Batona Trail Batsto to Ongs Hat 3 days – 34 miles

Back in November, Skunk, Danny, Pat, and I went for a little three day, 34 mile stroll on the Batona Trail.

(Note: This is more adventure log and not so much trail info.  For trail info, go to https://southjerseytrails.org/batonatrail/)

Three of us managed to get off on Friday (sorry Danny), so we met at Batsto and, after getting our permits, headed off down the Batona.  The first few miles flew and we walked through the areas that burned in the forest fire a few summers back.

The first bit of really [...]

Sleeper Branch Trail – Marilyn Beard Trailhead – Wharton State Park – Waterford, Camden County, NJ Distance – Listed at 5.4 miles on the new map, but this DEFINITELY does not include mandatory backtracking.  Actual hike is 8.2 miles total according to the old map and me walking the trail. Type – Lollipop Difficulty:  5 of 10 (puddles, flooding, missing trail markers)

Website – Wharton State Forest Open – Sunrise to Sunset.

Terrain – Woods and swamp Surface – Sand

Trailheads –  39°45’12.40″N,  74°51’50.62″W

Directions – located at the end of the paved section of Burnt Mill Road [...]

Painted Rock Address – Route 539 Lacey Township, NJ

Coordinates –  39°52’40.20″N,  74°22’35.86″W Open – 24 hours Cost – Free

Directions – located just under 6 miles north on Route 539 from Route 72.

Many years ago, a huge rock ended up by the side of the road in the pine barrens.  This is no glacial erratic, this rock was reportedly destined to be part of the jetty at Barnegat Lighthouse, but never quite made it.  As large rocks tend to do, it became a target for graffiti artists.

In the late 1990s, a local gentleman began to paint it seasonally.  Sometimes it was a pumpkin.  Sometimes a [...]

Webb’s Mill Bog – Greenwood Wildlife Management Area – Lacey Township, Ocean County, NJDistance – 0.25 miles totalType – LollipopDifficulty:  1 of 10

Website – Division of Fish & WildlifeOpen – Sunrise to Sunset.

Terrain – Woods and swampSurface – Dirt and boardwalkTrailheads – 39°53’14.25″N, 74°22’45.10″W

Directions – Take Route 72, turning onto Route 539 North. The trailhead is located on the right side, past the painted rock, 6.4 miles from Route 72. The trailhead is small and very easy to miss, but is located almost directly across [...]