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    Batona Trail

    5.0 (1 review)

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    5 years ago

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    People searched for Hiking 163 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

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    Brendan T Byrne State Forest

    Brendan T Byrne State Forest

    4.4(16 reviews)
    14.3 km

    It's a tiny state forest in comparison to other places in America, especially out west and in New…read moreEngland, but for NJ citizens it is a nice respite from the congested areas of the state. I've been here multiple times whether driving through on my way down the shore, or hiking the Batona Trail, or most recently, camping at the lone campground close to the park HQ. We had campsite #60 which is on the edge of the campground so it's a little more secluded. The best and most secluded spots in my opinion are 66, 59 and 58. The campground has indoor flush toilets and showers, as well as several hand pumped water wells throughout. Each campsite has a picnic table, a fire ring, and a hook to hang trash bags from. Brendan T Byrne State Forest is a small part of the Pinelands which is a U.S. Biosphere Reserve due to its biodiversity and was designated as the country's first National Reserve by Congress in 1978. The Pinelands is a beautiful area of New Jersey and well worth exploring, and this state forest is a great spot to do it, with its many trails, ponds, streams and dirt roads.

    This state park is in the Pine Barrens... I've been here many times... It has quite a few trails…read moreand Pakim Pond area of the park... It also has RV and travel trailer areas to enjoy... They don't provide electricity, so you'll have to do some boondocking.... But they don't offer showers and toilets within walking distance... They also have a dump station that may or may not be locked... Jersey residents get a discount...

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    Brendan T Byrne State Forest - Campground #60

    Campground #60

    Brendan T Byrne State Forest
    Brendan T Byrne State Forest - Mount Misery Trail- overflowing lake

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    Mount Misery Trail- overflowing lake

    Black Run Preserve

    Black Run Preserve

    4.6(14 reviews)
    33.2 km

    This is my second hike at this park. I believe I have hiked through all the trails at this point…read more It is very scenic and overall I give it a 2/10 in terms of difficulty. The red and purple trails were my favorite. On my second trip here I wanted to hike for about an hour but I ended up getting lost. Lost in terms of I want to get out but I don't know which way is the exit...I could definitely see the trail markers all throughout though! I recalled seeing a red color marker at the entrance so I followed that but ended up going deeper into the woods. I don't believe the white trail is fully finished as I had to double back a few times. I used google maps to get a sense of where I was but still couldn't make my way to the main road. Went in circles between the blue and green trails (the green trail said it was a 5K, not going to lie I got a bit worried there) but eventually I managed to make my way to Bortons road! and then it was another 30 min walk to my car along kettle run road. So what was supposed to be an hour nice weekend stroll ended up being 2 1/2 hours. Can't complain though, loved exploring!

    I am truly NOT the outdoorsy type but I will agree to the occasional hike or bike ride and this was…read moreone of those days. We decided to explore Black Run Preserve for our first bike trail experience since moving to the area and it didn't disappoint. There are plenty of bike and hiking trails and doing a little research online prior to going I was able to map out which trails would be best for us, specifically since I'm a nervous beginner lol. The trails are color coded and tbe associated color markings are on trees along the trails so you know which trail you're on. There is so much beautiful scenery surrounding you whether you're on bike or foot and there's a real sense of peace and tranquility in the Preserve, Definitely spray yourself down with bug repellent and wear longer pants and tops if it isn't too hot because there are warning signs for ticks and such given it's truly a wooded area. We will be back in the fall for another ride among the beautiful foliage.

    Photos
    Black Run Preserve - Plenty of great bike trails

    Plenty of great bike trails

    Black Run Preserve
    Black Run Preserve

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    Marthas Furnace - walk, anyone?

    Marthas Furnace

    5.0(1 review)
    0.0 km

    This is a rather special Yelp. Its not for a restaurant or hotel or cafe or salon. Its for a ghost…read moretown. Yep. In New Jersey. In the Pine Barrens. Scared? No need to be. Its a superb day trip--a place unlike any other. You wont find tourists here; or probably any other living soul for miles around. Its just not that well-known enough. Its not an excursion accompanied by a lot of tourist-board support, advertising, or fanfare. There are no audioguides, no pamphlets, no maps. There's also no fees, gates, ticket-stands, trinkets, permits, or clerks. You can just park on the shoulder of the expressway, and mosey right in off the roadside. Its just a tract of deserted woodland. Its a part of New Jersey only a few people ever have reason to explore; its for the imaginative and intrepid. In the course of a year, the site probably only gets a couple photographers, an artist or two, or perhaps an author once in a while. Some 4WD-nuts pass by occasionally. [And this Yelp won't change that--even if I told you about great dining here, this place will always be forlorn and neglected.] Its the location of a vanished Piney town which sprang up in the 1800s around an iron-smelting furnace; and which has now almost completely disappeared from above-ground. Iron? There were iron mines in New Jersey? Not exactly. Its a strange chemical process, organically-occurring, whereby it forms in the swamps and bogs around here. You'll notice all the water is naturally 'tea'-colored. But all the left-behind equipment and abandoned buildings are now, just as if they never were. You might only notice some strange shapes --hummocks, berms--in the terrain and that's about it. This is where your imagination comes to the fore. You're strolling around on top of a village. Chalk one up for NATURE! If it doesn't grab your fancy, then..no matter--just wandering around in the Pine Barrens is in itself, ethereal and stupefying. Take care not to get lost; because the trees have an eerie manner of all looking exactly the same. A few unmindful steps can get you turned around. The Pine Barrens are just a fabulous and unique environment. People love to discredit the Garden State without ever having heard of forests like this. To try to explain: the soil is flat, level, and sandy and without underbrush--covered only with a carpet of pine needles. Thus, with the trees racing up so tall and straight--like columns in a church--and also branching so high; the effect is quite cathedral-like. Sun slants through as if coming through high windows. And its uncannily quiet. Like a big empty room. Just the coolest. Bring boots (its occasionally muddy) and a survival knife *just in case* of feral dogs. I recommend this excursion to all the Yelpers who like to make a fuss over their daring and adventurous, active lifestyles. You're not impressing me with your tour-guide led whitewater rafting adventures. Try exploring the Pine Barrens. .

    Photos
    Marthas Furnace - And when he crossed the bridge, the phantoms rose to meet him..

    And when he crossed the bridge, the phantoms rose to meet him..

    Marthas Furnace - Burr

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    Burr

    Batona Trail - hiking - Updated September 2026

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