Route: Batona Trail (NJ)

The New York - New Jersey Trails Association describes the 50-mile Batona Trail:

"Extending 50 miles through the heart of the Pinelands, the Batona Trail [pink] is the longest blazed hiking trail in southern New Jersey. It starts from Bass River State Forest and goes through Wharton State Forest and Brendan T. Byrne State Forest. The trail was established in 1961 by the Batona Hiking Club of Philadelphia, and it is still maintained by that group.

To pierce the genuine wilderness of the area, the Batona Trail avoids the sand roads as much as possible. Still, about 20% of the treadway is soft sand, which makes for slower-than-expected progress in parts of this mostly level trail. Good starting points for the trips on the trail are the Brendan T. Byrne State Forest headquarters and the Batsto Visitor Center. Trail maps and information may be obtained there, as well as at the Atsion Ranger Station and the Bass River Forest Office. A permit is required to camp along the trail in state forests."

Will Levandowski reported: "I have no record of it, but I did it solo in 2007 in sub 10 hours. Watch out for deer ticks! I got covered as with sand."

In 2014, 2016 & 2017 (Nov) there was a "Fat Ass" style race on the full trail.  Results are reported on ultrasignup.com.