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| Cranberry Bog en route to Mt. Misery |
Mount Misery, despite the name, isn't a peak hike at all. It is actually no more than an almost-imperceptible hill. In southern New Jersey, things called "mount" - Mount Holly, Mount Laurel, Mount Misery - are simply the highest points in an otherwise overwhelmingly flat part of the state. The creeks and little rivers on one side of this low-altitude New Jersey spine drain to the Delaware River; those on the other to the Atlantic Ocean.
The hike to Mount Misery, however, has the potential to provide a feeling of wilderness seclusion in one of the most densely-populated states in the country. And if piney woods are your thing, there is no place quite like the Pinelands. The added bonus with any New Jersey hike is the potential for bird sightings... The state, mainly because of its location on migratory paths, is an absolute haven for birders. We caught sight (and sound) of a huge gaggle of tundra swans as they rambunctiously splashed around in one of the many cranberry bogs here. Sadly, we forgot the binoculars once again.
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| Down on the Bog |
The trails in Brendan Byrne State Forest - named for a conservation-minded former governor - are pretty well marked. From the ranger station, we simply took the red trail towards Pakim Pond. At 2 miles, we veered off the red trail onto the white trail - aka Mount Misery Trail - and followed it to the "top." Cranberry bogs, pine trees, and long, straight hiking paths provide most of the scenery until you reach Mount Misery, which is still occupied by the buildings of a former CCC camp turned Methodist retreat. We had designs on the loop trail around to Pakim pond, but decided to turn it into an up and back as the day was getting later and trail use, therefore, getting heavier.
Destination: Mount Misery
Distance: 10.5 miles, out and back
Elevation Gain: Nominal
Conditions: Sunny, 38 degrees F
Route: Cranberry Trail (Red), Mt. Misery Trail (White)
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| Deep Pool |
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| Swirling Current |
