The Jersey Action Riders' Wharton State Forest Trail Project is an
all volunteer effort that is helping the state of New Jersey maintain
mountain bike trails in the Wharton
State Forest.
These volunteers are working under the guidance of 
representatives from
NJ's Department
of Environmental Protection Division of Parks and Forestry to mark and
maintain several sustainable trail
loops for mountain biking.
These all terrain bicycle trail loops originate at the back of the Batsto
Village parking lot and by the Atsion Ranger Station. And offer off road
bicyclists many options.
Maintenance on the Batsto trails officially began in September 2006
with a one day trail building school taught by Kristin Butcher and Ryan
Schultz from the Subaru/IMBA
Trail Care Crew. (View pictures of that day here.)
Parks and Forestry officials recently joined the volunteers on Earth
Day 2007 to open the Batso All Terrain Bicycle Short Loop and
the five-point-five mile Batsto Fire Tower Trail.
Work is currently being coordinated on the eighteen plus mile Batsto
Penn Creek Trail which we hope will be marked and groomed by October
2008.
Trail Project News
Batsto *Orange* Trail Update
The routing of the eighteen plus miles long Batsto Penn Creek Trail
(*Orange*) is nearing completion. The majority of the route is still
unmarked and there are still a few sections that need to be brushed,
but the adventerous few that have ridden it say that its a fun ride.
Look for a September or October completion date for this bike/hike
only trail. Check the
route here.
Atsion Area Trail Update
JAR is assisting the Forest Service create a plan for rerouting the
Atsion Devious Mount (white circles) multi-use trail and the Atsion
Hampton Gate (blue circles)
multi-use trail. Look for blue trail to be shortened and routed to
firmer ground.The white trail will hopefully be lenghened and extended
further south on existing multi-use singletrack.
Volunteer Recognition
New Jersey's Division of Parks and Forestry presented the Jersey Action Riders
with a volunteer recognition certificate for our efforts on the Wharton Bike
Trail Project. Much thanks to all that have coming out and working on the trail!
2008 Wharton Trail Project Work Days
Trail maintenance is done on the first Saturday of the month, weather
permitting, 10:00 am to noon, followed by a quick ride.
Maintenance
on the Batsto
Orange Trail will be done of the following dates.
- June 7 ...............check the JAR Yahoo group site for details and updates
- July 5 ............... check the JAR Yahoo group site for details and updates
- August 2 ............check the JAR Yahoo group site for details and updates
- September 6 ..................check the JAR Yahoo group site for details and updates
- October 4 .....................check the JAR Yahoo group site for details and updates
- November 1 ..................check the JAR Yahoo group site for details and updates
- December 6 ..................check the JAR
Yahoo group site for details and updates