Name: Blue Trail
Rating: 4.3

“The Blue Trail moves through Black Run Preserve, an island of still pristine Pine Barrens surrounded by development.”

— Kristen Arendt

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Family Friendly A great learning experience for children with the potential to spot a variety of threatened and endangered plant and animal species.

There is no dedicated parking area for the preserve. Visitors may park beside the entrance road or along the road shoulder near the trailheads.

Description

The Black Run Preserve is an island of still pristine Pine Barrens surrounded by development. The water and soil retain classic Pine Barrens characteristics: low nutrient and low pH. These harsh conditions mean only native plants and animals can thrive in its numerous bogs and uplands. A hike on the Blue Trail will certainly give you a tour of the ecological wonder of Pine Barrens forest, with wetlands, streams and old cranberry bogs. The area hosts a variety of threatened and endangered plant and animal species, which only add to the experience.

Take a moment on you journey to appreciate the tenacity of the native plants and animals. For example, native green frogs and sunfish can successfully reproduce in the acidic waters while non-native bullfrogs and bass cannot. Low nutrient soil means some plants, such as sundews, supplement their nitrogen intake by consuming insects. Fire adapted trees and shrubs blanket the uplands. The gently rolling Blue Trail will take hikers into the heart of this amazing ecosystem, and a short out and back on this trail will present you with plenty to explore.