CAPE MAY COUNTY

Belleplain State Forest

Belleplain State Forest was established in 1928 for recreation, timber production, wildlife management, and conservation of water supplies. The forest stand includes pine, oak, and Atlantic white cedar. Demonstrations of reforestation are conducted to study the production of forest-related crops and the conservation of forest resources. Recreational activities include picnicing, boating, camping, hunting and fishing, swimming, and hiking over 40 miles of trails. The staff also conducts seasonal interpretive programs.

Directions: From state roads 47 or 347, turn east on county road 550 through the community of Belleplain. The main entrance is halfway between the communities of Belleplain and Woodbine. From the Garden State Parkway, take exit 17 and follow US9 north to the intersection with CR550. Follow CR550 and the Forest signs west through Woodbine.
Hours: The area is open from dawn to dusk. The lake is open for swimming from 10:00am to 6:00pm from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Fees: A recreation use fee is charged for camping and picnicking.
Telephone: (609) 861-2404
Website: www.njparksandforests.org

Cape May Bird Observatory

Administered by the New Jersey Audubon Society, the Cape May Bird Observatory is dedicated to perpetuating and preserving the ornithological significance and natural history of the Cape May area. CMBO offers year-round bird and butterfly watching walks, programs, and workshops. CMBO’s Center for Research and Education in Goshen has a classroom, full nature bookstore, wildlife art gallery, extensive natural history information, trails, and bird feeding station. A “Model Backyard Habitat” serves as an outdoor classroom for visitors interested in learning how to attract and garden for wildlife, including butterflies and hummingbirds.

Directions: Follow state road 47 south from Dennisville. The center is located on the east side of SR47, just south of the intersection at CR657.
Hours: The center is open daily from 9:00am to 4:30pm.
Telephone: (609) 861-0700
Website: www.njaudubon.org

Cape May National Wildlife Refuge

Established in January of 1989, Cape May National Wildlife Refuge is one of the newest refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System. The refuge provides critical habitat for migratory birds and wildlife. It supports 317 bird species, 55 reptile and amphibian species, 42 mammals, and numerous fish, shellfish, and invertebrates. The refuge has upland and lowland forests, fields, sandy beach, salt marshes, tidal creeks, and ponds. Several foot trails provide excellent opportunities for birding, nature photography, and environmental education.

Directions: Go west from exit 10 of the Garden State Parkway at Cape May Courthouse, then turn south on US9. Turn west (right) on county road 658 (Hand Avenue.) Turn south on SR47, then immediately west onto Kimbles Beach Rd. The entrance to the office is on the left.
Hours: The office is open weekdays from 8:00am to 4:30pm. The refuge is open daily from dawn to dusk.
Telephone: (609) 463-0994
Website: www.fws.gov/northeast/capemay

Dennis Creek Wildlife Management Area(Jake’s Landing)

The vast expanse of marsh grass is a striking view. Several tidal creeks and drainage canals traverse this area providing channels for marine fish to spawn. The northern harrier can be seen silently gliding low over the marshes in search of food for its young. Often the egrets and herons shuffle through the musty waters in search of food. Muskrats busily gather marsh grasses and reeds to construct their domed lodges where they may seek refuge from the weather and predators. Dennis Creek has an observation platform and a boat launch for small craft and canoes to explore the marshes.

Directions: Follow state roads 55 & 47 south from Millville to the community of North Dennis. Watch for the intersection of CR557. Travel 0.3 miles further south on SR47 to Jake’s Landing Road. Turn west (right) on Jake’s Landing Road, and follow it to the end - approximately 1.5 miles to the parking lot, boat ramp, and Dennis Creek.
Hours: This unstaffed area is open daily from dawn to dusk.
Telephone: NJ Division of Fish &Wildlife (856) 629-0090.
Website: www.njfishandwildlife.com

Dennis Township Wetland Restoration Site  

This 560-acre site was diked in the 1950s to exclude tidal flow from the Delaware Bay for salt hay farming. Public Service Electric & Gas Company (PSE&G) purchased the property in 1994 as part of a program to help increase fish productivity. PSE&G modified 365 acres of the site in 1996 by creating a network of channels and inlets to restore normal tidal flow and the growth of desirable marsh plants. The site now provides important habitat for fish and other aquatic organisms. Bring your binoculars and explore the salt marsh via the nature trail. A floating observation platform allows you to experience a mudflat at low tide and the center of a tidal creek at high tide.

Directions: Follow state road 47 north from Dennisville. Turn west (left) at the traffic light with the intersection of SR347, and follow it approximately 2.2 miles to Eldora. Turn south (left) onto Stipson’s Island Road, and follow it to the end.
Hours: This unstaffed area is open daily from dawn to dusk.
Telephone: 1-888-MARSHES (888-627-7437)
Website: www.pseg.com

Eldora Nature Preserve

The home of renowned entomologist Dr. C. Brooke Worth is now located on The Nature Conservancy’s Eldora Nature Preserve. Here, you will also find the Conservancy’s Delaware Bayshores Office, interpretive exhibits, several aquariums, a display of local moths and butterflies, a gift shop, butterfly garden, and a hummingbird garden. A nature trail leads through woodlands on the way to the marsh.

Eldora Nature Preserve is the first preserve established by The Nature Conservancy in New Jersey for the conservation of insects, particularly moths and butterflies. A fenced area protects the red chokeberry, a host plant for rare moths. Songbirds and hawks are often seen among the adjacent fields and forest. 

Directions: From the end of state road 55 south at the traffic light, continue on state road 47 for 10.5 miles. The Preserve entrance is the first building on the left after entering Cape May County.
Hours: Open daily from dawn to dusk.
Telephone: (609) 861-0600.
Website: www.nature.org

CUMBERLAND COUNTY

Bayshore Discovery Project

The non-profit organization, founded in 1988, educates the citizens of the Delaware Estuary about the region's natural resources and maritime culture. The organization owns and operates New Jersey's official Tall Ship, the 1928 Delaware Bay oyster schooner A.J. Meerwald. Its home port is located at the historic oyster shipping sheds on the Maurice River in Bivalve which offers a window to the Delaware Bay's past and current oyster industry. The schooner travels from port to port providing educational sails and special on-board programs for school children and the public.

Bayshore Discovery Project also maintains the Delaware Bay Museum housed within the waterfront shipping sheds where exhibits highlighting maritime traditions of the Delaware Bay can be found.

Directions: From county road 553 turn south on High Street in Port Norris and follow the signs to the schooner, docked behind the office at 2800 High Street. The museum is located within the sheds next to the dock.
Hours: The historic wharf is open year-round; call ahead for Meerwald's sail schedule and museum hours.
Telephone: (856) 785-2060 or 1-800-485-3072.
Website: www.bayshorediscoveryproject.org

Commercial Township Wetland Restoration Site

Portions of this 4,200-acre site were diked as early as the eighteenth century to exclude tidal flow from the Delaware Bay for the purpose of salt-hay farming. Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) purchased the property in 1994 as part of a program to help increase fish productivity. Three-thousand acres of the site were modified in 1997 by creating a network of channels and inlets to support restoration of normal tidal flow and the growth of desirable marsh vegetation. The site now provides important spawning, nursery, foraging, the refuge habitat for fish and other aquatic organisms, and wildlife using the estuary. The site includes three observation platforms, two elevated boardwalks, and a two-mile nature trail.

Directions: There are three access points to the public use facilities; just off CR553 at the end of Strawberry Avenue on the north edge of Port Norris; off Germantown Avenue; and at the end of High Street in Bivalve.
Hours: This unstaffed area is open daily from dawn to dusk.
Telephone: 1-888-MARSHES (888-627-7437)
Website: www.pseg.com

East Point Lighthouse

Constructed in 1849, this “Cape Cod” style lighthouse provided Delaware Bay oyster schooners with a navigational marker to the ports of Port Norris, Millville, Mauricetown, and Port Elizabeth. It is the second oldest lighthouse still standing in New Jersey. Observe the annual migration of thousands of shorebirds in late May, when the horseshoe crabs come ashore to lay eggs. In early fall, watch for the annual migration of monarch butterflies.

Directions: Where state road 55 ends, drive 5.8 miles on state road 47. Turn right on Rt. 740 (Mackey's Lane). Drive .4 mile to stop sign. Turn left onto Main Street. Drive 2.7 miles to stop sign. Turn right onto East Point Road. Drive 2.6 miles on Lighthouse Road.
Hours: The lighthouse is undergoing restoration, and the building interior is not open to the public except for special events. There is an “open house” on the third Sunday of each month, April to October, from 1:00pm to 4:00pm.
Telephone: Not available.
Email: eastpointlighthousenj@yahoo.com
Website: www.co.cumberland.nj.us/facts/history/register

Egg Island Wildlife Management Area (Turkey Point) 

The vast, windswept salt marsh here is dotted with hummocks of cedar trees, bayberry bushes, sumac, and common reeds. Numerous tidal creeks await the explorer, crabber, and angler. There is a large pond in the middle of the tract, which wintering waterfowl find attractive. A foot bridge and observation platform connect the parking area and walking trails in the marsh. Watch for marsh wrens, seaside sparrows, northern harriers, gulls, egrets, and herons. In midsummer, be prepared for biting deer flies and green-head flies.

Directions: From county road 553 in Dividing Creek, turn south onto Maple Street. Take Maple St. 2.7 miles to the road end and the footbridge into the wildlife management area.
Hours: This unstaffed area is open daily from dawn to dusk.
Telephone: NJ Division of Fish & Wildlife (856) 629-0090.
Website: www.njfishandwildlife.com

Fortescue State Marina

Fortescue is known as the “Weakfish Capital of the World.” The marina was purchased by the State of New Jersey in the late 1930s to aid in the enforcement of shellfish fisheries management in the Delaware Bay. Today, the marina is operated by the Fortescue Captains and Boat Owners Association. The majority of the slips contain charter vessels (both large and small).

Directions: The marina can be reached via county roads 553 and 656 to Newport and continuing south on CR637 to Fortescue.
Hours:An interpretive exhibit on the history of New Jersey marinas is accessible during daylight hours.
Telephone: (856) 447-5115
Website: www.njparksandforests.org

Glades Wildlife Refuge                          

Located along the Delaware Bay, this area is a conservation project of the Natural Lands Trust, a regional land trust based in Media, Pennsylvania. In addition to the salt marsh and hardwood swamp forest, you may find tidal marsh with interlacing creeks and ponds, farm fields, mixed woodlands, old-growth woodlands, and beach habitats. Russell Farm Trail is one of several opportunities to explore the area.

Directions: From county road 553 at Newport, turn south onto CR656 and then south on CR637 at the blinking yellow light. Follow the signs to Fortescue. Parking for the Russell Farm Trail is located 2.4 miles south from the Newport blinker (on the left.) For access to the dunes and beach, continue into Fortescue and turn left onto New Jersey Ave. Follow that until the sea wall along the road ends.

Hours: This unstaffed area is open daily from dawn to dusk.
Telephone: (856) 825-9952
Website: www.natlands.org

Green Swamp Nature Area 

The Green Swamp Nature Area is part of a 930-acre wetland restoration site along the Cohansey River. Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) purchased the property in 1994 to increase fish productivity.

Restoration efforts here have focused on reducing the invasive weed, Phragmites. A short hiking trail transects an open field, woodland, salt marsh, and freshwater wetland. Enjoy a variety of wildlife, from nesting osprey to feeding butterflies. A public boat ramp provides access to the water.

Directions: Follow county route 553 into Fairton and turn south on Back Neck Road. Follow it approximately two miles, and the parking area is on the right.
Hours:This unstaffed area is open daily from dawn to dusk.
Telephone: 1-888-MARSHES (888-627-7437)
Website: www.pseg.com

Greenwich Tea Burning Monument

CumberlandCountywas a hotbed of patriotic fervor in the months and weeks prior to the first shot which began the American Revolutionary War. In the town square of Greenwich on December 22, 1774, young men dressed as Indians broke open a supply of East India tea, bound for consignment at the port of Philadelphia, and burned it in protest of the heavy British taxes levied on the American colonists. The Cumberland County Historical Society erected a monument on the site in commemoration of the event in 1908.

Directions: From state road 49 westbound, take CR607 south at Bridgeton. Eastbound on SR49, take CR620 south at Shiloh, then left onto CR623 (Ye Greate Street) in Greenwich.
Hours: Accessible daylight hours only.
Telephone: Cumberland Co. Historical Soc. (856) 455-4055.
Website: www.cchistsoc.org

Heislerville Wildlife Management Area              

A driving route winds through the tidal marsh boundary, brackish impoundments, salt-hay meadows, tidal mud flats, and oak-pine uplands. The Maurice River flows past the area to the Delaware Bay. Bird watchers enjoy wintering snow geese and the occasional bald eagle. Mute swans live here year-round. Horseshoe crabs spawn on the beaches during May, attracting thousands of migratory shorebirds.

Directions: Turn west at the traffic light for the Mauricetown turnoff from state road 347 and south (left) at the next light following SR47 south. In approximately another 3 miles, turn west (right) onto CR740 (Mackey’s Lane). Proceed 0.3 miles to CR616 (Dorchester-Heislerville Rd.), and turn left. Travel 2.2 miles to CR736 (Matts Landing Road). Turn right, proceed 1 mile past the impoundments, and parking is on the left.
Hours: This unstaffed area is open daily from dawn to dusk.
Telephone: NJ Division of Fish & Wildlife (856) 629-0090.
Website: www.njfishandwildlife.com

Manumuskin River Preserve              

The Nature Conservancy’s Manumuskin River Preserve, at over 3,500 acres, is comprised of a variety of habitats including mudflats, upland forest, grassy meadows, wild rice stands, and lowland swamps. In addition to 30 other rare species, the world’s largest population of the globally rare sensitive joint-vetch is protected on the preserve. The tidal wetlands here have never been diked and thus have great plant diversity. Remains of the 1790s settlement of Fries Mill are also part of the preserve. To hike the nature trail, begin at the trailhead located at the preserve entrance off Schooner Landing Road.

Directions:Take state road 55 south to exit 21/Schooner Landing Rd. Turn left at the stop sign. Follow the road to the gate at the end. The Preserve trail is to the right of the gate.
Hours: Thisunstaffed area is open daily from dawn to dusk.
Telephone: (609) 861-0600.
Website: www.nature.org

Maurice River Township Wetland Restoration Site 

This 1,390-acre site was previously diked to exclude tidal flow from the Delaware Bay for salt hay farming. In 1994, Public Service Electric & Gas Company (PSE&G) purchased the property. In 1997, a network of channels and inlets was created through 1,000 acres to restore the habitat that is important to the reproduction cycles of fish. The site now provides important fish and wildlife habitat. A boat ramp and an observation platform make this an excellent site for fishing, crabbing, and birdwatching.

Directions:Traveling south on state road 47 from Dorchester and Leesburg, turn west (right) on CR616 (Glade Rd) toward Heislerville. After approximately 1.5 miles, turn left onto Thompsons Beach Road and continue to the restoration site parking area.
Hours: This unstaffed area is open daily from dawn to dusk.
Telephone: 1-888-MARSHES (888-627-7437).
Website: www.pseg.com

Peaslee Wildlife Management Area  

One of the largest wildlife management areas in the state, Peaslee has thousands of acres of upland pine-oak forests and lowland bogs. Its longest border is the upper part of the Tuckahoe River. Old cranberry bogs and a mill are in the early stages of succession, and offer excellent freshwater marsh habitats. Discover the diverse habitats: the wooded edge, pinelands, cedar bog, hardwood swamp, scrub oak forests, sweet ferns, grassy fields, and yellow-clover pasture.

Directions:From state road 55 exit 24, take SR49 east to county road 644 (Hesstown Road), about 5 miles. Turn left, and proceed 1.7 miles. Turn east (left) on the sand road for a 1.6 mile auto tour loop.
Hours: This unstaffed area is open daily from dawn to dusk.
Telephone: NJ Division of Fish & Wildlife (856) 629-0090.
Website: www.njfishandwildlife.com

Peek Preserve

The Harold N. Peek Preserve, owned by Natural Lands Trust, is located along the freshwater, tidal portion of the Maurice River. The hiking trails will lead you through many different habitats, including wild rice marsh, Atlantic white cedar, hardwood swamp, chestnut oak upland, pine barrens, and a Virginia pine succession field. Waterfowl, bald eagles, osprey, turkeys, and great horned owls are just a few of the birds that utilize the natural resources of the preserve.

Directions:From Millville, follow state road 47 south 1.5 miles. Parking is on the right, across from Lilac Avenue. From the south, follow SR 47 north and take the jug-handle at the base of SR 55 to stay on 47. Continue north 3.5 miles, and the entrance is on the left.
Hours: This unstaffed area is open daily from dawn to dusk.
Telephone: (856) 825-9952
Website: www.natlands.org

SALEM COUNTY

Alloway Creek Watershed Wetland Restoration Site

This site consists of 2,840 acres of wetlands and 130 acres of upland adjacent to Alloway Creek and the Delaware River restored by PSEG to provide more fish habitat. Restoration efforts here have focused on reducing the invasive weed,Phragmites. Observation platforms, a nature trail, and a bird viewing blind provide opportunities to see migratory and resident birds, as well as other wildlife that inhabit the area.

Directions: There are multiple access areas. From state road 49 in Salem, travel southwest for two miles on CR658, which initially is named York St, and changes into Salem-Hancocks Bridge Rd. Turn right onto Ft. Elfsborg Rd., left on Money Island Rd., and follow it to the end. 2) From SR49 in Salem to Chestnut St. (CR 625) west. The road name changes to Ft. Elfsborg-Salem Rd, and parking is at the end of the road. 3) There is also viewing adjacent to the Hancock House. 
Hours: Open daily from dawn to dusk.
Telephone: 1-888-MARSHES (888-627-7437)
Website: www.pseg.com

Delsea Region Welcome Center

Fort Mott State Park

Built for the federal government's post Civil War plan of defending Delaware River ports, Fort Mott was part of a three-fort coastal defense system which also included Fort Delaware on Pea Patch Island and Fort DuPont in Delaware City, Delaware. A ferry connecting the three forts operates seasonally (not operating from August 2006 to April 2007). Ten and twelve inch guns were mounted on disappearing carriages with an effective range of eight to ten miles, sufficient to match or out-range the guns of contemporary naval vessels. Welcome Center exhibits on the maritime history theme and Trail information are available.

Directions: Heading east on state road 49, take county road 630 (Fort Mott Road); heading west on SR49, take CR632 (Lighthouse Road), and follow the Fort Mott State Park signs.
Hours: The grounds of the fort are open daily from 8:00am to 7:30pm from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and 8:00am to 4:00pm for the remainder of the year.
Telephone: (856) 935-3218
Website: www.njparksandforests.org

Finn's Point National Cemetery

The cemetery is the resting place for 2,436 Confederate soldiers whose military careers ended as prisoners of war under the custody of the Federal Union. These men were interned near here at Fort Delaware on Pea Patch Island. Many had been captured during the Battle of Gettysburg, July 1863. Union soldiers who died while serving as guards at the prison camp are also buried here. Interpretive exhibits explain the cemetery's history.

Directions: Follow directions to Fort Mott State Park. Just before the main entrance to the state park, turn right and follow the signs for the cemetery.
Hours: Open daily from 8:00am to 5:00pm.
Telephone:(609) 877-5460.
Website: www.ccm.va.gov

Finns Point Rear Range Light           

The Finns Point Front and Rear Range Lights served as a navigational point for maritime traffic moving between the Delaware Bay and River. In 1950, after the Army Corps of Engineers dredged the river channel, the Finns Point range lights became obsolete. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and a local citizen’s group restored the tower in 1983. Interpretive exhibits demonstrate how range lights were used by mariners navigating the river channel.

Directions: Follow directions to Fort Mott State Park. It is located at the intersection of county roads 630 & 632.
Hours: Interpretive exhibits are accessible during daylight hours. The lighthouse is open from noon to 4:00pm on the third Sunday of each month from April through October. Group requests accepted.
Telephone: (609) 463-0994
Website: www.fws.gov/northeast/nj/spm.htm

Hancock House StateHistoric Site

Built in 1734 by Judge William Hancock, the house is the site of a massacre that took place during the American Revolution on the morning of March 21, 1778. A British force of nearly 300 men surprised and bayoneted a small band of 30 colonial militiamen who were sleeping there. The house is a fine example of “pattern brick architecture” with the initials of William and Sarah Hancock, the year of construction, and a herringbone pattern displayed on the west wall of the house.

Directions: From state road 49 in Salem, follow county road 658 south to Hancocks Bridge.
Hours: The house interior is open 10:00am to 4:00pm Wednesday through Saturday and Sunday from 1:00pm to 4:00pm from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The grounds are open from dawn to dusk.
Telephone: (856) 935-3218 (Fort Mott)
Website: www.njparksandforests.org

Stow Creek Viewing Area

This New Jersey Fish, Game and Wildlife site features a bald eagle nest and provides an opportunity for visitors to learn about the state’s eagle restoration efforts. An access road, parking area, elevated boardwalk, interpretive exhibits, and a viewing platform provide a way to enjoy the eagles, the salt marsh, and its wildlife species.

Directions: From state road 49 in Salem, turn south on county road 658 (Hancock’s Bridge Rd.). At Hancock’s Bridge, CR658 makes a left at the traffic light. Turn south (right) at the next light onto CR623 (New Bridge Rd.) toward Canton, travel about 8 miles to the parking area on the south (right) side of the road, just before the bridge over Stow Creek.
Hours: This unstaffed area is open daily from dawn to dusk.
Telephone: NJ Division of Fish & Wildlife (609) 628-2103.
Website: www.njfishandwildlife.com