Batsto Visitors Center — Attraction in Washington Township

I came to Batsto to ride the 18-mile long Penn Branch trail loop. There was plenty of parking, even on a beautiful Sunday, and plenty of people around. The public bathrooms were out of order but there were porta-potties available as an alternative. There’s also a nice picnic area with tables, and an open grass field.

The trail heads were easy to find, and the hiking and biking trails were clearly differentiated. Color-coded trail markers and a comprehensive map made navigating the Pine Branch Loop easy and enjoyable, even when it split off from other routes. I had the trail to myself for 90% of the ride, which was lovely.

The Pine Branch loop is the longest mountain bike trail in the Wharton State Forest at Batsto. It’s also a “moderate” trail, making it the most challenging available at this location. There’s barely any elevation change over the 18 miles (Strava recorded a 400 feet gain for my ride), but because the trail is narrow and almost entirely switchbacks, riding it requires a lot of focus. That makes it technically challenging and a great ride!

I had a fun time overall and look forward to coming back. There are plenty of other trails to check out and I didn’t even get to visit the...

Visiting south Jersey and had a free day. So, with beautiful weather, sunny but a little nippy, we chose to go here. The drive through the Pine Barrens was great. Living in LA, we don't see forests like this. Acres and acres of trees. I had grown up near here but had forgotten how extensive it was. We got there and opted for the mansion tour. Not many visitors, based on the parking lot. A lot of the buildings were closed - well, it is the off-season - but the Wharton mansion was open. Wife and I were the only two people on the 2:00 pm tour (did I mention not many visitors?). John was our guide. Very knowledgeable and likes to share. He described life in the house, both for the owners and the servants. From the show-off rooms at the front of the house to the dining room, kitchen and then the bedrooms upstairs. This was followed by the servants's quarters. A very good trip to the past in a house with, for the time, cutting-edge technology. See the photos. Enjoyable stroll in a historic setting. Mostly self-guided except for the mansion. I recommend off-season visits especially if you want to do some hiking. Plenty of benches for resting and enjoying the view. A very enjoyable time...

A BEAUTIFUL place to visit. I usually go during the day for exercise in the village when i visit south NJ, but just in October 2024 i had the privilege to do a lantern tour at night of the grounds as well as outside the mansion. It was amazing and a much more different feel. The mansion was beautifully lit, our lanterns gave a nice ominous glow to the village, and overall it was a great experience at night! I highly advise everyone to try it out when it is available. The staff are very friendly and do a great job telling the history and stories of this...