Burlington: River Landscapes and History

Amico Island Park is a 55-acre peninsula at the confluence of Rancocas Creek and the Delaware River. Every year from March to June, 100 great blue herons nest in the heron colony at Dredge Harbor near Amico Island. If you’re interested in herons, you can take these months into account as a seasonal focus when planning your trip.

River Landscapes, Parks and Trails

The Burlington County parks system includes more than 1,000 acres of developed parkland. Each site offers a different landscape. Pennington Park covers 140 acres along Rancocas Creek and features wetlands, a tidal pond, marshland, a shoreline and meadows. Long Bridge Park is also on Rancocas Creek. Its 115 acres include upland and lowland forests, a freshwater pond, wetlands, tidal marshland, shoreline and meadows. Together, the two parks showcase different landscapes along the same river.

The size of the parks can also help you choose nature destinations: Crystal Lake Park covers more than 370 acres, with upland and lowland forests, a freshwater lake and wetlands. Activities in the park include hiking, biking, fishing and horseback riding. The park also has a 1.7-mile paved trail; its route and length may change with future expansions.

For marked trails through varied terrain, consider Long Bridge Park and Willingboro Lakes Park. Their listed trail lengths are close, at 2.5 and 2.6 miles, respectively. Willingboro Lakes Park also has three piers for fishing and kayaking. Trail length may change as a result of future park work. The two parks offer a straightforward comparison of trail distances, while Willingboro’s piers add waterfront activities to the trail-focused experience.

Arney’s Mount Park brings together agricultural landscapes, deciduous forest, grassland and hedgerows. The trails also vary by surface and use: the park has a 2.45-mile paved trail, a 0.5-mile gravel hiking trail and one mile of designated horseback-riding trails. Trail measurements may change as a result of future park work.

Rancocas Nature Center is located in Rancocas State Park and offers three miles of hiking trails through meadows, forests and wetlands. It also offers year-round environmental education programs for the public. If you’d like to combine a nature walk with a specific learning focus, you can find both in one place here. Rancocas Natural Area covers 58 acres.

Industrial History and Cultural Sites

The village in Historic Smithville Park is listed on both the National Register of Historic Places and the New Jersey Register of Historic Places. Smithville grew along Rancocas Creek from a small mill operation into a large industrial complex. From the 1860s through the 1920s, its workshops and facilities employed hundreds of people. Historic Smithville Park also includes the 22-acre Smithville Lake. Activities available there include hiking, biking, fishing, canoeing and picnicking.

Located on the grounds of Historic Smithville Park, the Underground Railroad Museum tells the story of the Underground Railroad in America, with a focus on New Jersey and Burlington County. In Smithville, industrial history sits alongside another important part of American history.

Burlington County Prison Museum is a National Historic Landmark in historic Mount Holly. Robert Mills designed Burlington County Prison, which was completed in 1811. The Warden’s House, completed in 1888, is attached to the Historic Prison Museum in Mount Holly. It has been restored and now serves as a space for an art gallery. This history of the buildings and their uses offers another cultural perspective on Mount Holly.

Institutions and historic houses also add to the cultural offerings: Burlington County Lyceum of History and Natural Sciences was founded in Mount Holly in 1860. Burlington County Historical Society offers tours and educational programs; its grounds include the birthplace of James Fenimore Cooper.

Agriculture and Regional Traditions

Whitesbog brings together natural and agricultural history. It was one of New Jersey’s first cranberry farms and the place where Elizabeth White first successfully cultivated blueberries. The site covers 3,000 acres of bogs, streams and forests that support a diverse range of wildlife. Scheduled programs and guided tours explore the history of cranberry cultivation and the rural company town; offerings vary.

Burlington County Agricultural Center preserves a 68-acre former dairy farm that is still in agricultural use. The center also offers culinary programs and a commercial kitchen. Alongside Whitesbog’s agricultural history, this creates a distinct theme in addition to river landscapes, park trails and historic buildings.

Discover more destinations: Palmyra, Southampton, Riverton, Pemberton Township, Cinnaminson, Edgewater Park, Moorestown, Mount Laurel, Bordentown, Maple Shade, Burlington, Mt Holly, Wrightstown, Cookstown.

For the broader travel overview: New Jersey.