What's/Who's near Mays Landing?

[Badfish740]

Yesterday I helped a buddy and his fiancee move into their first house in Mays Landing. They live just off of Route 40 near Lake Lenape. Now I have a new base for real South Jersey exploration I gotta get me a GPS...

 

[Boyd]

Hey, I missed this post before. For an answer to your question, just look at my location

A good place to start are the Belco ruins which are scattered around the Atlantic County Park at Estell Manor. You'll find some info here:

http://www.aclink.org/PARKS/mainpages/historic.asp
http://www.aclink.org/PARKS/mainpages/estell.asp

Stop by the nature center just inside the main entrance first and get a trail map. The north end of the park is not developed like the south end, and the old railroad tracks and roads from Belco are now miles of nice trails to explore.

 

[dragoncjo]

Hey Boyd, thanks for posting that I will have to check out that park. How is the nature center they have there, any interesting animals there? Does the park get real crowded? I tend to stick to areas that have less people which means I will have a greater chance of seeing wildlife. I'll have to check it out during my winter time scouting trips. Thanks
Chris

 

[Boyd]

I haven't spent a lot of time at the Nature Center myself. But IIRC there are a bunch of stuffed animals, some maps, and stuff like that. It's just a little building.

This time of year you can have the park pretty much to yourself. But even in the summer the North end isn't usually very crowded during the week. Enter from Artesian Well Road which is on Rt 50 (maybe) 1.5 miles North of the main entrance (look for the "Intimidators" welding place on the opposite side of the road). There's a parking area on the left about a mile down Artesian Well Rd.

If you want a less developed place, check out the Gibson Creek, Maple Lake, Tuckahoe and Peaslee Wildlife Management Areas - see the maps here: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/wmaland.htm

 

[dragoncjo]

I went down today(tuesday) for a snow hike, walked about 8 miles around the entire park. Saw a bunch of deer, nice park though I will def. have to explore more of it come spring time. I checked out the nature center also. The only live animals they had was a pine snake, and a nonative blue tongue skink. I wonder what they are doing with the pine. I felt bad for him crammed in a 75 gallon aquarium...I'm guessing he was injured or sick at some point. Here is pic of a stream I will def explore more of come spring.

 

[Teegate]

Nice photo! It looks interesting for sure.

Guy

 

[Boyd]

I really like that photo. Just came in from a walk in the woods myself, and you perfectly captured the feeling. Heh, I thought about taking my camera but it was just too windy, wet and cold

 

[stizkidz]

Boyd, I didnt know you lived near Mays Landing. Anyway, just adding my name to the list as I live in Egg Harbor Twp myself. I dont do much exploring anymore as I find it hard to get people to go with me. If you are really serious about exploring this area, shoot me an e-mail and I will come up with a nice list for you. jerseyben@gmail.com

 

[Boyd]

Boyd, I didnt know you lived near Mays Landing.

Just moved down here last May!