For detailed hike directions, maps, photos and GPS coordinates, visit our Apple Pie Hill page.

8.4 miles. Easy, level trail surface through the Pine Barrens in Wharton State Forest. Follow the Batona Trail (PINK blazes) from the Carranza Memorial to Apple Pie Hill and back.

Was warm and sunny, upper 80′s. This hike has strong sun exposure since the pine trees don’t offer as much shade – plan accordingly (sunblock, hat, plenty of water) or go when it’s cooler. Wild blueberries are all along this hike so that is your reward for dealing with the sun if you hike this during blueberry season (late July- mid Aug)…

We opted for a South Jersey hike this weekend as we were going to a concert in AC and figured we could take in a hike on the way there. Hiking in the southern part of the state is markedly different than north or central – very flat and lots of pine. Trails can be sandy as well, and frankly that can be annoying.

Ticks in S.J. can be especially bad, and even chiggers (which we’ve never run into but south jersey friends have warned us about them – they are even yuckier than ticks) For these reasons, we tend to prefer north jersey trails but this hike was pleasant and the sand not too deep (we wondered if all the rain we’d had had packed the trail down though). And we didn’t have any problems with ticks.

Apple Pie Hill was mentioned in Backpacker Mag a couple issues ago as a good hike for solitude, so we thought we’d give it a try. It’s a easy hike and both the Carranza Memorial and fire tower add interest to the day. The view from the fire tower is actually worth the trek. It’s not of some vast mountain or lakes or the usual view… just pine trees of similar height as far as you can see.

It’s more impressive than that sounds. On a clear day you should see the skylines of AC and Philly but it was too hot and hazy when we went. Apple Pie Hill is full of trash and grafitti around the tower, unfortunately, but don’t let that ruin your view.

The drive down was also nice, getting onto 206 south off of the Turnpike exit 7. I’m originally from south, south Jersey and used to take 206 to visit family but now take another route and haven’t been down that way in many years. It was nice to see nothing had changed really… all the farms were there still and hadn’t become housing developments like they have been turned into here in central jersey.

We weren’t heading home after our hike otherwise we’d have stopped for fresh fruit and veggies at the many stands along the way back… especially the one with the “fresh blueberry pies” sign… there’s just nothing like Jersey blueberries….

NJ Hiking Pine Barrens Batona Trail, Blueberries, Fire Tower, South NJ