Richard Julian

Richard Julian

Pinelands Trail

02/09/21

When this trail is open (often closed during late winter and spring due to water on trail) it is worth it. Also, pets and bikes are not permitted due to the sensitive nature of this critical habitat. Unlike any other trail in the park, Pinelands offers a minimal impact experience of the maritime forest/bog community of the park. Trail is sand, loose sand in many places, and narrow. There are few trail markers besides dead branches lining most portions of the trail. For me the highlights are the pines of the maritime forest, the cranberry bogs and remains of aspects of Fort Miles (the World War II defense post). Most of the forest is made up of Pitch pines, adapted to the salt, sandy habitat. This area has been "historically" wet, formed between the older "Great Dune" and the current bayside beach dunes. Throughout the Pinelands lie several bogs, home to perhaps the most southern community of cranberry plants as well as Highbush Blueberry. Also along parts of the trail are the remnants of parts of Fort Miles. These include a portion of the old rifle range as well as the earthen revetments constructed to protect the mobile railroad guns used to protect our coastline from the threat of invasion. I recommend walking the trail in late fall (November), both to avoid ticks and mosquitoes and for the least likeliness of closure due to water. Summer tends to be dry, but lots of ticks and such. Spring often too wet to complete.

4.0