New Jersey
Wharton State Forest Batona Trail Carranza Memorial Trailhead
Trailhead
Stone pyramid memorial to Mexican pilot Emilio Carranza marks the eastern terminus of the 50-mile Batona Trail through New Jersey’s Pine Barrens. Small gravel parking area holds maybe 8 vehicles, gets crowded on weekends. Trail cuts through classic Barrens terrain — sugar sand, cedar swamps, cranberry bogs, and scrub pine. Fire tower visible in distance. No facilities, just the memorial and trail markers.
Access via Carranza Road, which turns to soft sand the last mile. High-clearance helpful but not required in dry conditions. Trail can flood after heavy rains. Popular with backpackers doing multi-day sections toward Brendan Byrne State Forest.
Batona Trail eastern access with crash memorial
Place Details
| Type | Trailhead |
|---|---|
| Nearest town | Tabernacle, New Jersey |
| Miles from pavement | 1.2 mi |
| Minimum vehicle | Any vehicle |
| Access road surface | Sand |
| Cell service | Spotty |
| Capacity (# of rigs) | 8 rigs |
| Cost (USD/night, 0 = free) | Free |
| Reservation required | No |
| Stay limit (nights) | 0 nights |
| Best season | Year-round |
| Land manager | State Land |
| Permit required | No |
| Coordinates | Open directions |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |