Best Wharton Trails (Pine Barrens) for family day

[Phred]

Heading to Wharton and have my maps...

Looking to see which trails are the best.

Easy day with brothers family in his Jeep...looking for mild trails and nice places to stop for picnic.

No narrow trails that would pinstripe...etc. No mud holes..

Family day...not hard wheeling.

Any reccomendations?

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[361Sean]

I was only there once. The wife and I spent new years in AC and we took a day trip to Wharton state park. From what I could tell all trails were about the same. Flat. Sandy with the occasional deep puddle. We didnt have a map and didnt want to get lost so we were careful not to make too many turns. We went in at the old village and worked our way to the old church. We then turned around and made our way back.

I'm curious what map you have and how you do. Please report back after your trip.

 

[Phred]

Sean...just as you described...flat with plenty of mud holes but still a great day. Trails were narrow so I got some minor pin stripes. FLYS WERE BAD!

I went over a tree that was down and dented one of those cross members...so better belly armor is on my list.

I did get to "recover" my brother out of a mud hole. My winch worked perfectly. He went in straight and bottomed out. The dry holes were indicators that the ruts left some pretty high centers. Slightly off-center made others easier.

 

[361Sean]

Hey phred couple of questions. did you camp and if so where? easy to find with a map?

Were maps useful? did you get lost? How long did you stay?

Thanks.

 

[Phred]

We did not camp...just a day trip. about 8-9 hours in all. Went in at Astion...down to Batsto...out East from there...up and back over to Atsion.

We used this map below to come up with an initial plan but most of the allowed roads did show up on the trucks GPS. Only one did not but I used Google maps from my phone to the truck and it did on that APP. I also used the trucks "tracks" feature just in case.

https://www.njparksandforests.org/parks/maps/wsf_motorized_access_plan.pdf

 

[361Sean]

Cool. Sounds like you did the opposite of me. Weird when you got to the bridge in the middle of now where right.

 

[ACAD_Cowboy]

So on this general topic, I happen to have some property down in galloway and need to go inspect and this would make an excellent reason to drag the family with me.

How many other areas are there like that over that way?

 

[Phred]

Im not familiar with other areas in NJ.

Wharton is huge...you can spend a few days in there and not hit the same trails. But make sure you have GPS as they all look similar and you can get turned around pretty easily. I had the truck GPS and a small handheld.

Take bug spray...flies can get bad.

 

[TheGreatCO]

I'd love to plan a trip out there, but don't want to go it alone. If anybody is planning on going, hit me up.

 

[Phred]

Ill keep you in mind if my brother and I go again...

 

[ACAD_Cowboy]

I should be out that way in october at some point. Perhaps September as well.

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