First time hiking at Estell Manor Park.
The weekend after New Years we found ourselves in southern Jersey for post-holiday gatherings two nights in a row, and took advantage of hotel stays to check out some smaller parks we wouldn’t normally drive down to: Estell Manor Park and then the Woods of Wenonah the next day.
We even lucked out with a gorgeous upper-50s day.
For detailed hike directions visit our main Estell Manor Park page.
We hit Estell Manor Park on our way out of Atlantic City. Trails here are super easy – flat, level, packed sand typical of Jersey’s Pine Barrens.
This park is more of a ‘hey let’s go for a walk or have a picnic” kinda park and not a remote hiking destination but it’s worth a visit.
Stephens Creek – view from observation deck
A big highlight of this park is the long section of boardwalk called the Pine Swamp Trail.
View of the South River from the Swamp Trail boardwalk
Deck on the Swamp Trail boardwalk
The trails are not really blazed, there are some directional signage at junctions… so it’s a bit vague. Trail markers are all white for this park.
Make sure you print out a trail map or pick up one at the nature center.
There is also a nature center, playground, picnic areas, bike rentals, fields, etc.
Pass Veterans Cemetery
Wire frame remnants from a Native American Village display.
The trails are multi-use and the north section is a mountain bike trail. The easy trail surface here may make this a good choice when snow is on the ground.
Pass by the Smith-Ireland Cemetery
Ruins of a power plant
Smokeless Powder Trail and North End Trail
Miles: 6.5 [actual miles: 7.4 due to a wrong turn in the mountain bike section]
Route: Pond Trail – Exercise Trail – Point Trail – Cribbers Road – Swamp Trail – Smokeless Powder Trail – Duck Farm Trail – North End Trail
Bombs Away!!!: This area was used as a munitions plant in WWI, check out some history and photos about the Bethlehem Loading Company.