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Walking, Running, Hiking and More
By foot or by wheels, fast or slow, there are miles and miles of paths and trails to explore in South Jersey.



Herrontown Woods Arboretum
Go find your hiking boots or other rubber-soled waterproof shoes, get your binoculars and explore the 142-acre Herrontown Woods Arboretum. More than 30 species of trees, shrubs and wildflowers line the nature trails that wind through the woods and over a shallow creek. The trails slope gently and gradually so they aren't too difficult and when they are dry, some trail sections can accommodate wheelchairs.
 
John A. Roebling Park
When you come to John A. Roebling Park, you won’t be alone. The Park’s 257 acres are packed with wildlife. Connected to more than 8 miles of walking trails and another 11 miles of water trails, Roebling Park is a popular spot for woodpeckers, Green Herons, Great-Horned Owls, and numerous species of turtles. Head over to Watson’s Woods section and check out the Revolutionary War era home of Mr. Watson and his family.
 
Kirby's Mill
IIt is said that an army travels on its stomach. When the Continental Army was in the throes of the Revolutionary War, historic Kirby's Mill was an active mill, processing grain that helped keep the army going. For the next few hundred years right up to the 20th century, Kirby’s Mill remained a center of commerce. Today the historic grist mill is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
 
Long Bridge Park
Right along the Rancocas Creek, Long Bridge Park has a little of everything that goes into making a great park . . . forested areas, pond, wetlands, meadows, marshland and lots of space for families to play. You can hike along four trails that wind 2.5 miles past fishing spots, picnic tables and pavilions, playground and nature areas.
 
Mad Horse Creek Wildlife Management Area
Keep going down the private road, go past the farmlands and you’ll get to the wetlands and wide open spaces of Mad Horse Creek Wildlife Management Area. Load your boat in at the boat ramp and go deeper into the marshes and wetlands to get a closer look at the birds, wildlife and foliage. Or drop your line for an afternoon of fishing. Don't worry, they didn't forget you Landlubbers out there. Mad Horse also has plenty of biking and hiking trails.
 
Mercer-Bucks Running Club
The Mercer-Bucks Running Club is a great way to stay fit, meet new friends, and practice with other running enthusiasts.
 
New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route
 Explore the Trail’s Sandy Hook, Bernegat Bay, Absecon, Cape May and Delsea regions and you’ll spot unusual, natural and historic attractions on land and sea. Whether you're a landlubber or have your sea legs, explore the nation’s oldest operating lighthouse,  the town where revolutionaries burned British tea, the state’s official tall ship and a grab-the-binoculars migrati
 
Outdoor Club of South Jersey
You love the outdoors. They love the outdoors. It is a perfect match. Nary a week goes by that the Outdoor Club of South Jersey doesn’t have some activity or trip going. The Club, run by volunteers, hosts year-round activities for biking, canoeing, camping, backpacking, hiking and cross-country skiing. Most of the trips are in the South Jersey region but they have been known to host activities up and down the East Coast and into the midwest.
 
Parvin State Park
You’ll be hard-pressed to decide what you like most about Parvin State Park. The swimming. . . the hiking . . . the biking . . . the camping facilities and cabins that are accessible for people with disabilities . . . or the miles of trails that wind through acres of hardwood and white cedar swamps and pitch pine lowlands
 
Penn State Forest
Some things are best when they are left just as they are. That’s the case with Penn State Forest. The 3,336 acre forest remains undeveloped and the hikers, picnickers, boaters and anglers who frequent Penn State Forest like it that way -- the better to enjoy the Forest’s unusual pygmy forest and the calm waters of Lake Oswego.
 
Pilgrim Lake Campground
New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route is a very good place to pop by in the neighborhood of Pilgrim Lake Camp Grounds. So many enjoyable things next to Pilgrim Lake Camp Grounds, and to be here is always fun. New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route is a very good place to pop by in the neighborhood of Pilgrim Lake Camp Grounds. So many enjoyable things next to Pilgrim Lake Camp Grounds, and to be here is always fun.
 
Pinelands Adventures
The best way to get to know the Pinelands is to get out there and explore them and the Pinelands Preservation Alliance’s Adventure programs have lots of ways for you to do just that. Trek deep into the wilderness, paddle the Pinelands rivers, learn survival skills or if you dare, if you think you have what it takes, dare to hunt for the mysterious Jersey Devil.
 
Princeton Battlefield State Park
It isn’t large – only 100 acres – but every inch of this wide open swath of land is sacred ground from the War for Independence. It was here that Washington and his troops concluded the “Ten Crucial Days” of battles, winning their first major battle against the British Regular army and gave hope to the patriots’ cause. Monuments, markers and the historic Clarke House help tell the tale of this fierce battle.
 
Rancocas State Park
First things first. With miles of trails that wind through hardwood forests and along an extensive tidewater march, Rancocas State Park is a great place to view all kinds of wildlife. But don’t stop there. Not only will you find the New Jersey Audubon Society’s Rancocas Nature Center, you can tour a re-created 1600s Powhatan Indian village, part of the Powhatan Renape Nation’s Rankokus Indian Reservation located within the Park.
 
Red Bank Battlefield Park
If you like mixing history with the great outdoors, head to Red Bank Battlefield Park. Centuries ago, British and Hessian troops outnumbered the Continental Army 3-to-1. Lopsided odds aside, the Americans won, although not before taking over Whitall House, a Quaker farmhouse, for use as a hospital. Today, at the 44-acre Red Bank Battlefield, you’ll find battlefield displays, observation decks, playground and picnic facilities all overlooking the Delaware River.
 
Smithville Mansion Complex
Talk about lots to do. You could arrive early at the historic Smithville Mansion Complex and find something to do until the sun goes down. The 18th century Greek Revival mansion, once owned by the owner of the company town that bears his name, is surrounded by a 280 acre park that has trails, picnic areas, historic village and picnic areas for family fun.
 
Sunset Beach
As soon as someone comes up with the words to describe the sunsets at Sunset Beach, we’ll let you know. Meanwhile, “spectacular,’ ‘breathtaking,’ and ‘mesmerizing’ will have to do. Located at the southernmost tip of New Jersey, the skies over Sunset Beach are slathered with scarlet, fuschia, pink and gold. With the patriotic flag-lowering tradition and the year-round abundance of birds and waterfowl, a visit is a remarkable experience.
 
Challenge Grove
When you get bored with your run-of-the-mill workout routine, a trip to Challenge Grove Park can shake things up. Parked along the Cooper River, Challenge Grove has equipment that you don’t usually find in most parks – bocce courts, long jump, and a fitness quad to name a few – along with some of the activities and amenities you do expect including ball fields, playgrounds, paths, picnic benches and a pavilion.  
 
Lake Lenape Park
Leave your RV at home. At Lake Lenape Park, they do camping the old-fashioned way . . . with tents. The 2,000 acre park has 18 drive-in campsites for tent camping which are located near the boathouse where you can find showers and running water. But even if you are only there for a few hours, the Park is a favorite spot for birding, watching wildlife, or spending an afternoon on your boat cruising around the lake. 
 
National Trails Day Celebration
Celebrating National Trails Day in South Jersey, the Outdoor Club of South Jersey is hosting a five mile hike/walk on June 8, 2008.