Van Nest Refuge WMA – Hamilton Township, Mercer County, NJ Distance – Did 1.7 miles loop.  Trails connect into Mercer County Park, so can expand this hike much, much further! Type – Loop-ish Difficulty:  5 of 10 – some bridges were out when we were there, which involved some fancy footwork.  If they were/are replaced, it would be a 2.

Website – None Open – Sunrise to Sunset?

Note – This is a WMA, but it seems to be closed to deer hunting due to it’s connection with Mercer County Park.

Terrain – Forest and swamp Surface – dirt trails

Trailheads – N 40° 16.137 W 074° [...]

Well, eight long years ago I started with a dream and a free website.  That dream was to some day ride through the wilds of the West on the back of my loyal cow steed – Lullabell – where I’d foil robberies and find gold.

[Note to editor – insert picture of me riding a cow here]

Anyway, haven’t managed that particular dream yet.  BUT, I have ended up with a website about hiking in South Jersey.  I go out, usually with some number of my four children, and we go on an adventure on a trail in South Jersey.  Then I do a little write up about the trail and put some pictures up.  Occassionally, I even spell words right.

It’s [...]

Maybe you have a stroller.  Maybe you are out with someone in a wheelchair or who has trouble getting around.  Maybe it’s been raining for days and everything is gross out.  Maybe you just don’t want to deal with “the wilderness” today.  Guess hiking is just out.

Of course not!  There are some lovely PAVED and CRUSHED gravel trails in South Jersey that are easy to navigate and are just waiting to be explored.  Here are some of our favorites!

Click on the name of the trail or park for our full review of that park, including driving address, GPS coordinates, parking, bathrooms, trail maps, etc

Haddon Lake Park and [...]

Jacob’s Creek Trail at the Franz Preserve – Hopewell Township, Mercer County, NJ Distance –  miles total Type – 2.7 miles total (that’s out and back) Difficulty:  4 of 10 (only because of needing to cross the stream, which is optional.  Without that it is a 2 of 10 for a bit of elevation)

Website – New Jersey Trails Association Open – mid-February to mid-September – open every day from dawn to dusk mid-September to mid-February – open Sundays only from dawn to dusk

Terrain – creek, meadows, woods, and hills Surface – Dirt with some rocks

Trailheads – [...]