John McPhee’s Pine Barrens Today

Join Pinelands Adventures on a small‑group driving tour that brings to life the landscapes immortalized in John McPhee’s landmark book The Pine Barrens. As you travel through places like Chatsworth, Atsion, Apple Pie Hill, and the Carranza Memorial, you’ll step directly into the scenes McPhee documented—many of which remain strikingly unchanged. These places endure not by accident, but in large part because McPhee’s writing sparked a public awakening. His book challenged citizens and political leaders to protect this remarkable ecosystem at a time when development threatened to overtake it, ultimately helping pave the way for the creation of the Pinelands National Reserve, the nation’s first National Reserve.

Led by one of our knowledgeable guides, this adventure blends storytelling, ecology, and exploration as you ride by van and take short hikes into the heart of the Pines. You’ll learn how McPhee captured the spirit of the people, landscapes, and culture of the region—and how that legacy continues to shape conservation efforts today. Recommended for adults and children 10 and older, this tour invites you to experience both the wild beauty of the Pine Barrens and the powerful story of how a book helped save an entire region.

 

Step into the pages of John McPhee’s classic The Pine Barrens and explore how this legendary landscape lives and breathes today. Travel through forests, rivers, and historic sites that reveal both the timeless character of the Pines and the changes that have shaped them since McPhee first captured their spirit. Along the way, you’ll encounter the region’s resilient ecology, meet the stories and cultures that define its past and present, and experience firsthand the quiet mystery that continues to make the Pine Barrens one of the most extraordinary places in New Jersey.