Batona Trail
Encyclopedia
The Batona Trail is a 49.5 miles (79.7 km) hiking trail through New Jersey
's Pine Barrens
. The trail is the fourth longest in the state behind the Delaware and Raritan Canal Trail, the section of the Appalachian Trail
within the state, and the completed section of the Highlands Trail in the state. The trail begins in Brendan T. Byrne State Forest
(formerly Lebanon State Forest) at the ghost town of Ong's Hat and traverses Wharton State Forest
and Bass River State Forest
. The trail was built in 1961 by the Batona Hiking Club, which began informally in 1928 when Philadelphians began meeting regularly to hike . It takes about three days to hike the whole trail.
in Wharton State Forest
. At this time Batsto (batstu meaning bath place in Swedish) was being developed by the state and continued to be inhabited by a few people. More recently the trail has been extended
Thirty-nine species of mammals, two hundred and twenty-nine bird species, fifty-nine reptil and amphibian species and ninety-one fish species have been reported in the Pine Barrens. Possums, chipmunks, squirrels, beavers, muskrats, mice, foxes, raccoons, weasels, mink, river otter and white-tailed deer are some of the more common mammals seen in the Pinelands. Some common amphibians and reptiles are snakes, skinks, newts, salamanders, frogs, toads and turtles. The Pine Barrens Tree Frog
has a population here that is disconnected from other populations in the Carolinas and the Florida Panhandle. The Pine Barrens location makes it the fringe of both northern and southern species, such as the Yellow Fringed Orchid
.
, whose plane crashed here on July 13, 1928. Carranza was born in Mexico in 1905 and began flying at a young age, after fighting for a Yaqui rebellion. At age 22, he made the third longest non-stop flight. Carranza crashed outside Chatsworth
returning from a good-will flight to the United States from Mexico. Every year a ceremony is held on July 13 to remember Emilio Carranza's life and achievements.
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
's Pine Barrens
Pine Barrens (New Jersey)
The Pine Barrens, also known as the Pinelands, is a heavily forested area of coastal plain stretching across southern New Jersey. The name "pine barrens" refers to the area's sandy, acidic, nutrient-poor soil, to which the crops originally imported by European settlers didn't take well...
. The trail is the fourth longest in the state behind the Delaware and Raritan Canal Trail, the section of the Appalachian Trail
Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply the AT, is a marked hiking trail in the eastern United States extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. It is approximately long...
within the state, and the completed section of the Highlands Trail in the state. The trail begins in Brendan T. Byrne State Forest
Brendan T. Byrne State Forest
The Brendan T. Byrne State Forest is a 34,725 acre area in the New Jersey Pine Barrens in Burlington and Ocean Counties, New Jersey.-Description:...
(formerly Lebanon State Forest) at the ghost town of Ong's Hat and traverses Wharton State Forest
Wharton State Forest
Wharton State Forest is a state park in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The largest single tract of land in the state park system of New Jersey, it encompasses approximately of the Pinelands northwest of Hammonton, in Burlington, Camden, and Atlantic counties. The entire park is located within ...
and Bass River State Forest
Bass River State Forest
Bass River State Forest is a 23,563-acre state park in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States. The park, named for the Bass River which crosses through it, shelters a portion of the environmentally sensitive Pine Barrens but also provides a variety of recreational resources to vistiors...
. The trail was built in 1961 by the Batona Hiking Club, which began informally in 1928 when Philadelphians began meeting regularly to hike . It takes about three days to hike the whole trail.
History
In 1960, Dale Knapschafer, suggested a trail be built linking Wharton and Lebanon State Forests. The next year, Batona Hiking Club president, Morris Bardock, contacted the Department of Conservation and Economic Development in New Jersey for permission to construct such a trail. After receiving permission from the state, Morris Bardock and Walter Korszniak made exploratory trips to figure out a route in the winter and spring of 1961 for the future trail. Through the help of volunteers, the first thirty miles of the trail were completed over the summer and the final pink blaze was painted on a tree near NJ 70 in Lebanon State Forest on September 16, 1961. Bardock chose pink blazes for the Batona Trail. The trail originally connected Carpenter Spring in Brendan T. Byrne State Forest (formerly Lebanon State Forest) and BatstoBatsto Village, New Jersey
Batsto Village is a New Jersey Historic site located in Wharton State Forest in the south central Pine Barrens, and a part of the Pinelands National Reserve. It is listed on the New Jersey and National Register of Historic Places, and is administered by the New Jersey Department of Environmental...
in Wharton State Forest
Wharton State Forest
Wharton State Forest is a state park in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The largest single tract of land in the state park system of New Jersey, it encompasses approximately of the Pinelands northwest of Hammonton, in Burlington, Camden, and Atlantic counties. The entire park is located within ...
. At this time Batsto (batstu meaning bath place in Swedish) was being developed by the state and continued to be inhabited by a few people. More recently the trail has been extended
Flora and fauna
Although the Pine Barrens, as the name suggests are mainly flat pine forests, there is a large variety of plants and animals along the trail. The pines that are found there include loblolly pine white pine pitch pine, shortleaf pines, Virginia pines. Although the pines dominate the area there are also maple trees, birches, cedars, oaks, magnolia and sassafras trees along the trail. There are a number of edible plants, such as bearberries, spotted wintergreen, teaberries, huckleberries, bayberries, blackberries, cranberries blueberries and strawberries. There is a diverse range of other plants from the prickly pear cactus, wildflowers, twenty-eight species of orchids, the pitcher plant, ferns, Atlantic white cedar and sphagnum moss.Thirty-nine species of mammals, two hundred and twenty-nine bird species, fifty-nine reptil and amphibian species and ninety-one fish species have been reported in the Pine Barrens. Possums, chipmunks, squirrels, beavers, muskrats, mice, foxes, raccoons, weasels, mink, river otter and white-tailed deer are some of the more common mammals seen in the Pinelands. Some common amphibians and reptiles are snakes, skinks, newts, salamanders, frogs, toads and turtles. The Pine Barrens Tree Frog
Pine Barrens Tree Frog
The Pine Barrens Tree Frog, Hyla andersonii, is a species of New World tree frog.It is threatened by habitat loss.-Physical characteristics:...
has a population here that is disconnected from other populations in the Carolinas and the Florida Panhandle. The Pine Barrens location makes it the fringe of both northern and southern species, such as the Yellow Fringed Orchid
Platanthera ciliaris
Platanthera ciliaris, commonly known as the Yellow Fringed Orchid Yellow-fringed Orchis, or Orange-fringed Orchid, is a species of orchid.-External links:*...
.
Events
The Annual Fall Endurance Walk on the Batona Trail is general held on the first Sunday in November.Brendan T. Byrne State Forest
Byrne State Forest (formerly Lebanon State Forest) has more than 25 miles (40.2 km) of blazed trails, including its section of the Batona Trail. The system of trails includes trails for hiking, cross country skiing, snow shoeing, mountain biking and wheelchair accessible trails. The Batona trail in this park permits hiking, cross country skiing and snow shoeing. The Batona Trail intersects with other trails in the park, allowing visitors to create various loops for day hikes. The Batona Trail through Byrne State Forest is maintained by the State park Service and the Batona Hiking Club.Wharton State Forest
The portion of the Batona Trail through Wharton State Forest is maintained by the State Park Service and the Batona Hiking Club.Carranza Memorial
The Batona trail passes the Carranza memorial within Wharton State Forest. There is a 12 feet (3.7 m) monument dedicated to Captain Aviator Emilio CarranzaEmilio Carranza
Captain Emilio Carranza Rodríguez was a noted Mexican aviator and national hero, nicknamed the "Lindbergh of Mexico". He was killed while returning from a historic goodwill flight from Mexico City to the United States....
, whose plane crashed here on July 13, 1928. Carranza was born in Mexico in 1905 and began flying at a young age, after fighting for a Yaqui rebellion. At age 22, he made the third longest non-stop flight. Carranza crashed outside Chatsworth
Chatsworth, New Jersey
Chatsworth is an unincorporated area within Woodland Township in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States. The area is served as United States Postal Service ZIP Code 08019...
returning from a good-will flight to the United States from Mexico. Every year a ceremony is held on July 13 to remember Emilio Carranza's life and achievements.