Brendan T. Byrne State Forest
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The Brendan T. Byrne State Forest (formerly the Lebanon State Forest) is a 34,725-acre (139 km²) area in the New Jersey Pine Barrens in New Jersey's Burlington and Ocean Counties. It is the state's second largest state forest (after Wharton State Forest). There are 25 miles of hiking trails and a camping area. The park is operated and maintained by the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry.
The forest includes the 735-acre Cedar Swamp Natural Area includes upland pine-oak and oak-pine forest, pitch pine lowland forest and Atlantic white cedar swamp forest communities and supports the threatened swamp pink and other endangered plant species.
The forest also contains Whitesbog Village, an historic company town, founded in the 1870s by Joseph J. White which was once one of the largest cranberry and blueberry farms in the state, active through the mid-20th century. The commercial high-bush blueberry was developed here by Elizabeth White. The now silent village exemplifies the changes in agriculture in this state. The site is presently leased to the nonprofit Whitesbog Preservation Trust for restoration.
The Mount Misery Trail is a multi-use trail and allows mountain biking. The Cranberry Trail is wheelchair-accessible. The Batona Trail, designed for hiking, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing, is almost 50 miles (80 km) in length; it links the Brendan T. Byrne, Wharton, and Bass River State Forests. There is a loop trail of about two miles (3.2 km), starting at the forest office, and a one-mile (1.6 km) loop at Pakim Pond. By combining different trails with the Batona Trail, loops of 6 miles (9.6 km) and 14 miles (23 km) provide day hikes.
