Old foot bridge at Batona Camp

kayak karl

Explorer
Sep 18, 2008
495
79
69
Swedesboro, NJ
There appears to be remains of an old foot bridge behind Batona Camp.

2948719380104593866S600x600Q85.jpg


I couldn't see a traill beyond this point. was this just for hunters or was it a shortcut at one time for other reasons.

2676348630104593866S600x600Q85.jpg

2952670900104593866S600x600Q85.jpg


i plan to hike around to other side in a few weeks, but if anyone has any insight, it would be appreciated.
Thank You.
KK
 

ecampbell

Piney
Jan 2, 2003
2,876
1,017
It was once the Batona Trail. I remember the bridge back in the 70's. If you look closely you can still see the pink on trees leading down to it. The Batona Trail has been moved several times along it's route. It used to follow the road from Lower Forge to Quaker Bridge, now it's in the woods. You can see old pink there also.

Ed
 

kayak karl

Explorer
Sep 18, 2008
495
79
69
Swedesboro, NJ
It was once the Batona Trail. I remember the bridge back in the 70's. If you look closely you can still see the pink on trees leading down to it. The Batona Trail has been moved several times along it's route. It used to follow the road from Lower Forge to Quaker Bridge, now it's in the woods. You can see old pink there also.

Ed
thanks ed, i should of asked you when i saw you. :) i'm still gonna hike it :D

are there old maps of this??
 

ecampbell

Piney
Jan 2, 2003
2,876
1,017
thanks ed, i should of asked you when i saw you. :) i'm still gonna hike it :D

are there old maps of this??

I have many old maps and brochures of the trail but nothing of the detail that would support my previous post, nor could I find one on line.
I did however find this ammusing site for a hike on the trail for the bargain price of$1000. They will even sell you equipment, check out the menu.

http://www.fatpacking.com/2010/BT.aspx

Ed
 
I did however find this ammusing site for a hike on the trail for the bargain price of$1000. They will even sell you equipment, check out the menu.

http://www.fatpacking.com/2010/BT.aspx

Ed

That is hilarious. I like how the fee includes 6 days of trail food. 6 days to hike the Batona? And what kind of menu is this anyway? Vegetarian sausage. Tofurky. Sushi. Some trail food! I'd be happy to be a trail guide at half the price! hahaha oh geez

Anyway, thanks for the info!
 

kayak karl

Explorer
Sep 18, 2008
495
79
69
Swedesboro, NJ
That is hilarious. I like how the fee includes 6 days of trail food. 6 days to hike the Batona? And what kind of menu is this anyway? Vegetarian sausage. Tofurky. Sushi. Some trail food! I'd be happy to be a trail guide at half the price! hahaha oh geez

Anyway, thanks for the info!
I've seen this stuff played out in the Whites, but you hike to a hut with bunks and stuff. to lure somebody to the pines from Philly for a thousand?? I'm in the wrong business :)
 

imkms

Explorer
Feb 18, 2008
600
241
SJ and SW FL
thanks ed, i should of asked you when i saw you. :) i'm still gonna hike it :D

are there old maps of this??

If you walk the current trail North from the Batona campground, when you turn left and cross the bridge over the Skit branch, about 50 feet up on the left would be where the trail used to intersect here. I have not been down there in a while, but you may still be able to follow what remains of the trail back towards the campground and the old footbridge. If I remember correctly, the footbridge was actually pretty long and the part that is visible from the campground may be less than half of the original length. It was probably a maintenance nightmare.
 

Boyd

Administrator
Staff member
Site Administrator
Jul 31, 2004
9,759
2,938
Ben's Branch, Stephen Creek
are there old maps of this??

Don't know that this will help, but have you seen these?

http://stephencreek.com/njpb/batona1.JPG
http://stephencreek.com/njpb/batona2.JPG
http://stephencreek.com/njpb/Batona.pdf

BTW, my vector-based Map of the Pines will also work nicely on your Oregon if you want something with more coverage plus the ability to use in Mapsource on your computer. I spent quite awhile updating the roads in core pine barrens areas, based on the USGS maps and 2007 NJ aerial photos: http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/maps/view/276/
 
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