Deep Part of Bass River State Forest
Far out into Bass River State Forest is arguably one of the most remote parts of the New Jersey Pinelands. It follows a similar pattern to the rest of the pine barrens, with its upland forests of pitch pine, brush, and oak. Both dead and living Atlantic white cedar forests branch around the uplands like lightning strikes. There’s no shortage of ponds, swamps, and bodies of water, even within the deepest parts of the state forest.
The sunlight shines, letting you see the repetitive landscapes and the lack of terrain diversity. Approach a deep, dense cedar forest, and it could feel like night or maybe evening on a bright, sunny day. It could easily take you tens of miles from any main road, let alone any civilization.
You start to think that you have finally reached the end, but there's still much more.
Vast land of Bass River State Forest's uplands.
One of the largest cedar forest branches in Bass River is Shoal Branch. It separates Bass River and Brendan T. Byrne State forests. Then it extends to the pygmy pines. Imagine navigating a nonstop maze of never-ending trails. A gradient of change in terrain and landscape that reminds you of its vastness. It will feel like a purgatory of a land full of angel hairs in the form of trees.
