Pygmy Pine Plains Hike
Explore the surreal, fire-kissed and windswept landscape of New Jersey’s Pygmy Pines
Explore the surreal, fire-kissed and windswept landscape of New Jersey’s Pygmy Pines, also known as the New Jersey Pine Plains. Start with a bus ride from Pinelands Adventures through three state forests, 2 counties, and Chatsworth, the “capital of the pines”. Once we exit the bus into the heart of the Pine Plains in Warren Grove, our naturalist will lead you on a hike down sugar sand trails to discover the unique and globally rare plant and animal communities that make this harsh environment their home. Take in the breathtaking views of the landscape and sky. Learn about fire ecology, geology, and discuss the history and reasons why the pitch pines and twisted blackjack and scrub oaks that dominate this ecosystem are dwarfed, growing no more than 10 or 11 ft tall, despite some of them being over 60 years old.