The Batona Trail is a 53.5-mile long-distance hiking route through New Jersey’s Pine Barrens, crossing Brendan T. Byrne State Forest, Franklin Parker Preserve, Wharton State Forest, and Bass River State Forest. Built in 1961 by the Batona Hiking Club, whose roots go back to a Philadelphia hiking group formed in 1928, it began as a link between Lebanon and Wharton State Forests and was later extended and rerouted in 2012. The trail showcases the region’s varied pine, oak, cedar, and wetland habitats, passes landmarks such as Apple Pie Hill and the Carranza Memorial, and remains a volunteer-supported recreational route used for hikes and endurance events.

Egg Harbor City, New Jersey · USA