Pleasant, easy hiking along the Maurice River with a chance to spot a bald eagle.
3.1 miles, easy; dirt; soft sand and pine needles; few hills.
- Shorter: skip the Red Cedar Overlook trail to remove about 1.5 miles
- Very Nearby: Drive to the other side of the river to explore the larger trail system at Maurice River Bluffs
- Nearby (within 20-30 mins): Commercial Township Wetlands; Parvin State Park; Belleplain S.F. – East Creek and Sunset Road Loop; Belleplain S.F.; Estell Manor Park.
Hike Info:
Our two cents:
Nice, easy hike with a bench at Jenkins Landing and an observation boardwalk past that.
As if on cue, a bald eagle flew overhead just as we arrived at Jenkins Landing. There probably is a decent chance of spotting one here… which is always very cool.
Updated: 4/2020 – Page refreshed, not re-hiked.
Map:
Paper map at the trailhead, but it’s always a good idea to print ahead anyway. The map has been updated slightly since we hiked this.
Note: the map in their Explore LNT phone app is more current and will geo locate your position.
Parking: N39.37564° W75.02630°
Rt 55 to exit 24 – thru downtown Millville – located near intersection of S. 2nd Street and Columbine Ave.
Dirt parking area with room for maybe 5 cars. There is another parking area by the visitor center but the gate was locked; unsure when/if that is open.
Restrooms:
Composting toilet in the center of the park. It’s at the end of the access road near the visitor center – not at the parking or trailhead.
Hike Directions:
The trails have arrow markers but are not blazed with colors. The paper map names the trails, while the app color codes them. The route below uses the names on the paper map.
0.0 – From the parking area, walk past the gate and down the access road.
0.3 – Turn RIGHT onto River Overlook trail. There is a kiosk and fencing.
The River Overlook trail is forested trail with places to spot the river.
0.6 – The paper map shows a loop at the end of this and while the trail sort of continued, the markers stopped near a sign for the preserve. The phone app shows this section as out–and-back and a loop.
So… we just turned around and retraced.
(We’d wandered around, and down a trail over to solar panels but couldn’t locate the proper route.
On the backtrack we noticed what probably used to be the other part of the loop, with branches piled up indicating not to go that way.]
0.8 – River Overlook splits; turn RIGHT – there is a marker, though we did not notice it on the way in.
1.0 – Arrive at a T-intersection and turn RIGHT to now follow Jenkins Landing trail.
Soon, a large sign for “Jenkins Landing” is partially covered by brush on the right.
Bench with a view of the Maurice River.
Continue walking past this area to a boardwalk that leads to an observation platform. An old shack may be visible on the island across the way.
1.1 – Retrace the route back, pass River Overlook trail on the left, continuing on Jenkins Landing trail.
1.3 – Arrive at shed, house (visitor center), and small parking lot.
Veer LEFT towards the composting toilet to take an unmarked path.
This is on the phone app, but not shown on the paper map.
1.4 – At a T-intersection, turn RIGHT and now follow Red Cedar Overlook. [Turn LEFT to skip this loop and head back to the parking lot]
1.8 – The trail splits but it’s a loop so either way you’ll end up back here. We veered RIGHT. There is a small water crossing.
Atlantic white cedar swamp on the Red Cedar loop
2.1 – At the far end of the loop is a view over a wild rice marsh. Continue following the loop around, passing where it split, until arriving back at the access road.
2.8 – Turn RIGHT and follow the access road back to the parking area.
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Hiked: 2/28/16. with B, T, & A.