Follow the self-guided interpretive trails that run adjacent to the North Branch of the Rancocas Creek and you can get acquainted with all kinds of wildlife that thrives in the marshy tidewaters. The hiking trails that wind through the upland and lowland terrain are packed with dozens of species of birds and wildlife.
Maybe that’s why the Rancocas Nature Center – operated by the New Jersey Audubon Society -- is such a big attraction for nature lovers. Set within the Park, the Rancocas Nature Center offers a full range of programs and activities for all ages. The trail is relatively short – less than a mile – and you can cover it in about half an hour. Which makes it an easy way to introduce youngsters to the great outdoors. And each step along the very user-friendly trail is another opportunity to spot a variety of different trees, shrubs, ferns and wildlife.
Throughout the year, the Rancocas Nature Center conducts a wide array of programs for kids and adults . . . and sometimes both at the same time. Go for a moonlight night hike, participate in a hawk watch, or join your pre-schooler in crafts and other kid-friendly activities.
It isn’t every state park that has its own Indian reservation. Within Rancocas State Park, you’ll find the Rankokus Indian Reservation of the Powhatan Renape nation. You can follow the self-guided trail that winds through the 350-acre reservation or ask for a guided tour of the museum, which displays traditional tools, costumes, decorative arts and other artifacts. Have your credit card handy -- it is easy to be quite taken with the photography, sculpture and paintings created by Native American artists. There is even a replica of a traditional Indian village from the 1600s.