The Pine Plains

The central region of the Pine Barrens contains several areas of pine and oak forest that resemble the surrounding forests with one major exception: from a standing position, one can gaze over the top of the tree canopy. The Pine Barren Plains, known locally as the Pygmy Forest, contains trees that may attain a height of only about four feet at maturity. New Jersey contains the world's largest acreage of this globally rare forest community, which can be seen within portions of Penn State Forest. Many researchers believe that this unique stunted forest ecosystem is partly the result of the fire ecology of the Pinelands.

Take Route 563 to Lake Oswego Road in Jenkins Neck, and follow for three miles.