I absolutely love sharing our state's best hiking trails with you! I tend to favor short hikes (it's a personal preference) but I know there are avid hikers in the Garden State who are looking for a longer journey. There are plenty of trails to consider in New Jersey, though one stands out. It's not just a long trail, it's one of our state's longest.
The Batona Trail is a 53.5-mile trail that runs through the New Jersey Pinelands.
Batona stands for BAck TO NAture and you'll get plenty of nature along your journey.
There will be ponds, meadows and woodlands along your journey, along with a fire to take everything in from above.
From the top, you'll enjoy views like this. Trees for miles!
The trail starts in Brendan T. Byrne State Forest.
Then, it heads south to Wharton State Forest.
You'll come across several important sites on your trek, including a memorial to famed aviator Emilio Carranza, who crashed in the Pine Barrens.
And you won't want to miss the lovingly restored and maintained Batsto Village, a former mining town.
Though the trail runs on past Batsto Village, I'd stop there. You'll get a hike that's around 30 miles and you can stop at the Batona Camp overnight around mile 18.
The Batona Camp is a primitive site (like many are along the trail) that includes potable water and pit toilets. A permit is required, though the site is pet friendly. I'd break the hike up like this: Day 1 - 18 miles of hiking, starting at the trailhead, Day 2 - 12 miles of hiking, with time spent at Batsto Village. Both the trailhead and Batsto Village have parking areas for easy drop off and pickup. For trail maps, visit NJHiking.com. For a few fantastic short hikes in New Jersey, check out this list: 12 Easy Hikes To Add To Your Outdoor Bucket List In New Jersey.
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