Bear Swamp at Red Lion Preserve (Section B) – Southampton and Tabernacle, Burlington County, NJ Distance – a bit over 2 miles total between the two trails Type – A pair of out-and-back hikes that fork. Difficulty: 4 of 10 – trails can be tough to follow at times

Website – Bear Swamp at Red Lion Preserve Open – Sunrise to Sunset.

Terrain – Pine woods and cedar swamp Surface – Sand

Trailheads – South Trail (Tabernacle) –  39°52’12.72″N,  74°42’28.12″W North Trail (Southampton) –  39°52’34.72″N,  74°42’53.07″W

Friendship Creek Preserve – Tabernacle, Burlington County, NJ Distance – no marked trails here, I explored to the tune of almost three miles total Type – No marked trails, roads and deer paths only. Difficulty: 5  of 10 Total score: 6 of 10

Website – Rancocas Conservancy Open – Sunrise to Sunset.

Terrain – woods and swamps Surface – sand and muck

Trailheads – Entrance to the preserve is by walking down Irick’s Causeway.

Section of the trail map from the State of New Jersey. Get one at the Atsion or Batsto Ranger stations.

Batona Trail – Carranza Memorial to Apple Pie Hill (and back) – Wharton State Forest, Tabernacle, NJ Type: Out and back Hours: Never closes

Updated: 11-26-2016 – As of Labor Day 2016, the fire tower is now fenced off, limiting access.  You can still climb it when it’s manned, but it is not always manned.  As awesome as this hike is, it is seriously less awesome when you can’t go up the fire tower.

Visitors to the fire tower can call NJ Forest Fire Service Division B Headquarters [...]