The New Jersey Pine Barrens is a huge area in Southeastern New Jersey known for it’s sandy, acidic soil and abundance of pine trees. It got the name “Barrens” from the sandy soil, which is difficult to grow many crops in (but is excellent for specific crops, such as cranberries and blueberries.) It is also known as the Pinelands, and much of it is protected by the Pinelands National Reserve.
What makes the Pine Barrens Unique?
Because of it’s unique ecosystem, the Pine Barrens support many rare and endangered plants and wildlife which are specifically suited for this environment, such as the Pine Barrens Tree Frog. The water is often tea-colored from the presence of tannic acid and iron that comes from the cedar and pine trees so prevalent in the area.
However, due to it’s reputation as the “Barrens,” you can also find many remains of farms and villages that were left behind after colonization, when Europeans were unable to farm it. It was also used for producing bog peat; But, when richer sources were discovered in the West, the barrens were left behind, and nature reclaimed much of the area.
There are many strange legends associated with the area, such as that of the New Jersey Devil, said to be the 13th child of the prominent Leeds family, who grew leathery wings and hooves and flew into the Pinelands soon after birth, and is still occasionally spotted there today.
Can I camp in the Pine Barrens?
If you’d like to take your chances with the Jersey Devil and go camping in this beautiful and unique environment, there are a great number of options to do so.
Wharton State Forest and Bass River State Forest are two popular options, where you can rent a primitive campsite for as little as $8 a night, or camp with access to maintained restrooms and showers. There are many other options as well, including sites for RVs and trailers, in private campgrounds throughout this expansive region. You can find camp sites and make reservations on this website.
The Pine Barrens offers many opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors, including a wide array of beautiful hikes, kayaking, canoeing, or cycling.
To find an excellent list of hiking trails, visit this website. You may see wildlife such as white tailed deer and river otters, coyotes, and even bobcats have been spotted.
What Else Should I See in the Pine Barrens?
The Pine Barrens Scenic Byway is a popular route for exploring the area’s beauty. It is a nationally recognized route of over 100 miles that travels through forests and wetlands and passes through many of the villages and other historic sites.
We enjoyed visiting Whitesbog Historic Village, which includes historic buildings from the original town that once flourished there, along with historical information about the area, and a general store where you can buy local items. It is also co-located with a working cranberry farm.
Another popular point in the Pine Barrens is Batso Village, which includes a small museum, a nature center, and several historic buildings such as a general store, saw mill, grist mill, church, and more. There is plenty of hiking in this area as well.
On the Northern fringes of the Pinelands is Allaire State Park, where we really enjoyed visiting the historic village, which features a museum set up in the row homes with information and displays about the workers who mined iron ore out of the bog – a pretty interesting process. It also featured a train ride on an original steam train from the 1840’s.
Wherever you go in the Pinelands, your bound to find a uniquely beautiful environment that we hope will be preserved and protected for years to come.