Main

 
Batona Trail Guide
 
 
                               The Batona Trail
The Trail passes through topographic and land use features in Burlington County, typical of the Pine Barrens. Through mostly forested lands, the trail provides a sampling of the landscape of the region. Slow moving clear, tea colored, meandering streams supporting cedar swamps and bogs, sandy high grounds anchoring tall pitch pines, deserted sand roads to once thriving towns and industries passing by oak-pine forests, cranberry reservoirs an blueberry farins are prominent landscape features encountered along the Batona Trail. For its outstanding values, the region is designated as an International Biosphere Reserve by the United Nations (1983), and as the New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve by Congress (1978). The Pinelands Commission established by the New Jersey Pinelands Protection Act of 1979, is responsible for developing standards for protecting and preserving this unique resource. With the exception of approximately four miles, the Batona Trail crosses land protected by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Parks and Forestry with much of the maintenance performed by the Batona Hiking Club.
Designated access and parking for the Batona Trail include the northern trailhead at Ongs Hat, the State Forest Office, and Pakim Pond, all within Brendan T. Byrne State Forest; Carranza Memorial, the State Forest Office at Batsto, and Evans Bridge in Wharton State Forest; and at the southern trailhead, at the recreation area in Bass River State Forest. There are many paved and sand roads where the trail may be accessed but they may not be suitable for parking. lf the access in these areas is within a state forest, permission should be obtained from the forest office in order to park away from designated parking areas. The paved roads intersected by the trail include Routes 70, 72, 563, and 532, White Horse Road, Carranza Road, Washington Pike, Routes 563 (at Evans Bridge) and 679, and Stage Road. With the access and parking available at various intervals along the length of the trail, exploration of this wilderness area by section or in its entirety is generally convenient.
The Batona Trail is approximately 50 miles in length. Since a 3/4 mile section of the trail at Bass River State Forest should be relocated for forest fire management purposes, and the official southern terminus may be extended from Stage Road to the recreation area, exact mileage is still undetermined.
The Batona Trail is established as a hiking trail. As such, only hiking, backpacking, nature observation and cross country skiing are permitted along the corridor. Where the trail merges with sand roads in state forests, horseback riding and biking are allowed on these sections. However, bikers and horseback riders must remain on the sand roads and not continue on the path once the trail re-enters the forest and wetland areas.
Although the Batona Trail is designated as a hiking trail, at some areas it can also provide access for fishing, canoeing and camping. In Brendan T. Byrne State Forest the trail skirts the picnic area at Pakim Pond as well as camp sites further south. The primitive Batona Campsite is located in Wharton State Forest near the Carranza Memorial. At the intersection with Quaker Bridge in Wharton State Forest the Batsto River can be accessed for canoeing with Lower Forge campsite in the vicinity. The West Branch of the Wading River can be accessed for canoeing at Evans Bridge along Route 563. Camping, picnicking and swimming are among the recreational activities that can be enjoyed at Bass River State Forest which is at the southern terminus of the Batona Trail.
The Batona Trail was planned as a wilderness trail, and it is exactly that. Yet there are no hardships, and few obstacles to be encountered. A few rolling hills, and an occasional sandy or wet area are the most severe tests this trail will offer. The trail can be walked from end to end by almost anyone, and it is prominently marked with pink blazes which can be readily followed. The trail crosses a number of roads and can be reached by car at many points. This makes it possible for many different types and lengths of hikes to be planned. Camping along the Batona Trail is permitted only in designated campsites. Campsites are available in Wharton State Forest at Batona Camp and Lower Forge, in Brendan T. Byrne State Forest at the family sites or group camping area, and in Bass River State Forest near Lake Absegami. A valid permit must be prominently displayed at the campsite. Permits can be obtained at the Byrne Forest Office, Batsto Visitors Center, Atsion Ranger Station, or Bass River Forest Office. Campfire regulations will be indicated and explained when the permit is issued.
Note: Horseback riding and mountain bikes are not permitted on the Batona TraiL
 
New Jersey Department of
Environmental Protection
Division of Parks and Forestry
P.O. Box 404
Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0404
609-292-2733
Richard F. Barker, Acting Director
(through 12/1/02)
Marianne Verde
Supervisor, Volunteer Programs
609-292-6441 e-mail: MVERDE@dep.state.nj.us
Larry Miller
Trails Coordinator
609-984-1339
Resources for information about the Trenton Office of Parks and Forestry.
The trail is protected in three New Jersey State Forests and unprotected on 4.65 miles of private land (Rt. 72 to Rt. 532) in Chatsworth, N.J.
Brendan T. Byrne State Forest
(Formerly known as
Lebanon State Forest)
P.O. Box215
New Lisbon, N.J. 08064
609-726-1191
Christian (Chris) Bethmann,
Superintendent
Chief Ranger Peter Gentile
Terry Edwards, Maintenance Supervisor:
Wharton State Forest
RD #9, Batsto
Hammonton, N. J. 08037
609- 561- 0024
David Donnelly, Superintendent
Bob Waller, Maintenance Supervisor
Chief Ranger Greg Langan
Bass River State Forest
P.O. Box 118
New Gretna, N. J. 08224
609-296-1115
Florence McNelly-Superintendent
Chief Ranger -James Zollitsch
Allen Reynolds-Maintenance Supervisor
Outdoor Club of South Jersey
P.O. Box 455
Cherry Hill, NJ 08003
Joseph N. Trujillo-President
Dennis Hull
32 Turtle Creek Road
Wading River, NJ 08215
609-804-0025
(The trail maintainer from Batsto to Evans Bridge, and builds bog bridges)
Trail blazes are painted "Pink", Last blazing done in the Fall of 1999 for the Millennium Trail designation.