3 Family Friendly Hikes

Here are three easy and family-friendly hike options to do with kids (or kids-at-heart) to close out the summer or into the fall.

The Batsto Lake Trail in Wharton State Forest is a peaceful loop through the Pine Barrens, offering lakeside views and historic buildings in the Village of Batsto. It is 4.1miles and would take a little more than a hour to complete the loop along sandy paths, bog bridges, and pine needle-covered trails along Batso Lake. Wharton State Forest is the largest piece of land managed by New Jersey State Parks. The area was a regional hub for glass and iron manufacturing during the mid-1700s to mid-1800s.

The Fairy Trail at South Mountain Reservation in Essex County is a short and magical walk perfect for kids and curious adults. This is an easy half-mile path inhabited by fairies who have built homes along the trail. The rules help to introduce kids to the principles of Leave No Trace.

Watchung Reservation's White Trail (Union County) goes over gentle terrain with scenic views and historical landmarks. At 2.7 miles, it will take you about an hour, depending on how many stops you make. Of course, like most of these hikes, you can extend the hike by continuing on the white or purple and yellow trails or turn back. Information and directions at Watchung Reservation White Trail. The Reservation also has the Trailside Museum and other trails to explore.

The Batona Trail

The Batona Trail is a 49.5-mile (79.7 km) hiking trail through New Jersey's Pine Barrens.
The trail is the fourth longest in the state and begins in Brendan T. Byrne State Forest (formerly Lebanon State Forest) at the ghost town of Ong's Hat and traverses Wharton State Forest and Bass River State Forest.

The Pine Barrens are not barren at all. There are 39 species of mammals, 229 bird species, 59 reptile and amphibian species, and 91 fish species that have been reported in the Pinelands. Possums, chipmunks, squirrels, beavers, muskrats, mice, foxes, raccoons, weasels, mink, river otter, and white-tailed deer are some of the more common mammals seen in the Pinelands. Some common amphibians and reptiles are snakes, skinks, newts, salamanders, frogs, toads and turtles.

The Pine Barrens Tree Frog has a population here that is disconnected from other populations in the Carolinas and the Florida Panhandle. 

The New Jersey Pinelands is the fringe of both northern and southern plant species, such as the Yellow Fringed Orchid.

The pines that are found there include loblolly pine, white pine, pitch pine, shortleaf pines, and  Virginia pines. Although pines dominate the area, there are also maple trees, birches, cedars, oaks, magnolia and sassafras trees along the trail.

Edible plants include bearberries, spotted wintergreen, teaberries, huckleberries, bayberries, blackberries, cranberries, blueberries and strawberries. 

There is a diverse range of other plants from the prickly pear cactus, wildflowers, 28 species of orchids, the pitcher plant, ferns, Atlantic white cedar and sphagnum moss.

The trail was built in 1961 by the Batona Hiking Club, which began informally in 1928 when Philadelphians began meeting regularly to hike. Most hikers will take about three days to hike the whole trail.

The portion of the Batona Trail through Wharton State Forest is maintained by the State Park Service and the Batona Hiking Club. One stop on this section of the Batona trail passes the Carranza Memorial within Wharton State Forest.

The trail passes also through Bass River State Forest is maintained by the State Park Service, the Outdoor Club of South Jersey and the Batona Hiking Club.

More Trail Information

• state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/docs/batona14web.pdf
• sierraclub.org/new-jersey/batona-trail-section
• southjerseytrails.org/batonatrail/
• nynjtc.org/park/batona-trail