Wild New Jersey Exclusive: Canoeing down the Pinelands' Wading River
A young paddler takes a break from canoeing to enjoy a swim in the tannin-colored Wading River.
The Pinelands offer an abundance of great canoeing options, and it would be hard to imagine a better three-hour trip than Wading River near Chatsworth. The gently flowing river twists and turns its way downstream, each curve presenting a wholly new scene. Alternating between bright sun and tree-sheltered cool shade, the habitats tend to follow suit - but all of it providing classic Pinelands habitat.
Wild New Jersey's David Wheeler recently canoed the stretch from Hawkins Bridge to Evans Bridge, with rentals provided by Mick's Canoeing. This stretch of Wharton State Forest provided ample birdlife, particularly the active swallows nesting under one of the bridge canoe underpasses, as well as a mid-sized turtle and small mammal rushing into the water ahead of the canoe. Most incredible was the stunning eastern ribbon snake - its yellow stripes like pinstripes along the length of its body - swimming across the creek, just an arm's length from the canoe.
Even the road in was a veritable safari, with wild turkey, white-tailed deer, guineafowl and an eager box turtle.
Posted by WILDNEWJERSEY at 6/4/2009 10:59 AM 
Categories: WNJ Exclusives, Birds
Tags: canoe Pinelands guineafowl Wading River box turtle Chatsworth wild turkey eastern red snake Wharton State Forest paddle on white-tailed deer Mick's Canoeing
Categories: WNJ Exclusives, Birds
Tags: canoe Pinelands guineafowl Wading River box turtle Chatsworth wild turkey eastern red snake Wharton State Forest paddle on white-tailed deer Mick's Canoeing
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