the title says it all.. I want to hike the entire thing ! (before it gets too buggy).. what's the best way to do this ? i'd prefer (b/c of life's inconveniences) to do it as several long single day outings. anyone interested ? i've never hiked a yard of it before. - Bob
Batona Trail hike
- Thread starter BobNJ1979
- Start date
I have hiked from Caranzza to Apple Pine hill more then a few times, It's a very nice section with the foot bridges and elevation changes with Tea Time Hill along the way.
That's how I did it, several one day hikes usually covering anywhere from 6-10 miles at a time. We started at Ong's hat and are going to finish the last 8 miles this weekend.
My favorite parts so far have been any section that takes me close to water. I especially liked the short section from Evan's bridge to 679, where we will continue from Saturday, weather permitting.
Good luck with your hike. Wear comfortable shoes if you start at Ong's Hat. The trail is pretty dry for a long way.
My favorite parts so far have been any section that takes me close to water. I especially liked the short section from Evan's bridge to 679, where we will continue from Saturday, weather permitting.
Good luck with your hike. Wear comfortable shoes if you start at Ong's Hat. The trail is pretty dry for a long way.
Hi Bob,
I discovered the Batona Trail 5 years ago and set goal to hike it end-to-end 100 times. So far I have hiked it 35 times.
Unfortunately you're probably already too late in the season for bugs. Chiggers shouldn't be much of a problem just yet, but the ticks are definitely active now, with the exception being an unusually cold spring day when they tend to go dormant again. If you're going to do it, my recommendation would be to treat your shoes and pants with permethrin and carry some 100% deet with you as a back-up. When you walk through a section where you rub against the underbrush, check your pants frequently for ticks so you can knock them off of you before they have a chance to get inside your clothes.
With a few exceptions, the Batona Trail is marked a lot better today than it was when I first started hiking it, but it's still very easy to walk off the trail because there are many fire lines that intersect with it. So try and keep aware of the pink blazes. If you walk 5 minutes without seeing a pink blaze you've probably wandered off the trail and should backtrack your steps. I think I hiked it 15 times before I finally stopped accidentally wandering onto fire lines. LOL
I usually hike the Batona in the following round trip sections. Cut the mileage estimates in half if you're only going one way.
Coal Road - Evans Bridge (approx 17 miles)
Evans Bridge - Basto (approx 18 1/2 miles)
Basto - Lower Forge (approx 14 miles)
Lower Forge - Carranza Memorial (approx 10 1/2 miles)
Carranza Memorial - Rt 563 (approx 17 miles)
Rt 563 - Brendan Byrne Park office (approx 11.5 miles)
Brendan Byrne Park office - Ongs Hat (Approx 10 miles)
There are a lot of opportunities for shorter hikes on the Batona Trail too.
Good luck!
I discovered the Batona Trail 5 years ago and set goal to hike it end-to-end 100 times. So far I have hiked it 35 times.
Unfortunately you're probably already too late in the season for bugs. Chiggers shouldn't be much of a problem just yet, but the ticks are definitely active now, with the exception being an unusually cold spring day when they tend to go dormant again. If you're going to do it, my recommendation would be to treat your shoes and pants with permethrin and carry some 100% deet with you as a back-up. When you walk through a section where you rub against the underbrush, check your pants frequently for ticks so you can knock them off of you before they have a chance to get inside your clothes.
With a few exceptions, the Batona Trail is marked a lot better today than it was when I first started hiking it, but it's still very easy to walk off the trail because there are many fire lines that intersect with it. So try and keep aware of the pink blazes. If you walk 5 minutes without seeing a pink blaze you've probably wandered off the trail and should backtrack your steps. I think I hiked it 15 times before I finally stopped accidentally wandering onto fire lines. LOL
I usually hike the Batona in the following round trip sections. Cut the mileage estimates in half if you're only going one way.
Coal Road - Evans Bridge (approx 17 miles)
Evans Bridge - Basto (approx 18 1/2 miles)
Basto - Lower Forge (approx 14 miles)
Lower Forge - Carranza Memorial (approx 10 1/2 miles)
Carranza Memorial - Rt 563 (approx 17 miles)
Rt 563 - Brendan Byrne Park office (approx 11.5 miles)
Brendan Byrne Park office - Ongs Hat (Approx 10 miles)
There are a lot of opportunities for shorter hikes on the Batona Trail too.
Good luck!
My buddy and I finished the trail today in heavy rain. That always keeps the bugs down but can be a little uncomfortable at times.
One thing we had a problem with was that we didn't have a map and when we got to Stage road, we thought that was it. We saw the pink marks going on so we followed them to Coal road but didn't know that was the Coal Rd. There was another trail across the street that was pink but luckily, a couple rangers told us we were done.
There needs to be some sort of marking to tell you this is the Batona trailhead.
By the way, you can get trail maps at Batsto and at the fire tower near 72.
One thing we had a problem with was that we didn't have a map and when we got to Stage road, we thought that was it. We saw the pink marks going on so we followed them to Coal road but didn't know that was the Coal Rd. There was another trail across the street that was pink but luckily, a couple rangers told us we were done.
There needs to be some sort of marking to tell you this is the Batona trailhead.
By the way, you can get trail maps at Batsto and at the fire tower near 72.
On hiking trails that have been marked with colored blazes, trail heads are usually identified by three blazes.
Congratulations on your successful completion of the Batona!
I hiked about 2+ miles in from the trail head just after the campground across from Caranazza Mem towards Apple Pie Hill with my son today. It was a last minute adventure. We by-passed the road piece after the camp. Started just before the 3 foot bridges on the road there
Apparently some guy from the NYT just did the whole thing...
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/11/sports/othersports/11outdoors.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/11/sports/othersports/11outdoors.html
He had blisters on the bottom of his feet the size of hamburger patties after only 8 miles? What was he wearing on his feet, those wooden Dutch shoes? LOL
I've done 15-20 miles in one day with no blisters, although with all the walking I wera my shoes out fast!. Prob a city slicker wearing dress shoes.:hist101:
This might be the most beautiful section of the trail. I like the section it sounds like you bypassed (by the camp), though, too -- as I keep poking in through the brush there to take in different perspectives of Skit Branch, which spreads out in fine fashion there.
Bill
Maybe next time we park in the campground and go from there, he is determined to make it to the fire tower the next outing. It was looking like rain and the temp dropped real fast the last time we went.
Very impressive Mr. Coz. I still laugh at myself for only doing 4 miles each time out on my first two stretches of the Batona. Sounds like you are flying through. Remember to stop and check out the beauty of the pines along the way.
Jay
A member of our PBX hiking club who is a marathon runner and plant photographer, walked the Batona in one day. Here is his times and a photo of him after.
http://mikebaker.com/personal/longwalk_98.html
http://mikebaker.com/images/Mike41mi.jpg
Guy
http://mikebaker.com/personal/longwalk_98.html
http://mikebaker.com/images/Mike41mi.jpg
Guy