General Information About the Pine Barrens

The Pine Barrens are part of 1.1 million acres of the Pinelands National Reserve, which ranges from northern Ocean County south and west, and occupies 22% of New Jersey's land area.  It is the largest body of open space on the Mid-Atlantic seaboard between Richmond and Boston, covering vast areas in Ocean, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Atlantic Counties.

ROAD MAP OF NJ (PDF)

This vast region is 45 percent, or about 493,000 acres, publicly owned.  There are numerous State parks and forests here, including Wharton, Lebanon, Bass River, Belleplain, Island Beach and Colliers Mills.  There are also many county and municipal parks throughout the area. The adjacent maps of the Pinelands are courtesy of the New Jersey Pinelands Commission. Click on either one to view an enlarged version.

DID YOU KNOW....That you can download maps of every county in New Jersey from the State's Tourism Website?

All of NJ's cranberry production and almost all of the blueberry production is located in the Pinelands. NJ is ranked 4th nationally in cranberry production, and 2nd in blueberry production, producing 40.2 million pounds of cranberries and 39 million pounds of blueberries in 2004!

The "pygmy" pines, a stunted variety the pitch pine, can be seen at their best on Route 72 which runs northwest from Stafford Township through to Burlington County and beyond to the Philadelphia area.   County Route 539, running from Little Egg Harbor north, also has many great views of these mysterious trees in the southern area.  Further north on 539 you'll find the "Forked River Mountains" .  Many think that the terrain is flat in Ocean County. It may not be the Rockies, but there are many scenic vistas from this region where one can see for miles. several groups and organizations, such as the Forked River Mountain Coalition offer hikes through this area.  The hills are gently sloping for the most part and much of the footing is "sugar sand".

 

The pines throughout this area live in a mutaully beneficial relationship with oaks.  The oaks grow tall, eventually blocking out the sun to the pitch pines, causing them to weaken. Fire is actually a friend to the pines.  With the intense heat of the flames, the pine cones "pop", allowing the seeds to sprout, thereby bringing about new growth. Driving Southbound on the Garden State Parkway, south of exit 74, you can see the effects of fire in the Pines.  Here stand hundreds of pines, many of which are dead, but others have sprouted new branches after their old ones were burned in a major forest fire in 1995 that burned over 19,200 acres of Pine Barrens. Pine saplings are now growing, as are other species of pine barrens flora.

Many cedars can also be found in the region.  The wood of the cedar was once a valued commodity in building.  Red cedars were valued for chest and closet linings and the white cedars for the many fishing boats which residents depended upon to make a living in the bays. Today many local craftspersons use cedar for creating a multitude of items. Its berries are a popular food for many birds, and its foliage is heavily browsed by white-tailed deer.

Generations of families have lived "off the land" here in the Pine Barrens; their stories are rich and colorful. Many "forgotten towns" are scattered throughout the region. A drive along the many dirt roads which wander through state forest can go right by the ruins or foundations of towns that were once bustling with activity. Two great books describing the history of towns both thriving and forgotten, such as Ong's Hat, Eagle, Harrisville, Waretown, Calico, Mount Misery and more, are "Forgotten Towns of Southern New Jersey" and "More Forgotten Towns of Southern New Jersey", by H.C. Beck. To see some wonderful photos of lost towns, be sure to visit Michael Hogan Photography, or South Jersey Unpaved, another site with great photos and many good links, especially for 4WD fans.

A favorite spot of mine is the Brooksbrae Brick Factory, sometimes referred to as the Pasedena Terra Cotta Factory, which was destroyed by fire in the early 1900's, but the remains are still there, tucked away about 20 yards from the roadway in off Route 72 in Burlington County.

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