Route Overview
Region
Miles
Days Out
Recommended Tire Size
2.3`` or wider is ideal
Season
Elevation Gain
Difficulty
3/10 Technical
Primary Surface(s)
Sand Roads
Route Map
Route Details
Explore the vast Pine Barrens, a wilderness the size of Yosemite National Park—right in the heart of the East Coast metro region, easily accessible by train from Philadelphia, New York City, Baltimore and Washington D.C.!
- Escape civilization deep in the forest, a short trip away from the East Coast’s biggest cities.
- Encounter the nature and history of the Pine Barrens, a truly unique ecoregion that feels like it belongs in a different part of the country.
- Relax and swim at numerous rivers and lakes, enjoying the pristine “cedar water” of the Pine Barrens.
- Pass through pine woods, cedar swamps, coastal marshes, and the barrier islands of the Jersey Shore.
- No car shuttling needed! The beginning and endpoint of the route are at train stations to connect you to Philadelphia and up and down the East Coast.
You’ll begin at the very edge of the coastal plain in Trenton (accessible by commuter train, with bikes, from Philadelphia and New York), and quickly escape the city onto country roads.
Whitesbog, a historic village with its iconic cranberry bogs, marks your entry into the Pinelands. From there you’ll ride through miles of remote pitch pine forest, a unique landscape shaped by wildfires and sandy soil.
Occasional historic sites give a glimpse into a time, centuries ago, when the pines were far more populated than they are today.
While the bulk of the pinelands are covered in forests of pitch pine (Pinus rigida) the cedar swamps are another iconic environment of the area. Densely growing Atlantic white cedars (Chamaecyparis thyoides) create thick, shaded glades around streams and wetlands. Artificial lakes, meadows, and bogs (including active and former cranberry bogs) are home to a great deal of wildlife, especially in the spring and fall bird migration seasons.
Further south, you’ll shift into coastal biomes, with tidal marshes and spectacular birdwatching.
The route concludes with a stretch along the shoreline, bringing you to Atlantic City’s train station where trains can bring you back to Philadelphia.
- Paved: 60%
- Smooth Gravel: 15%
- Rough Gravel: 10%
- 4×4 Road: 10%
- Singletrack: 5%
If riders can ride on beach sand, the paved mileage can decrease by more than 15 miles.
Transportation: The route begins at Trenton Transit Center, which is serviced by Septa commuter trains from Philadelphia and NJ Transit commuter trains from New York City. It is also an Amtrak station, making the route easily accessible from points up and down the East Coast. The route ends at the Atlantic City Convention Center, where NJ Transit trains return riders and their bikes to Philadelphia.
These trains do not run extremely frequently, so look up schedules and plan ahead. On both lines, large groups of bikepackers may present an unusual issue, and there might not be space for large numbers of bikes. See the Plan a Trip Section of the Jersey Devil Hunt website for more details about transportation.
Tire size: A mountain bike or fat-tired gravel bike (minimum 2” tires, and the wider the better) is a necessity to ride the sugar sand roads with only occasional hike-a-bike. A fat bike or plus-bike (3” tires) is ideal to avoid any walking.
Camping: Wild camping is not allowed anywhere in the Pine Barrens, but state forest campgrounds are easily accessible along the route, and there are private camping/lodging options as well.
Re-supply: You can pack light. Supplies for the first half are best brought from the start. Resupply is possible at Mullica or Mays Landing around halfway through, and there are restaurant and small shop options near the route in the southern half.
Water: For water, potable water is available at (or near) all campgrounds on the route, as well as other points along the way. Additionally, you’ll often be near rivers and streams, which are tea-colored thanks to the Atlantic white cedar trees but known for their purity (always use a filter though). Note that some water sources may be turned off in the coldest months of the year.
Season: This route is rideable year-round; however the Spring and Fall are optimal times. This avoids the high-season traffic down the Jersey Shore as well as mosquitos and biting insects in the summer.
Safety:
- Deer ticks are very prevalent in the Pine Barrens, so ticks are by far the biggest safety concern of this route.
- While the Jersey Devil Hunt makes every effort to stay off pavement, this is still New Jersey, the most densely populated state in the country. In order to begin and end at train stations, some long road stretches are necessary, particularly out of Trenton and along the shore (if not riding on the beach). Most of these roads are relatively low-traffic and many have a wide shoulder, however caution should always be taken.
- Pine Barrens are very susceptible to wildfire compared to other Eastern forests. Please pay attention to and strictly follow any fire restrictions — fire bans are often in effect in the Pine Barrens and should be taken very seriously.
- Visit www.jerseydevilhunt.com for more important information to help you plan a successful trip on this route.
- Follow The Jersey Devil Hunt on Facebook and Instagram
- There is a Facebook Group for the route as well
Julian Bender (he/him), created and stewards this route. Julian lives in Philadelphia, where the Pine Barrens are the biggest, closest wilderness to the city. Here is a little about Julian:
I currently have an extremely indoor job but worked for several years developing and mapping hiking trails across the Middle East, including the Jordan Trail (https://www.jordantrail.org/) and Sinai Trail. My first ever bike camping trip was to the Pine Barrens in 2011, and since then I’ve been exploring the area by bike on a regular basis. After years of thinking the Pinelands needed a proper bikepacking route, I decided in 2024 to go out and create one. The Pines are a truly special place, especially given how close they are to the most populated parts of the US. I hope the Jersey Devil Hunt will offer a way to discover this unique ecoregion and expose more people to bikepacking in general!
Julian has offered to be available to answer questions if you are planning a trip on this route. Please also get in touch with any updates on route conditions that may be relevant to other riders.
Please submit your questions and comments on the route via the contact form below.
- This route traverses the traditional lands of the Lenni-Lenape.