The Batona Trail is one of the most underrated things to do in all of South Jersey. One possible…read morereason people don't know about it is because nobody makes money off it. It's not a business. It's a 53.5 mile trail through the Pine Barrens. It starts at Ongs Hat in Brendan T. Byrne State Forest, continues south through Wharton State Forest, and ends at Bass River State Forest. You will see lots of abandoned cranberry bogs, cedar and pitch pine forests, and ruins of colonial era iron furnaces. It was started in 1961 by a hiking club. The trail is well blazed with pink. Be careful of ticks. The trail is only moderately difficult because of length. You can hike it all at once as long as you have three or four days, but you need to camp. You need a camping permit from the state forest office. I've been doing it in stages as day hikes as I'm just parking at one of the roads that cuts through it each time.

I love National Parks…read more Not just because I'm patriotic with an environmentalist sensibility -- but because they are time warps of sorts -- a glimpse back at the way things once were and (hopefully) will be for our descendants -- long downstream. The Cape May National Wildlife Refuge is a pleasant respite from the commercialism of Jersey Shore holidays -- its' boardwalk attractions, fast food and fast living. It is well marked and you can bring your binocs along to spot wildlife and unique plants and flora found nowhere else. Better still -- bike in and hop scotch around between dunes and other natural formations -- but avoid crossing into the restricted areas that are clearly marked by Area 51 type warning signs -- lest you want automatic weapon toting humans rousting you. We walked the trails in sand, alongside more poison ivy in one 2 square mile stretch than I have probably seen in my entire life. Bring bug spray, a fishing pole to cast off the jetty -- and maybe even long pants and an epipen if you are especially sensitive to insect stings and poisonous plants. Free bird watching walks are regularly available and -- thankfully -- it is a relatively unpopulated attraction so it is soulful in its solitude.

THIS IS THE TWO MILE LANDING WILDLIFE REFUGE LOCATED IN WILDWOOD CREST. There are 3 ways to get to…read morethis beautiful refuge: first is off Ocean Ave/pacific ave, second turn Down Madison to the end and it is on the right, or access from the beach -only Oct-March. Access from the beach is closed off by ropes and volunteers monitor those trying to walk the refuge from April thru September 31st. Protected area for migrating and nesting birds. There is a great trails to see the wildlife refuge. It runs parallel to the beach. Guided tours are available. We saw some great birds this summer landing on the beach! My first spotting of an American Oyster Cracker. I only wish I was able to get a picture, happened so fast. Don't forget your binoculars! The butterfly migration in October is really something to see, nature at its best. We have spotted white skunks, and have seen one coyote.

A beautiful beach-side park and well worth it to follow in the footfalls of our 46th POTUS. Yes,…read morethis is the spot where the President fell off his bike. There had been a spray paint marker but that's been removed. The spot is at the crosswalk immediately next to the pavilion. Vehicle entry is $5 for Delaware residents and $10 for out-of-state to park here for the day. It is a huge parking lot but it's a beautiful area so I imagine it gets packed during the summer! Be especially aware of bicycles as there are hundreds of them and share the road. Joggers, too! And finally, the speed limit is the speed limit. 25 is slow but do you really want a speeding ticket today? [Review 17745 overall - 81 in Delaware - 1266 of 2022.]

A great place to fall off your bike! Beautiful view. Easy to get to. You can think about Biden and…read morehis adventures, because this is where he fell off his bike in spectacular style.

Intro to Rock Climbing with Valley to Summit on September 18, 2022…read more This was my second trip to Chickies Rock with VTS and it was wonderful! There were only 5 of us, so plenty of time to climb. Our Guide, Bob, was so patient, engaged and informative. I learned a lot of great things that I had not known before about clothing, ropes and technique. Bob was so patient with me and was there with his " green pointer" to help me over the tough spots. You should know that I am 74 years old and tho I have climbed indoors for a few years, my stamina was not that of the youngsters who were there! Nonetheless, it was a great time! I highly recommend Valley to Summit, this being my 3 rd trip with them. They Rock!

Absolutely amazing professional guides!!…read more I hired this company to guide me through the winters treacherous water fall trails of Ricketts Glen that is normally closed off for hikers that don't have the explicitly specific required safety gear for winter hikes which this company provides. The guides were patient and helpful with the small group in getting gear on and going over all the safety equipment. They were never impatient with anyone and insanely kind. You could tell the guides truly enjoyed bringing everyone out to this amazing trail at Ricketts Glen State Park. I wasn't sure what to expect but OMG it was worth the money spent to have these guys/gals guide me through the trails. I took tons of pictures and was never rushed at all while taking in the views and photos. This company comes highly recommended amongst the hiking community even out of state.

Blueberry Hill is my favorite place to walk It has…read morewheelchair accessible You're definitely burning calories There are hills you can climb Different signs along the way some trails have pretty flowers. I recommend this place to anyone.

My bf and I were in the area and it was really nice out so we decided to come here for a 5 mile…read morewalk. It was a little hard to park but luckily someone moved their car so we didn't have to park in a 'do not park' signed area. The trail was well maintained and was wide enough to pass other walkers.

Cool and nice place to be wish it was a little bit cleaner from trash but nice off-road trailsread more

Truly enjoyed the serenity and bliss of walking the paths. It is good for an intimate stroll with…read morekin or romantic escape for lovers. Definitely Recommend.

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. .