Bikepacking Roots just published a new Community Route in an unlikely place, New Jersey! The Jersey Pine Barrens are an overlooked gem and are long overdue for a proper bikepacking route. This route has been thoughtfully crafted and is stewarded by Julian Bender of Philadelphia.⁠..

⁠
Last weekend, Bikepacking Roots Executive Director, Noelle Battle, joined Julian for the first thru-ride of the New Jersey Devil Hunt route that stretches 170 miles across the state.⁠ The best part? No car shuttling needed! The beginning and endpoint of the route are at train stations to connect you to Philadelphia via commuter rail – and further up & down the East Coast via Amtrak.⁠

• That’s right, the vast Pine Barrens, a wilderness the size of Yosemite National Park, are a true gem right in the heart of the East Coast metro region.⁠
  
• Encounter the nature and history of the Pine Barrens, a truly unique ecoregion that feels like it belongs in a different part of the country. ⁠
  
• Relax and swim at numerous rivers and lakes, enjoying the pristine “cedar water” of the Pine Barrens. ⁠
  
• Pass through pine woods, cedar swamps, coastal marshes, and the barrier islands of the Jersey Shore. ⁠

This route is very approachable for all experience levels. However, 2” tires or bigger are needed to handle the sand roads throughout the route.⁠

⁠For more information on this route, see the route page. You can also check out all of the routes in Bikepacking Roots’ growing Community Routes Project.