I first heard of Shell Pile and Bivalve, two old oystering towns, the way most folks do, through Henry Charlton Beck’s classic book Forgotten Towns of Southern New Jersey.  While many of the towns in that book are long gone, Shell Pile and Bivalve (along with Port Norris) hang in there.  Despite diseases that have nearly wiped out the oyster population (twice), one factory and a handful of boats still hang on.  And, of course, there are still gigantic piles of shells, same as there were in the 1930s.  I hadn’t been there in five or six years.  What sent me back?  Well, I drove by this the other day…

… and Millville is fairly close [...]

Nature Trail- PSE&G Commercial Township Wetland Restoration Site – Bivalve (Commercial Township), Cumberland County, NJ Distance: 2 miles (one way) (We walked 1.6 miles total) Type: Out and back. Difficulty: 1 of 10. Official Website – ESTUARY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM

Terrain – Boardwalks and walkways through tidal marshlands.

Trailheads – #1 – 39° 14.401’N, 75° 2.662’W (Northern End) #2 – 39° 14.009’N, 75° 2.108’W (Middle End) #3 – 39° 13.699’N, 75° 2.281’W (South End)