|
In the south-center of New Jersey, America's most densely populated state, lies a vast wilderness area known as the Pinelands. Commonly known as the Pine Barrens for its sandy and acidic soil that discouraged agricultural development, this natural area encompasses more than one million acres. The sparsely populated Pinelands have cultivated many mysteries and legends over the years, most notably as the home of the mythical Jersey Devil.
In 1961 the Batona Hiking Trail began clearing a hiking trail from the Lebanon State Forest, in the north, southward to Batsto in the Wharton State Forest. Continued expansion over the years brought the Batona Trail further south into the Bass River State Forest and today stretches a total of 49.5 miles.
The trail is abundantly marked with pink blazes and trail maps are available to make navigation a simple matter. Save for a scant few rolling hills, the entire length of the Batona Trail is flat and easy to walk. For the most part the trail surface is packed sand. The Pinelands are noted for its distinctive and unique plant and animal life, much of which is native only to this scruffy pine habitat. It is possible to gather wild blueberries and huckleberries by the hatful from the eye-high bushes that grow along the trail.
The Batona Trail begins in the Lebanon State Forest at Ongs Hat. The more than 30,000 acres of protected area were once blanketed by Atlantic white cedar until the vast stands of timber were depleted to stoke the furnaces of the Lebanon Glass Works in the 1800s. Today, thanks to continuing forest management practices, the white cedar has returned to the swampy grounds. The Batona Trail skirts the southern section of the state forest lands before crossing Route 72 after 9.4 miles.
After another 5.7 miles, just past the Apple Pie Hill Fire Tower, the Batona Trail enters the Wharton State Forest at the heart of the tapestry of impenetrable scrub pine, swamps and bogs. Today known for its cranberry and blueberry production, the area's bog ore once supported a nascent iron industry which supplied much of the weaponry and ammunition for the American Revolution. Many of the indecipherable sand roads through the Pine Barrens date to the Revolution. When the foundries followed the discovery of America's massive upper Midwestern iron ranges in the mid-1800s, the area's economy became so depressed that Philadelphia financier Joseph Wharton was able to acquire over 100,000 acres of land here.
Through much of the Wharton State Forest, the Batona Trail parallels the Batsto River. An aquifer inside the Pine Barren's deep sand beds holds 17 trillion gallons of pure glacial water. The shallow aquifer often percolates to the surface in the form of bogs, marshes and swamps. The Batsto River is stained the color of tea by cedar sap, adding the regions mystique.
At the 31.6 mile marker is the reconstructed village of Batsto, one of the best jumping-on points for the Batona Trail. Batsto was founded in 1766 by Charles Read of Burlington, New Jersey, who was the most noted ironmaster in West Jersey prior to the Revolution. He built the Batsto Iron Works near the mouth of the Batsto River. It was the first known bog iron furnace to be established here.
Bog ore is impure, formed from decayed vegetable matter interacting with iron salts in the steam beds. Along the banks it mixes with the mud and hardens into thick, rocky beds which are harvested. The New Jersey Pine Barrens around Batsto provided rivers to power the mills and provide transportation to New York and Philadelphia and abundant wood to fire the charcoal furnaces.
By 1773, John Cox, a Philadelphia merchant and trader, became owner of the Batsto Iron Works. During his ownership, and that of Joseph Ball to whom he sold Batsto in 1779, the Works became an important supplier to the Continental Army during the American Revolution. Such wartime products as munitions, camp kettles, iron fastenings and fittings for artillery caissons, wagons and ships were manufactured here. A British spy on the shore of Batsto Lake reported the daily production of the remote site to the British.
The ironworks disappeared when cheap, mineable iron ore was discovered in the west. The restored village features a bog ore exhibit, charcoal kilns, farm buildings and a working sawmill demonstration. The Visitor Center details the history of Batsto and includes Revolutionary War cannon balls produced here and iron pans which were used to evaporate sea water for salt for Continental troops.
Heading south from Batsto, the Batona Trail covers 9.2 miles to Evans Bridge. The parking lot here is a good access point for hikers wishing to explore the final 8.7 miles of the trail through the drainage marsh of the Wading River. The Batona Trail concludes at the junction of Coal and Stage Roads in Bass River State Forest.
Camping along the Batona Trail is permitted only in designated campsites. The trail crosses a number of roads accessible by car making it possible for many different types and lengths of hikes.
| 
