)
Start: Route 532/Chatsworth Road
Roadside parking
Coordinates – 39°49’12.41″N, 74°34’53.19″W
End: Route 72
Roadside Parking
Coordinates: 39°51’52.31″N, 74°31’38.51″W
Hike 7 – Mile 42.9 to 44.4 – 1.5 miles (one way)
Start: Route 72
Roadside Parking
Coordinates: 39°51’52.31″N, 74°31’38.51″W
Pakim Pond Parking
End: Pakim Pond Parking Lot
Good sized lot just off of the trail
Coordinates: 39°52’49.47″N, 74°32’2.50″W
Hike 8 – Mile 44.4 to 47.3 – 2.9 miles (one way)
Pakim Pond Parking
Start: Pakim Pond Parking Lot
Good sized lot just off of the trail
Coordinates: 39°52’49.47″N, 74°32’2.50″W
End: Brendan Bryne Ranger Office Parking Lot
Good sized lot, located 0.1 of a mile off of the trail down a blue blazed trail
Coordinates: 39°53’41.25″N, 74°34’29.52″W
Hike 9 – Mile 47.3 to 52.7 – 5.4 miles (one way)
Start: Brendan Bryne Ranger Office Parking Lot
Good sized lot, located 0.1 of a mile off of the trail down a blue blazed trail
Coordinates: 39°53’41.25″N, 74°34’29.52″W
End: Trail Terminus at Ongs Hat
Small parking area
Coordinates: 39°54’43.51″N, 74°37’11.48″W
Excellent!
Was just looking for this info this morning. Thanks!
This is an excellent resource! One question… is it possible to break up Day Hike 4 (into 2 parts)?
Hi Linda! It’s possible if you have a vehicle (and confidence) to drive on dirt roads. A car could be driven down Quaker Bridge Road from Atsion to cut this section down. Once you cross the bridge, the Batona Trail is just on the other side. Just be careful of sugar sand (there’s a patch just over the bridge) and puddles (generally not an issue on this stretch, but I check every puddle before I drive through it just to be sure).
I didn’t include this here because I wanted to keep my write up to paved driving areas, as not everyone has the vehicle and/or experience for the sand roads of the pine barrens.
Thank you! We have never driven the dirt roads of the Pine Barrens… but have been on them during transports for kayak trips (the upper mullica and Batsto). We have a 4wd Tundra, so I think we could handle the dirt roads. Maybe?
Hi Linda,
I haven’t driven it since the beginning of the Summer, but Quaker Bridge Road is usually in very good shape because the canoe and kayak venders use it for drop offs. As of June or so, my AWD Subraru Forester had no issues with Quaker Bridge Road, and years ago my little ’89 Toyota Corolla used to make it as far as the bridge with no issues.
I just suggest checking suspicious puddles with a stick before driving through them in case someone tore them up
Awesome info.. Planning out a few day hikes before tackling a hike thru…..