In Gloucester County, expansive natural areas meet houses and places that reveal the region’s history. Scotland Run Park is known for its landscape and waterside recreation; historic buildings and settlement patterns tell quite different stories. This lets you tailor your explorations to your own interests rather than focusing on just one theme.
Lakes, Wetlands and Nature Trails
At more than 1,300 acres, Scotland Run Park is the largest county park in Gloucester County. Its Wilson Lake offers opportunities for passive recreation, including fishing, boating and wildlife watching. Walking trails are located behind the Nature Center and along the lakeshore. Canoes and kayaks are available to rent in the park during summer; check current availability before your trip.
The Nature Center complements the waterside trails with its own insights into nature. It features live animals such as snakes and frogs, as well as aquatic ecosystems, and offers programs for children and adults throughout the year. In addition to outdoor activities, visitors can choose from nature-themed exhibits and programs.
Greenwich Lake offers a different kind of waterscape: the 40-acre lake is spring-fed, and the surrounding wetlands are home to a wide variety of plant and animal species. The landscape can therefore be explored not only through the lake itself but also through the habitats around it.
The Glassboro Wildlife Management Area, in turn, features a lowland deciduous swamp forest. Streams, ponds and some cleared areas shape this 2,337-acre area. A network of sandy, unpaved trails offers opportunities to observe a range of habitats; walking trails run through forests, along streams and through fields. These descriptions give you concrete points of reference for deciding whether to focus your outing on lakeshores, wetlands, or changing forest and field landscapes.
Historic Houses and Settlements
At Red Bank, Ann and James Whitall established a 400-acre plantation in 1748. The James and Ann Whitall House served as a field hospital on October 22, 1777. Tours are offered Thursday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., from April through October. As this is a seasonal schedule, check the dates before your visit.
The Gloucester County Historical Society Museum is housed in the 1765 Hunter-Lawrence-Jessup House. In 1972, the building was added to both the New Jersey Register and the National Register of Historic Places for its significance in military history, education and politics. The museum holds more than 30,000 artifacts. The building, its historical context and its collection offer different ways to explore regional history, without any single aspect being the only way to engage with the site.
Pitman Grove illustrates a different historic form: the Methodist camp-meeting settlement was established in the late 19th century. At its center is the Camp Meeting Auditorium, built in 1882. Twelve-foot-wide paths radiate from it, lined with small wood-frame cottages dating from 1870 to 1900. The settlement’s layout is especially easy to describe through its spatial arrangement: the auditorium, paths and houses form a clearly structured whole.
Trinity Episcopal “Old Swedes” Church also has a specific historic distinction: it is considered the third-oldest Swedish church in the country. For visitors interested in nature and culture, these varied landmarks add further themes to the expansive landscapes, from historic buildings to settlement history.
More Ways to Explore the County
The exhibits at Edelman Fossil Park & Museum include life-size dinosaur reconstructions and interactive discovery areas. Visitors interested in fossils and prehistoric life will find a different way to explore natural history here than on a walk through wetlands or forests.
For outdoor exercise, James G. Atkinson Memorial Park offers 1.5 miles of biking and jogging trails. Pitman Golf Course is located in Mantua Township and is a public 18-hole golf course. It has a driving range; golf lessons are available by appointment. These specific offerings let you distinguish between different types of activities without assuming that they all have the same requirements.
Local culture can also broaden your perspective beyond individual sites: visitors can sample local wines at wineries along the South Jersey wine trail. Check with individual wineries in advance. Gloucester County also promotes walks featuring Victorian architecture in historic downtown districts; individual tour offerings may vary. This makes for a range of options, from wildlife watching and trails to historic buildings, wine and architecture.
Discover more destinations: Swedesboro, Woodbury, Mantua Township, Deptford, Monroe Township, West Deptford, Gibbstown, Glassboro, Newfield.
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