Spooky Hike: Hunt for the Jersey Devil

A fun and spooky way to celebrate Halloween with the scouts is to take a hike and search for the Jersey Devil down in the Pine Barrens.  Of course, the Pine Barrens is HUGE so it may take a while.  If you’ve never heard about the legend, click on this cool website for kids to find out more (and yes, the State of NJ runs this website — that IS cool!)

You can join an organized hike or grab a flashlight and search for him on your own.  Here are a few places to begin your search:

Organized Hunts

• Jersey Devil Bound at Wharton State Forest FREE
  • Saturday, October 26, 2014
    
  • 4:30 to 6:30 pm
  • Wharton State Forest / Batsto Historic Village
  • (609)-567-4559
  • This event will feature ghost stories and twilight hike to search for the Jersey Devil (and it’s ADA accessible!).
  • www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/wharton.html
• Jersey Devil Hunt at Shark River Park  $
  • Friday, October 10, 2014
    
  • 6:30 to 8:00 pm
  • 1101 Schoolhouse Road, Wall
  • (732) 842-4000
  • www.monmouthcountyparks.com/program1/searchdetails.aspx?ID=227

Trails and Parks to explore on your own

• Wells Mills County Park
  • 905 Wells Mills Road (Route 532), Waretown
  • (877) 627-2757
  • Features: 1 mile loop, 3+ mile loops, 8 mile loop, etc. There is also a “VIP” trail (for Visually-Impared Persons). Check out the Annual Pine Barrens Jamboree in October
  • www.co.ocean.nj.us/OCParks/ContentPage.aspx?ID=41fee2db-374d-49a2-a7ae-f17b5acc6c92
  • Map: www.co.ocean.nj.us//WebContentFiles//ea563dd7-94a7-4d99-b7da-210239c4ca31.pdf
• Double Trouble State Park
  • 581 Pinewald Keswick Rd., Bayville
  • (732) 341-6662
  • This is an active cranberry farm. You can hike along the cranberry bogs (2.5 mile loop) and check out the sawmill, packing house and interpretive center. There is also a 1.5 mile nature trail.
  • www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/double.html
  • Maps:
    • www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/docs/Double_Trouble_Historic_District_Trails_and_Bogs.pdf
    • www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/docs/double_trouble_nature_trail_guide.pdf
• Belleplain State Forest
  • 1 Henkinsifkin Rd, Woodbine
  • (609) 861-2404
  • There are very easy hiking trail loops around Lake Nummy (all less than 1 mile). Stop in the office for a trail guide. There is also a campground at this location.
  • www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/parks/belle.html