Pine Barrens Byway

A kayaker glides along the slow-moving Mullica River, a 50-mile waterway that provides a serene setting for travelers on the New Jersey Pine Barrens Byway. Named after an early Finnish settler, the Mullica is a hotspot for kayaking and birdwatching.

Batsto Lake provides a picturesque setting in all seasons, but especially in the fall, when the foliage on its banks transforms into shades of orange, yellow and red. Kayaking, canoeing, fishing, and birdwatching are popular activities on the lake, which teems with wildlife.

Deep blue Pine Barrens Gentians are among the rare plant species that thrive along roadsides in areas of the 122,880-acre Wharton State Forest. Gentians bloom as late as November, providing travelers on the Pine Barrens Byway with a final flourish of color.

The 32-room Batsto Mansion rises above the treetops at Batsto Village, where nature and culture are intertwined. Visitors can tour the mansion and other buildings in a community that once produced bog iron and glass with materials from the local environment.

Well-marked, wooden signage invites hikers, naturalists and others seeking to explore the 53-mile Batona Trail, a flat, easy-walking trail that meanders through three state forests in the Pine Barrens.

Rare plants such as Bog Asphodel can be spotted along the Batona Trail, which is named after a condensed form of “BAck TO NAture.” The plant, with its yellow star-like flowers, can be found be in the Pine Barrens and nowhere else on earth.

Visitors to the Batona Trail can discover a bounty of bogs that are flanked by dense shrubs, offering scenic views and plentiful photo opportunities, especially in the fall.

Canoes and dense vegetation line the edge of the 67-acre Lake Absegami, which is located in the Bass River State Forest. The lake is also a popular spot for swimming and studying nature.

The Pine Barrens treefrog is less than two inches in size, with an emerald green body and a plum-hued underbelly. The rare species finds refuge in areas of Bass River State Forest, where its “quonk-quonk-quonk” calls fill the air.

Visitors to the Bass River State Forest can travel along white, sandy roads that bisect the West Pine Plains, a globally rare “pygmy” forest where pines and oaks have adapted to survive a high frequency of wildfires and often grow no taller than six feet.

Boats of all sizes can be seen docked along the scenic Mullica River, which wends its way through 50 miles of southern New Jersey and provides abundant fishing opportunities.

The Mullica River is a popular location for viewing purple and pink-tinged sunsets that reflect off the gently rippling waters.

Crowley’s Landing has wooden docks and access points that provide ample space to launch a boat into the Mullica River. A wayside panel is located onsite, and it describes the natural treasures of the Pine Barrens.

Painted geese adorn a large wooden sign that greets visitors to the B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, which features a Visitor Information Center with interactive exhibits. The refuge protects more than 47,000 acres of land that provides habitat for 322 species of birds.

Orange sulphur butterflies, with their bright yellow-orange wings, can be seen nectaring on purple asters that grow in a pollinator garden in the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge during the summer. The refuge provides great photo opportunities throughout the year.

Egrets, with their bright white feathers and their long, yellow-orange bills, find a welcome home in the wetlands at the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge is a birdwatcher’s dream, given its two observation towers and observation deck.

Wooden signage and cascading flowers greet visitors at the entrance of the Atlantic County Park in Estell Manor City. The park is home to a nature center, pollinator garden, trails, a veterans’ cemetery and the remains of an historic glass factory.

Visitors to the Warren E. Fox Nature Center in Atlantic County Park can partake in educational programs and peruse exhibits, including taxidermy of local birds such as hawks and owls.

The ruins of the Estellville Glassworks factory still stand in the Atlantic County Park. Factory buildings, with their stone walls and brick arches, can be viewed up-close. The glassworks produced bottles and window glass from 1825 to 1877. The glass was made from the area’s abundant supplies of sand.

Wooden signage and native vegetation greet visitors to the Tuckahoe Wildlife Management Area. As noted on the sign, the 17,500-acre property was purchased in 1933 with funds from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses.

Sand roads lead travelers through miles of Pine Barrens forests, as tall cedars and oaks line the roadside and provide refuge for songbirds. The Wildlife Management Area boasts a diversity of habitats, including salt marsh, freshwater rivers and bogs that attract waterfowl.

The wide open marshland in the Tuckahoe Wildlife Management Area is populated by a variety of low-growing grasses, providing a perfect staging area for birdwatching.

In the fall, visitors are greeted by vibrant hues of orange and scarlet foliage that reflect off the still waters of Lake Nummy in the Belleplain State Forest. Park benches are positioned near the lake, offering a tranquil resting spot.

Canoes are stacked side by side on the banks of Lake Nummy in Belleplain State Forest, ready for action. The lake is a popular location for boating, fishing and swimming.

Eastern box turtles, with their bright yellow and orange markings interlaced on a dark brown shell, are among many animal species that can be spotted while exploring the 21,254-acre Belleplain State Forest.