Paddling Through the Pine Barrens

There are plenty of ways to explore the beauty of the Pine Barrens, but there's nothing quite like paddling through them.

Pinelands rivers are lovely in their own right – they tend to be narrow waterways with multitudes of hairpin turns and water stained a clear tea-brown by natural tannins.

But they also afford water travelers a totally different perspective of the terrain around us. There's something fun and fascinating about drifting under a bridge you've traveled countless times by car and paddling on into the unknown woods beyond.

The Ocean County Department of Parks and Recreation has a series of canoe trips scheduled for upcoming weeks, each along a different stretch of river rich in history and natural beauty.

Each trip costs $14, which includes transportation, canoe, paddle, life vest and the expertise of a guide. (Bring your own canoe and you can knock the price down to $8 per person.) The trips last most of the day, so bring a lunch, water and anything else you'll need.

These river stretches are generally not particularly difficult to paddle, but anyone going should have general knowledge of how to operate and steer a canoe, and should have some experience on the water. If you'd like to learn to canoe or brush up on your skills, call the parks department for details on classes.

To register for one of the trips, call Wells Mills County Park at 609-971-3085. For more information and details on other parks department activities, check out the department's website.

Sunday, July 10: Down the Batsto and Up the Mullica

This trip starts at the historic Batsto mill pond and takes you down the winding turns of the tea-colored lower Batsto River to where it empties into the much larger Mullica. The trip may also include a visit to historic Batsto Village, if there’s time at the end of the paddle.

• Pick-up spot: Wells Mills County Park parking lot, Waretown
• Time: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Distance: 5 miles
• Paddling notes: Must be able to paddle in open water, possibly against the wind. There will be a few portages.

Friday, July 22: Toms River Paddle

Paddling the Toms is fun in part because of the variety – there are stretches of typical twisty Pine Barrens river as well as wide-open tidal flats.

• Pick-up spot: Jakes Branch County Park nature center parking lot, Beachwood
• Time: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Distance: 8 miles
• Paddling notes: Canoers should be able to navigate tight river turns and paddle continuously for several hours.

Thursday, July 28: Upper Cedar Creek Paddling Trip – Dover Forge to Double Trouble

This is a beautiful stretch of water – extra twisty, which makes for a fun and challenging paddle. Cedar Creek’s upper stretches are also more remote and less traveled than a lot of other Pine Barrens waterways.

• Pick-up spot: Double Trouble State Park parking lot, Berkeley Township
• Time: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Distance: 6 miles
• Paddling notes: Canoers must be able to handle sharp turns and a few portages. Be aware that this is a wilderness trip – the entire stretch is within forested parkland.

Thursday, July 28: Upper Cedar Creek Paddling Trip – Dover Forge to Double Trouble

This is a beautiful stretch of water – extra twisty, which makes for a fun and challenging paddle. Cedar Creek’s upper stretches are also more remote and less traveled than a lot of other Pine Barrens waterways.

• Pick-up spot: Double Trouble State Park parking lot, Berkeley
• Time: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Distance: 6 miles
• Paddling notes: Canoers must be able to handle sharp turns and a few portages. Be aware that this is a wilderness trip – the entire stretch is within forested parkland.

Sunday, July 31: Westecunk Marsh and Creek Paddle

See the woods give way to tidal lands on this paddle, which takes you from Stafford Forge down to the town of West Creek and out into the marsh. There’s quite a bit of maneuvering required in the upper stretch, and make sure you bring bug repellent.

• Pick-up spot: Wells Mills County Park parking lot, Waretown
• Time: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Distance: 6 miles

• Paddling notes: Attendees should be able to paddle continuously, navigate a few quick turns and handle a few portages.

Sunday, Aug. 14: Toms River Canoe Float

This is a great family trip, and it falls at a time of year when lots of native plants will be in bloom along the river’s banks.

• Pick-up spot: Jakes Branch County Park nature center, Beachwood
• Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Paddling notes: This is among the easier paddles in this trip list, but canoers should still have some general experience and be able to paddle in open water, possibly against the wind.

Sunday, Aug. 21: Millstone River and D&R Canal

For something altogether different, take this trip to Mercer County for a paddle through pretty deciduous woods along the Millstone River. The Delaware and Raritan Canal, which was built in the 1830s as a reliable conduit for shipping goods through the state, meanders along this stretch of the river and serves as a peaceful route back upstream.

• Pick-up spot: Wells Mills County Park parking lot, Waretown
• Time: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Distance: 8.5 miles
• Paddling notes: A few portages are required and canoers should be able to navigate turns in the river.