For this first 12 for 12 of 2026, we took a trip to an emblematic Pine Barrens park. Perhaps best known for its campgrounds, Cathedral Pines County Park also hosts extensive trails that wonderfully showcase a mixed Pine Barrens forest. This trip occurred just after a recent snowfall, and few outdoor activities are more underrated than hiking through the fresh snow. Glistening landscapes, drooping fronds, and faint traces of animals’ recent passing-by make for a magical experience, and there was truly no better first impression Cathedral Pines could have made.
Situated in Middle Island, Cathedral Pines County Park possesses an extensive lot for campers, wide open fields that make for a great day of family fun, and (the focus of this review), a sizable network of trails that provide both a good workout, and a good ecological showcase of the Pine Barrens. These trails are relatively narrow and often covered in roots, meaning this is not the place for a casual hike. Frequent changes in elevation, including some of which are quite stark, make for a tougher than average hike, perfect for those of you looking for a decent workout. The trails are also suitable for biking, and on this visit, I saw tire tracks carved through the snow. While this disturbed the pristine beauty of the otherwise fresh-fallen snow, it helped me follow the trail, and served as a good marker. The trails do have markers, but some of these are free-standing, and when covered in a nice inch of snow, they become much more indistinct.
Lest you think that a snow-covered wilderness is bereft of wildlife to enjoy, on this hike I was treated to a nice variety of birds. Some were year-round residents, while others were winter migratory species. A particular highlight was the Red-breasted Nuthatches, one of my favorite migratory species due to their bold coloration and patterning. They have rotund bodies and thick black “eyebrows,” and they make a strange squeaking sound in lieu of chirping or singing. All of this adds up to a unique and delightful birding experience.
If you’re concerned about immersing yourself fully in the ecosystem and thinking that the extensive campground might interfere with that immersion, rest assured it’s very easy to avoid such disruption. Simply continue taking the path leading right, and you’ll be deep enough in the woods that you won’t hear any noise from campers and will be totally immersed in nature. Being consistent with the direction you choose is also a good way to avoid getting lost, as all you must do to get back the way you came is turn around and make the opposite choice (meaning, if you kept taking right turns, take all the left turns instead).
Cathedral Pines County Park was the perfect park to visit in the wake of a light snowfall. Few feelings are better than breathing in the crisp, wintry air, and hearing the snow crunch underfoot. Some are inclined to say that winter is a “dead” season, but a trip through the Pine Barrens proves it’s anything but that. Seeing the fresh footprints of squirrels, and birds singing high in the boughs of tall, old pines, makes for as lively an experience as any summer hike. Whether you’re looking to shed the winter weight or the winter blues, the solution is simple: take a hike in Cathedral Pines!
By Travis Cutter, Long Island Pine Barrens Society
