This New Jersey Haunted Hike Will Scare The Pants Off You
Remember when we all thought The Blair Witch Project was real? I have to admit, I totally bought in. I mean, what could be scarier than being in the wilderness where no one can hear you scream while you're battling the paranormal?!? What if I told you there's a place in Jersey where fear = fitness. You can get your adrenaline pumping with cardio AND crazy haunted stories with the ultimate New Jersey haunted hike.
On this hike there are no costumes and no park rangers yelling "boo". The Batona Trail is the real stuff of ghost legend...it wanders through the Pine Barrens which is full of natural beauty and horrifying folklore. The BaToNa Trail is a 50+ mile trail that runs through the deep dark woods (you know where the Jersey Devil and and all the ghosts live). This rural, secluded trail let's you hike though history and see more than pines, lakes and bridges…you’ll witness cemeteries, ruins, historic abandoned villages, a fire tower and memorials of the departed.
Don’t underestimate the legend of the Jersey Devil either. The tale of the Jersey Devil is centuries old and this hike is ground zero, as in where it all began. Over the years, there have been over 2,000 reported sightings of this demonic figure. As the story goes, In 1735, Mother Leeds, a pine barren native, gave birth to her 13th child (I'm assuming with no epidural). Some say she was a witch and that the child's father was the devil himself (so, no epidural and she has bad taste in men...no one is in a good mood here).
Born on a stormy night, the baby was anything but human. It killed the midwife and flew off into the woods (someone needs a time out). For years the little devil tormented local children and farmers and killed livestock. Many describe the creature as having hooves, wings, and a forked tail; some also add horns and a blood-curling scream to the mix. With this guy lurking you're sure to have some pep in your step which equals a nice calorie burn. You can find more details like how to get there and where to park here.
Ready for a hike anyone?
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